What Is Crepitus? - Arthritis-health

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What Is Crepitus?

By: Rachel Brakke, MD, Physiatrist

Peer-Reviewed

Crepitus, sometimes called crepitation (krep-i-tay-shen), describes any grinding, creaking, cracking, grating, crunching, or popping that occurs when moving a joint. People can experience crepitus at any age, but it becomes more common as people get older.

Illustration of synovial fluid in the neck between vertebrae bursting to create the neck cracking sound Save

Crepitus describes any grinding, creaking, cracking, grating, crunching, or popping that occurs when moving a joint.

In This Article:

  • What Is Crepitus?
  • Crepitus in the Knee

The sound associated with crepitus may be muffled or it may be loud enough for other people to hear.

The term crepitus is sometimes also used to describe other conditions, such as lungs crackling from respiratory illnesses and bones grating after fractures.

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What Causes Joint Crepitus?

Medical illustration of the gas bubbles within the cervical facet joints that lead to crepitus Save

Crepitus is often caused by tiny gas bubbles that form and then collapse within the joints. This type of popping does not typically cause pain.

Common causes of creptius include:

  • Air bubbles popping inside the joint. This popping does not cause pain.
  • Tendons or ligaments snapping over the joint's bony structures. This snapping sometimes causes pain.
  • Arthritis—typically either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis—that causes a joint’s articular cartilage to degenerate. While arthritis often leads to pain, not everyone with joint degeneration will experience it.

    When a joint's cartilage degenerates, the joint is no longer adequately protected against friction and impacts. In addition, the loss of cartilage can alter the joint's biomechanics and cause bones to grind against one another. These changes can result in crepitus.

Many people experience crepitus in their knees. People can also get crepitus in other joints, such as the hip, shoulder, neck and spine, which are frequently affected by arthritis.

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Does Crepitus Need to Be Treated?

Crepitus usually is not a cause for concern. In fact, most people’s joints crack or pop occasionally, and that is considered normal. But if crepitus is regular and is accompanied by pain, swelling, or other concerning symptoms, it may be an indication of arthritis or another medical condition.

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