Noisy Knees: Should You Worry?

As you get older, joint sounds are one of the most common symptoms. They can be a sign of joint pain or arthritis but they might not always mean anything serious. Learn how to tell if your joint clicks and pops are something to worry about or just an inevitable part of aging.

One of the first joint sounds you can hear is a popping sound, which happens when muscles around the joints are pulled taut. The more pressure that's applied to your joint or movement causes it to pop. If this symptom doesn't bother you then there isn't any need for concern but if it's accompanied by pain and swelling in some joints then it might be a sign of joint pain, arthritis or even gout.

A clicking noise is often caused by the cartilage in the joint rubbing against each other as you move. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that helps cushion and protect joints from wear and tear. This symptom is also common in people who have arthritis but it might not always mean joint pain.

If the clicking is accompanied by pain and swelling then it might be a sign of joint damage.

There are other joint sounds that can occur like a grating noise, which is often caused by bone rubbing against bone. This sound is usually heard when you move your joint in a way that stretches or compresses the bones. If this symptom is accompanied by pain then you might have a fracture.

The key to knowing if joint sounds are something to worry about is how they make you feel. If the joint clicking, popping or grinding doesn't bother you and it's not accompanied by any other symptoms like pain, swelling or redness then there isn't anything to worry about. However, if these joint sounds are accompanied by other symptoms then you should book in with a physiotherapist to find out the cause and rule out anything more sinister

Have noisy kneed that don't feel quite right and want to get them checked out? Our Tarragindi physiotherapists would be happy to help! Give us a call on 07 3706 3407 or email info@articulatephysiotherapy.com.au. We look forward to hearing from you soon!