Cracking Sound In The Joints

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR CRACKING SOUND IN YOUR JOINTS:

We are made for movement! PERIOD! Cracking/popping sounds from the joints are completely normal and are more likely to be asymptomatic,and not symptomatic. If it's not associated with pain we must not fear the Rice Krispies! If pain is associated with it, we ask is it due to a mechanism of injury or is it previous learning that the sound indicates damage, creating a false alarm?

Let’s check the record straight: The cracking sound does not lead to increased joint degeneration, this was likely a tale used by parents to get their kids from stop cracking knuckles!

➡Vibration arthrography found 99% of knees make noises (McCoy et al 1990)

➡Knee crepitus had no relationship with function, worst pain in the past month, pain with climbing stairs and squatting in a group of women with patellofemoral pain. (De Oliveira et al 2018)

Could the sound mean a joint “is out”? If there is no clear mechanism of injury or history of joint LOOSENESS we cannot conclude a joint is out! This is a common theory when it comes to the spine. For this to be valid we must identify the segment that “is out” and then use a technique that would allow that specific segment to go “back in.”

➡Walker et al 2015 expert palpators examination conclusions differed significantly for the same patients.

➡Beffa and Mathews 2004 found, "no statistically significant correlation existed between the anatomical location of cavitation sounds and the adjustment technique selected."

➡Lascurain-Aguirrebeña et al 2016 concluded the evidence shows spinal manipulation has no effect on segmental vertebral motion.

The cracking sound from an adjustment or manipulation does feel good & create short term relief, however it is due to a neural effect, not from joints being “put back in.” When rest outweighs activity, we take on the risk of a whole host of other conditions.

Motion is lotion, movement is medicine, and inputs control our outputs! Our bodies are super resilient, strong, and adaptable! Don’t let tissues sliding or bubbles forming create fear, keep moving.