It seems that whenever a female friend of mine kneels down, her knees make a ‘crack’ type sound (she’s only 17 too). I’ve had this happen to myself a few times (and noticed it in older individuals as well), but it seems every time she kneels, they make a cracking noise. What causes this noise? And is it bad? Thanks.
sorry i don’t know the answer, but im also curious to know… i do this too (A LOT)… it actually feels kinda good, especially if i attempt to and it doesn’t quite ‘crack’ the first time. i do it with my elbows too, sometimes it happens when i least expect it. oh and i’m only 19… hope i dont have arthritis or something:(
My knees always crack when I crouch down, and they have done this since at least adolescence. They also crack when I twist my leg with my foot in place. And like maybelze05 says, it doesn’t hurt, it feels good, like a stiffness has been released.
Cecil has this to say about cracking heard during spinal manipulation:
“Cracking noises are common in such treatments. It’s not known exactly what causes them, but most suspect they’re the result of bony projections or ligaments sliding by one another, or bubbles forming in stretched joint capsules (as with cracking your knuckles). The noise, while unsettling to listen to, is generally harmless.”
The real question is whether or not it gives you arthritis from the “hydrogen bubbles”.
Anyone know?
Yes, as far as I know, it is the same thing as popping your knuckles or neck or back. I think you can pop pretty much any joint. I can pop all three knuckles on each finger and two on each toe. Sometimes my hips will pop, and I used to be able to pop my ankles and also popped my knees.
I stopped popping my knees when I would feel a kind of grinding in one of them. I asked my doctor, and he told me it had to do with the cartiledge (slightly torn?). It didn’t hurt really, it was more of just kind of uncomfortable/gross; like nails on a chalkboard, but for your knees. Whatever it was with my knee wasn’t a result of my popping them.
I’m a popping proponent. If it pops, go ahead and do it as much as you can if it feels good. I love it. Of course I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know if it’s “bad” for you. Life’s too short though, I have to enjoy the little things.