Creaky Knees - Should You Be Worried?
Have you ever heard your knees click? Or felt them grind or pop?
If so, has this ever worried you?
These sensations are likely to be known as crepitus. Knee crepitus is extremely common and sounds, that occur with knee movement, can include ‘popping’, ‘clicking’, ‘clunking’ and ‘creaking.’ Rest assured, crepitus is often harmless!
Why does knee crepitus occur?
Currently there is no definitive answer to the underlying cause of crepitus, but there are a few theories floating around, which include:
Popping of gas bubbles
Synovial fluid surrounds our knee joints, and its function is to cushion the ends of bones and reduce friction when we move our knees. Sometimes, gas bubbles form in this fluid and when we move, these bubbles may burst, resulting in a popping sound.
Tendon/ligament movement over bones
Sometimes when we move, our ligaments and tendons may have to pass over bony prominences. After passing over bony surfaces, the ligaments/tendons may produce a ‘clicking’ or ‘clunking’ sound as they return to their normal shape
Injury
Common injuries, such as ligament or meniscus tears, can result in ‘crunching’ or ‘grinding’ sounds within the knees. If you were involved in a traumatic injury while playing a contact sport, or put your knees through large forces in a short period of time, chances are your knee crepitus may be a symptom of a more serious pathology.
Many people get worried that these sounds are related to pain or damage being caused within the knee joint. However, a study by De Oliveira Silva et al. 2018 showed that knee crepitus does not negatively affect an individual’s strength or function. More good news is that there is no significant relationship between the presence of knee crepitus and pain!
How do I know if I need to get my knees checked?
Although most of the time knee crepitus is harmless, sometimes it may be linked to a serious underlying condition. Signs that you should pay attention to:
Is your crepitus associating with pain or swelling?
Did these sensations occur after an injury?
Has crepitus limited your ability to perform at your usual level of function?
If you experience any of these signs or other concerning symptoms, you should consider seeking medical attention from a health professional, such as a physiotherapist.
At Aevum Physiotherapy, our team of experienced and highly skilled physiotherapists will work with you to figure out the underlying cause of your symptoms, and help you get back to your full function as soon as possible!
Book an appointment with us today
References:
de Oliveira Silva, D., Pazzinatto, M., Priore, L., Ferreira, A., Briani, R., & Ferrari, D. et al. (2018). Knee crepitus is prevalent in women with patellofemoral pain, but is not related with function, physical activity and pain. Physical Therapy In Sport, 33, 7-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.06.002
Jonita Zhou