Why our bones make noise! You will be surprised!

If you’ve ever experienced your elbow or knee “creaking” or making a slight “popping” noise, don’t panic just yet.

There is a protective fluid that cushions most of the joints contained by our bodies. It’s like lubrication for the body, like oil is in your car.

Inside a capsule that safeguard bones connected at a joint, the synovial fluid keep the cartilage, tissues, and muscles lubricated and well nourish. Nutrients float inside the fluid, along with gas, such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

As you bend your fingers, the joint medication stretches. To make more room for the stretch, gas release out of the fluid. The pop of your knuckles is the sound of gas as it bubbles out of the fluid, scientists read aloud. Before your knuckle can crack again, the fluid must reabsorb the gas.

Tendons and ligaments can be quite noisy as well!

Tendons are like rubber band stretched over joints that maintain muscles attached to bones. Similar to ligaments extend to connect bones to other bones. Once in a while, tendons and ligaments slide out of their spot at the joint and consequently quickly snap hindmost into place.

If your knee cracks when you stand up from sitting , you’re hearing your tendons and ligaments popping into proper position around your knee’s joint. The tendons and ligaments are more than likely trying to find the patella groove. It’s important that your knee “tracks” correctly. This helps keep your knee stable during movement.

Keep in mind, arthritic joints are not the only cause dull pain, they can creak as well.

Connecting bones loose their smooth cartilage and grow spurs on their edges. The amount of synovial fluid also increases, making the reciprocal feel stiff and sore.

It’s very important to strengthen the main moving joints of your body. Starting with the shoulder, hips, knees and ankles.  Performing balance exercises along with strength exercise may help to reduce the noise, but more importantly, bring more stability to weakened areas.

So, the next time you work out, don’t be too alarmed if you hear things go snap, crackle, pop! However, if there is a feeling of roughness, or a “catching” say under or near the shoulder joint, or of course any pain, I recommend that you see your doctor and get clearance to continue or find ways to condition the joints that need to be strengthened.

In good health,

Suzie