Why Our Bones and Joints Crack and What You Can Do About It. Also, your ligaments and tendons tighten during movement of the joint, especially knees and ankles, which can cause a cracking sound. Take time to stretch every morning to improve this condition. Natural Health Suggestion: If you go to the gym and work out on weighted equipment.
- My symptoms then progressed into.extreme fatigue, joint pain and pressure and popping and clicking in the joints-almost all joints were affected. Popping and cracking in the joints almost to the point of having.OCD with popping my joints.
- However, if you’re not in the habit of cracking your joints and you still hear an unusual popping sound, it might not be due to your joints cracking at all. Such noises may also come from your tendons, which keep your muscles attached to your bones, and ligaments, which connect your bones.
- Jan 18, 2019 The joints of the body that often make a cracking or popping sound include the knuckles, the back and neck, the knees, ankles, and elbows. Sometimes the joints crack audibly and other times you may feel it without hearing a sound. What is happening when your joints crack could.
Ask the doctor
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Q. Why are my joints so stiff when I wake up? Is there anything I can do about it?
A. Stiffness in the back, knees, or feet is a common complaint I hear from older individuals. People often say, 'I'm just getting old,' but old age alone does not cause morning joint stiffness. It is usually an indication of worn joints, muscle tightness, or inflammation from arthritis.
As your joints get older, the spongy cushion of cartilage begins to dry out and stiffen. The joint lining also produces less synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint. Weak muscles and stiff tendons also tend to tighten during sleep. Osteoarthritis, (the 'wear and tear' kind), and rheumatoid arthritis, (which involves swelling and inflammation), both can trigger morning stiffness.
The average episode lasts only about 10 to 15 minutes. The stiffness goes away as you move and warm up the joints and muscles. However, stiffness from rheumatoid arthritis may last more than an hour.
You cannot reverse the effects of joint aging, and while certain medications can help manage arthritis pain and inflammation, stiffness can still occur. Still, you can reduce the severity and frequency of morning joint stiffness by being more active and engaging in exercise to increase muscle strength and flexibility. Maintaining a healthy weight also can help. Finally, don't be swayed by joint health supplements, such as glucosamine or chondroitin. These do not appear to help manage symptoms in the long term.
—William Kormos, M.D.
Editor in Chief, Harvard Men's Health Watch
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
A friend of mine mentioned that her feet and toes make these loud cracking noises when she walks, and I said, 'OMG, me too!' Suddenly I had to know: Is this a sign of current and future foot problems? I decided to investigate...
P.S. Those feet above are Reese Witherspoon's...
According to Kent Holtorf, M.D., medical director of The Holtorf Medical Group in California says it's probably no big deal. But here's the surprising thing: The cracking has to do with ... gas!
'Gases are dissolved in the synovial fluid of the joint,' he says. 'When you stretch and quickly compress the joint capsule the gas is rapidly released, which forms bubbles and cracking noise. To crack the same joint again you have to wait until the gases return to the synovial fluid. Also, when the joint moves tendons can move out of place make a cracking sound as the as it moves to its original position. If it is not painful, it is not likely harmful, but if it remains painful, it should be evaluated by a doctor.'
Do your feet crackle and pop when you walk? (Sometimes mine are loud!)
Why Do Joints Crack All The Time
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