Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsReasons Joints CrackWhy Do They Feel Good?Is It Safe?PainHow to Stop Cracking Joints
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Reasons Joints Crack
Why Do They Feel Good?
Is It Safe?
Pain
How to Stop Cracking Joints
Cracking and popping joints are often things associated with aging, but they can also affect people of any age. This includes teenagers and young adults. While joints that crack may seem like a cause for concern, most cases are due to joint stiffness and are relatively normal and harmless.
This article will explain why joints crack, what is normal and not normal, and tips to stop cracking your joints.
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Reasons Joints (Not Bones) Crack So Much
When joints are not moved enough and stay in the same position for a long period of time, they can become stiff and develop increased pressure within. Once the joints are finally moved, the pressure is released and can produce audiblepopping or cracking sounds.
Joint cracking and popping may occur more often in people who have osteoarthritis. While osteoarthritis is more common among older individuals,early-onset osteoarthritiscan develop in younger people for a variety of reasons, including genetics, injuries, and bone misalignment.
Osteoarthritis
Why Do Joint Pops and Cracks Feel Good?
When joints stay in the same position for too long without movement, it is common for pressure to build up within the joints. Once the joints are finally moved for the first time, the pressure is released. The more pressure released, the more likely you are to hear a loud crack or pop.
Human Joints Explained
Long Term, Is It Safe to Pop Your Joints Every Day?
Some people may find that their joints crack or pop every day. This is especially common in the neck, spine, hips, or knees from sleeping or sitting in the same position for a long period of time. Cracking or popping may also develop in thefingersfrom sustained gripping or fine motor movements.
Popping or cracking that occurs with movement and generally happens once or twice at a time is generally considered normal and harmless. Stiff joints that crack or pop typically only do so once until a certain amount of time has passed (at least 20 minutes) before they can crack or pop again.
Pain With Joint Cracks
If pain occurs when you pop or crack a joint, it may be an indicator that a more serious problem is occurring. While cracking or popping a joint may produce a little discomfort as the pressure is released, sharp or severe pain can result if a joint is dislocated or if there is an injury to cartilage or a ligament within or surrounding the joint.
Contact your healthcare provider if your joint cracks or pops every time you move it.Repetitive joint cracking and popping may indicate joint instability, which can worsen over time and lead to other problems if not properly addressed.
You should also contact your healthcare provider if your joints are red, swollen, or inflamed, if you experience numbness or tingling, or if you cannot fully move your joint through its full range of motion.
How to Teach Yourself to Stop Cracking Your Joints (If You Want)
To stop cracking your joints, it is best to take a preventive approach to prevent your joints from becoming stiff and the need to crack them. Regularly stretching the muscles surrounding your stiff joints and actively moving your joints through their full range of motion can help improve your joint mobility and reduce pressure from building up within your joints.
Maintaining good posture while sitting can also help take strain off of joints, while regular breaks to get up and walk around every hour can help keep your joints lubricated.
Summary
Joint cracking and popping most often result when pressure is relieved from stiff joints that have not been moved for a prolonged period of time. If your joints crack once or twice after a period of immobility, it is generally normal and harmless.
Repeated joint cracking that occurs every time you move a joint or that causes pain may indicate a more serious problem that you should talk to your healthcare provider about. Regular stretching and movement, as well as avoiding prolonged positions, can help reduce joint stiffness from occurring and the likelihood of joints popping or cracking.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cramer GD, Ross K, Raju PK, et al.Quantification of cavitation and gapping of lumbar zygapophyseal joints during spinal manipulative therapy.J Manipulative Physiol Ther.2012;35(8):614–621. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.06.007Felson DT, Hodgson R.Identifying and treating preclinical and early osteoarthritis.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):699-710. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.012Houston Methodist.Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, Zeng H, Rowe L, Thompson R.Real-time visualization of joint cavitation.PLoS ONE.2015:10(4);e0119470. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119470Aurora Health Care.Knee, shoulder, and elbow cracking or popping (crepitus).Song SJ, Park CH, Liang H, Kim SJ.Noise around the knee.Clin Orthop Surg.2018 Mar;10(1):1-8. doi: 10.4055/cios.2018.10.1.1
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cramer GD, Ross K, Raju PK, et al.Quantification of cavitation and gapping of lumbar zygapophyseal joints during spinal manipulative therapy.J Manipulative Physiol Ther.2012;35(8):614–621. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.06.007Felson DT, Hodgson R.Identifying and treating preclinical and early osteoarthritis.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):699-710. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.012Houston Methodist.Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, Zeng H, Rowe L, Thompson R.Real-time visualization of joint cavitation.PLoS ONE.2015:10(4);e0119470. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119470Aurora Health Care.Knee, shoulder, and elbow cracking or popping (crepitus).Song SJ, Park CH, Liang H, Kim SJ.Noise around the knee.Clin Orthop Surg.2018 Mar;10(1):1-8. doi: 10.4055/cios.2018.10.1.1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cramer GD, Ross K, Raju PK, et al.Quantification of cavitation and gapping of lumbar zygapophyseal joints during spinal manipulative therapy.J Manipulative Physiol Ther.2012;35(8):614–621. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.06.007Felson DT, Hodgson R.Identifying and treating preclinical and early osteoarthritis.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):699-710. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.012Houston Methodist.Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, Zeng H, Rowe L, Thompson R.Real-time visualization of joint cavitation.PLoS ONE.2015:10(4);e0119470. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119470Aurora Health Care.Knee, shoulder, and elbow cracking or popping (crepitus).Song SJ, Park CH, Liang H, Kim SJ.Noise around the knee.Clin Orthop Surg.2018 Mar;10(1):1-8. doi: 10.4055/cios.2018.10.1.1
Cramer GD, Ross K, Raju PK, et al.Quantification of cavitation and gapping of lumbar zygapophyseal joints during spinal manipulative therapy.J Manipulative Physiol Ther.2012;35(8):614–621. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.06.007
Felson DT, Hodgson R.Identifying and treating preclinical and early osteoarthritis.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):699-710. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.012
Houston Methodist.Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?
Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, Zeng H, Rowe L, Thompson R.Real-time visualization of joint cavitation.PLoS ONE.2015:10(4);e0119470. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119470
Aurora Health Care.Knee, shoulder, and elbow cracking or popping (crepitus).
Song SJ, Park CH, Liang H, Kim SJ.Noise around the knee.Clin Orthop Surg.2018 Mar;10(1):1-8. doi: 10.4055/cios.2018.10.1.1
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