Cracking of the joints is known to many people. It can occur during the movement of all joints and is not a sign of age or defects in the joints. Most of the time, this cracking is also completely painless.
What is cracking of the joints?
Many people know the cracking of the joints during various movements. One goes into the squat and thereby the knees crack or it comes to cracking in the finger joints. Many people know the cracking of the joints during various movements. One goes into the squat and thereby the knees crack or it comes to cracking in the finger joints. These are the joints that are most often affected by such cracking. The reason is certainly that these joints are moved a lot. But this joint cracking also often occurs in the elbow, shoulders, ankle or neck. A cracking of the joints can just happen or can also be brought about consciously. Some people can cause a joint to crack by severely stretching it. A common belief is that this cracking – whether provoked or occurring randomly – is not good or even harmful to the joints because it causes increased wear and tear. However, this is not to be feared in most cases.
Causes
Cracking of the joints can be triggered by many causes. However, no scientific evidence exists to support these theories. Basically, if this cracking does not cause pain, it can be assumed that there is no more serious disease or damage in the affected joint. One possible cause is seen as gas bubbles of carbon dioxide that have formed from the synovial fluid. The bursting of these bubbles then causes the audible cracking sound. Another cause may be negative pressure in the joint, which occurs when the joint surfaces are pulled apart and moved. This often results in a “popping” sound. Another possible cause is not suspected directly at the joint, but is related to the tendons. It is assumed that there is a disturbance at the tendons, which then jump during movements and produce the cracking noise. In addition, cracking of the joints can also be caused by wear and tear or minor defects in the cartilage. But even behind this does not have to hide a serious disease, such as osteoarthritis.
Diseases with this symptom
- Osteoarthritis
Diagnosis and course
If the cracking of the joints occurs and the affected person has no accompanying symptoms such as joint pain, it is usually not necessary to treat. However, if the sounds are more grating, if the patient has pain while doing so, or if the cracking has only occurred since a joint injury or surgery, it makes sense to consult a specialist. Various diagnostic procedures can be used to assess the condition of the joint and, depending on the cause, treatment can be given. Both by palpation and manual movement of the affected joint, the doctor can make initial guesses. Damage or disease of the joints can be detected by computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. As a rule, a cracking of the joints can be treated very well. If the cause is known and is treated, the symptoms also disappear.
Complications
If the joints crack, this is usually completely harmless to health. However, if the sounds persist over a long period of time, there is a risk that the joints and ligaments will overstretch and even become damaged in the long term. Constant cracking with the joints can cause the ligaments and muscles to wear out and ache. If the cracking continues, the cartilage is gradually damaged. Movement pain and, in severe cases, paralysis of the affected joints occur. During treatment, home remedies and unsuitable therapeutic measures often lead to an increase in joint noises. For example, regular cracking may initially provide relief, but in the long term it puts considerable strain on the joints. The same applies to compresses and hot bandages, which can weaken the joints and muscles instead of reducing the cracking noise. In general, however, cracking joints are harmless as long as there is no underlying condition that requires treatment. When treating cracking or stiffened cervical vertebrae, there is a risk of injuring or constricting the surrounding arteries.Excessive cracking with the joints can also lead to cramping and, in rare cases, inflammation and other discomfort.
When should you see a doctor?
Provided that the cracking of the joints does not cause any pain, there is little risk and consultation with a specialist is not necessary. However, due to the stress-reducing effect of cracking, the triggering movement quickly becomes an addiction. If the cracking of bones and joints develops into a compulsive symptom, a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can help. Specialist consultation with an orthopedist is only necessary if the pressure of cracking increases over time or if a conspicuously large number of joints are affected. Since cracking in the joints is usually not an acute risk and therefore not an emergency, long waiting times for an appointment with a specialist may occur. Usually, any general practitioner can quickly determine whether orthopedic treatment is appropriate. Psychiatric treatment for compulsive joint cracking is exceedingly rare. To rule out the possibility that the cracking is part of a psychologically or physically related syndrome, the general practitioner should be informed of any abnormalities related to bones and joints.
Treatment and therapy
As long as the cracking of the joints does not cause pain to the affected person and the cracking is not associated with crunching noises, treatment is not necessarily required. In such cases, it is often sufficient to incorporate a little more movement into everyday life so that the joints do not “rust”. This also strengthens the muscles, which should always be taken into account in all orthopedic complaints. Exercise in this case does not mean sports activities or strength training to strengthen the muscles. Any kind of physical activity is good here, even a regular walk is enough to keep muscles and joints fit. If there is a pathological cause or damage behind the cracking of the joints, the treatment depends on the exact diagnosis. Painkillers can always be used for pain, and if there is inflammation in the joint, these drugs also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Physiotherapy can also be helpful in many cases to alleviate the discomfort. Osteoarthritis treatment is always tailored to the individual patient. In addition to the above-mentioned options, the therapy can also consist of massages or heat or cold treatments, as well as the targeted use of medications. For all causes, a healthy diet with sufficient exercise is also indicated. Exercise lubricates joints, and a healthy diet provides joints, muscles and tendons with sufficient nutrients to keep them healthy and prevent joints from cracking.
Outlook and prognosis
As long as the joints do not hurt when you crack them, there is no cause for concern. The vernacular refers to “rusting” of the joints, which describes the condition well. While it is not uncommon for joints to make noises, the sufferer is not affected. The cause of the cracking has not been precisely researched to date. It is assumed that the joint fluid briefly develops bubbles that produce noises. In principle, exercise is a good remedy. The situation is different when pain occurs. This is often due to poorly developed or shortened muscles that weaken the joint. Sports and exercise are an excellent therapy. Just like a ball bearing in a machine, human joints need room to move; the ball must sit loosely in the joint shell. Due to incorrect loading, the harmonious play is impaired, is even blocked by hard muscles. This often causes the pain. By loosening the muscles and doing compensatory sports, the joint can get back into “flow”. Warm baths, sauna visits, massages and heat therapy also help. Thanks to better blood circulation, the hardening of the muscles loosens up again. Glucosamines help to form synovial fluid and keep joints fit. They are important as we age because the body loses the ability to absorb them from foods. Good sources of glucosamine include crab, shrimp and lobster.
Prevention
There is limited prevention of joint cracking, but the risk of serious disease can be minimized by taking some steps. Exercise that is easy on the joints, a healthy and balanced diet, and avoiding excess weight all benefit our joints.
You can do it yourself
In most cases, when the joints crack, no treatment by the doctor or self-help is possible or necessary. Cracking of the joints represents a common symptom that is not harmful to health and therefore does not need to be treated. However, the situation is different if the cracking of the joints is associated with pain. Here, a generally healthy lifestyle can have a positive effect on the symptom. The patient should avoid fatty and unhealthy food and thus reduce excess weight. Likewise, sports activities have a positive effect on the cracking of the joints and can prevent the symptom itself. Therapeutic measures such as physiotherapy can also have a beneficial effect. Strengthening the muscles helps to avoid incorrect or one-sided stress on the joints. If tension is felt along with the cracking of the joints, the patient should adopt a different sitting posture to relieve the pressure on the affected areas. It also often helps to massage the affected areas or apply certain pain-relieving and cooling ointments. If the cracking of the joints occurs very frequently and is associated with severe pain, a doctor should be consulted. In this case, it may be an inflammation that needs to be examined by a doctor. However, occasional cracking of the joints is harmless and does not lead to further discomfort.