What you need to know about Noisy Knees

Written by: Angie Mohamed, PTA

Noise from the knees, or crepitus, is a very common condition that many people experience. As we age, our knee joints experience some wear and tear. Cartilage and tissue that cover the bony areas of the knee may become uneven. Popping, cracking and clicking sounds can result from these areas rubbing against each other. As long as there is no pain when you hear the snap, crackle and pops – it is unlikely that you have a major problem in the knee joint.

However, If you start to have even minor knee pain, it could be the sign of a serious issue that can turn into major pain.

If there is knee pain or swelling along with noise from the knees, you may have structural damage or pathology. Potential issues could be meniscus tears, ligamentous injury, cartilage injury, dislocated knee cap, or osteoarthritis. The meniscus is a C shaped disc that cushions the knee joint and is a shock absorber. Meniscus tears are often caused by sudden twisting motion or from playing sports. Cartilage injury or wear can be due to a thinning or break down that causes your knee to respond with swelling or “catching” during motion.

Loose bodies in the knee (small pieces of cartilage or bone particles that become loose and float around within the knee joint) can also cause locking of the knee, a feeling that something is moving around in your knee and/or knee pain. Loose bodies should be removed to prevent further damage to cartilage by a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or others, coming to our office for a consultation can help determine the cause of your noisy knees, address the issues and help prevent further damage. Call us today at 732-345-1377 or fill out the form on this page to schedule a free consultation ($245 value) and learn if Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation’s Knee Pain Treatment program is right for you.