General
When it comes to cracking joints, one rarely hears a single opinion. There is controversy about how exactly the noise is produced in the first place and whether or not the crackling is potentially dangerous. In general, it is assumed that the phenomenon is not dangerous and can be caused by wear and tear in the affected joint.
Causes
The causes for the development of cracking noises within the joints can be manifold. In most cases, the cracking of the joints is a completely harmless phenomenon. Many theories in this regard are based on tiny air bubbles that are located inside the joint fluid and burst during movement.
Furthermore, it is assumed that the cracking of the joints is due to friction between the individual joint surfaces. For this reason, especially people whose cartilaginous joint surfaces are particularly uneven should suffer from cracking joints. Another cause for this phenomenon is said to be the displacement of ligaments and/or tendons during joint loading.
Crackling of the large joints
In principle any joint can crack. However, this event occurs particularly frequently in knee or finger joints and in the spinal column. The cracking sound is an indication that a certain but not for a serious disease.
This phenomenon can be observed somewhat more frequently in women than in men, as they generally have somewhat weaker connective tissue, which means that the joint is not as well protected. Usually, however, the cracking is completely harmless. The knee in particular is subjected to a great deal of stress in the course of a lifetime (a risk group is therefore, for example, athletes who perform many movements in the knee).
- Wear and tear and/or
- Damage to the joint cartilage has occurred,
Since these strains cause increased abrasion of the cartilage, many people can hear a cracking or grinding sound when they make certain movements in the knee joint. The cracking of the joints of the spine or neck suggest a malposition of vertebrae or muscular problems. These types of cracking are involuntary and are usually not a cause for concern.
Contrary to the widespread opinion that the noise can lead to secondary diseases such as osteoarthritis, this fact has not been confirmed. However, if the cracking is accompanied by pain or occurs very suddenly (for example after an accident), it is advisable to consult a doctor. If there is painful cracking in the knee, for example, a
- Arthrosis, a
- Meniscus damage or
- Defects of the tendons or mucous membranes, which then require medical treatment.
