Is it normal to hear your bones crack with the slightest movement? An expert’s answers

When getting out of bed or bending down to pick something up, you always hear your bones creaking. You are probably wondering why and if this is normal. In reality, these noises come from your joints and the air they release. Like when you intentionally crack your fingers. But sometimes there are other reasons.

Should you be worried about your cracking joints?

“It is not uncommon for joints to crack and can happen at all ages and to all joints.” explains Elizabeth T. Nguyen, a rehabilitation physician in New York, interviewed by the magazine Well and Good. According to the doctor, there are three main possible explanations:

Your joints release pressure

Joints crack when trapped gas bubbles escape. This can happen in your fingers, of course, but it can also happen in your back, neck, knees, or ankles. These gas bubbles—made up of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide—are contained in the lubricating fluid in your joints called synovial fluid. When you stretch your joints, the movement causes a reduction in pressure, causing these gas bubbles to burst, producing the sound you hear.

You have cartilage loss

Sometimes the cracking noises come from the joints themselves, which become noisy when you lose cartilage, which is the connective tissue that normally acts as a cushion between your joints, so you can move them without pain. Loss of this cartilage is linked to aging and injury. It is not painful, normally. If she becomes one, “This could be related to an arthritic condition” believes Dr. Nguyen. If you have difficulty carrying out everyday activities due to this pain, such as climbing stairs for example, it would be prudent to consult a doctor, as this could be a sign of osteoarthritis.

You have joint inflammation

If you’re wondering why your joints crack and hurt, it could be inflammation. Tendinitis, that is to say inflammation of the tendons or tissues that connect your muscles to your bones, can therefore explain this. “If the tendons around the joint are inflamed or damaged, it can affect the way the joints work.” recalls Dr. Nguyen.

There is no real way to prevent your joints from cracking, as it is a physiological process, as the specialist reminds us. However, some tips can be applied on a daily basis, in order to best protect your joints. For example:

• Exercise regularly because physical activity keeps muscles and joints strong enough to combat stiffness. If your knees or ankles are sensitive, choose a low-impact activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling;
• Choose a balanced diet, which will help keep joints healthy and strong. Additionally, it can help you maintain a healthy weight, which can help relieve pressure on joints;
• Cracking sounds that occur with pain or stiffness can – and should – be treated, because you are likely dealing with an underlying problem. Other symptoms, such as numbness, muscle weakness, tingling are also signs that should not be overlooked.

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