Home
Rodale Bookshelf
Symptoms, Their Causes & Cures: Joint Cracking

Chapter List

Special Limited Time Offer!
Order today and
Save an Extra 15%!
Use coupon code: LSAVE15

Joint Cracking

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* The cracking sounds start after you've experienced a fall or a blow to the joint.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

Nothing. Well, that's not entirely true, but unless you've been injured, cracking joints are no cause for concern. There may be reasons why your joints snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Krispies, but it's not necessarily a sign of anything wrong.

The most common cause is a tendon rubbing against another tendon or ligament, says Robin Dore, M.D., a rheumatologist in private practice in Anaheim, California. When you're young and still growing, ligaments, tendons and bone may grow at different rates, so your adolescent child may sound like a tiny percussion section now and then. As you get older and the cartilage around your joints thins, the ligaments and tendons snap at you because they are rubbing against each other, Dr. Dore says.

If you're double-jointed, you have a slightly more interesting reason for the cracking: Your ligaments and tendons are longer and more elastic than normal, so the joints move farther than they should and crack more often. Most people normally outgrow being double-jointed by their mid to late twenties, however, Dr. Dore says.

Other than the rub of a ligament or tendon, the only other known cause of cracking is a nitrogen bubble that suddenly depressurizes in the tissues of your joint as you move. It's like a teeny-weeny case of the bends inside a joint, says Kent Pomeroy, M.D., a physiatrist in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Symptom Relief

If an injured joint starts making music, your doctor will probably want to x-ray it to rule out the possibility of fracture. Otherwise, there's nothing that needs to be relieved. Relax—you just have noisy joints.

Shop with Us: Brands A-Z; Products A-Z; Autoship; Ways to Shop; Member Discounts

Customer Service: Contact Us; Help Desk; Shipping Policy; Return Policy; Ask a question; Track Your Order

My Account: My Account; My Order History; My Shopping Cart

Health Library: Vitamin Guide; Guide to Herbs; Health Concerns; Home Remedies; Seniors Health; Women's Health

About Us: Our Blog; Our Philosophy; Corporate Discounts; Affliliate Program; Terms of Use

Featured Partners

Email Sign up: Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!

Call us M-F 9am-5pm: 1-800-439-5506

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material. MotherNature is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.All discounts are taken from suggested retail prices. Prices are subject to change.