Crepitus

Crepitus/Cracking Joints: What is it?

Crepitus refers to a crackling, popping, or grating sound or sensation that can occur in joints or tissues. It often happens during movement and may be caused by gas bubbles in the joint, cartilage wear, or bone rubbing against bone. While it is generally harmless, persistent or painful crepitus may indicate underlying conditions like arthritis or joint damage.

Joint cracking, also known as crepitus, is frequently caused by arthritis or a previous joint injury. However, the presence of air in your joint tissues may cause a cracking or popping sound as well as an odd feeling. Crepitus can be caused by several illnesses, and the symptoms can vary greatly. Soft tissue crepitus, caused by air trapped inside human tissues, is a dangerous kind of crepitus. Crepitus caused by arthritis or joint difficulties may indicate persistent illness or joint damage.

Crepitus can affect every joint in your body. The sound may be muted or audible. It is most typically found in the joints:

• Knees
• Hands
• Feet
• Lower back
• Hips
• Shoulders

Knee crepitus: Pain may or may not be present when this condition affects the knee. Frequently, you may both hear and feel the pop or crunch when you place your palm over the knee. The sound might be loud or muted. Knee crepitus might indicate osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis if pain is present along with the sound.

Ankle crepitus: This condition can cause pain and an irregular range of motion in the ankle. Rather than exploding like in the knee or ankle, crepitus ankle noises are typically more of a grinding sound. Ankle osteoarthritis may be indicated by the grinding sounds.

Crepitus of the Neck: Almost everyone has occasional neck snaps or cracks, which are usually harmless. To assist in lubricating the joints, a fluid is present between the neck and spine joints. When the bones are misaligned, they may rub against one another, producing crepitus neck noises.

Causes of Crepitus Joints:

• Joint cracking occurs when the knee, shoulder, and hip joints move, releasing trapped gas bubbles in the joint cavity’s synovial fluid.
• A cracking sound is created when ligaments or tendons pass across bony prominences beneath the joint because of abnormalities and sporadic contact between these structures.
• When there is tension or misalignment, as is frequently seen during stretching, twisting, or other activities that strain the ligaments and cause them to deviate from their supposed locations, movement of the joint and related tendons or ligaments can create audible noises.

Generally speaking, joint cracking is not dangerous unless it is accompanied by additional symptoms like pain that make everyday living difficult. For an accurate diagnosis and to stop the emergence of additional related disorders, it is thus advised to see a doctor.

Signs and Symptoms of Crepitus:

The affected joint determines the crepitus signs & symptoms:

Crepitus in the knee:

Popping of the knee, with or without pain
Symptoms that co-occur may include:

• Knee pain when walking or bending
• Stiffness that goes away with exercise or stretching
• The inside of the knee may feel painful or sore.
• Recurring knee swelling

The Crepitus of the Ankle

When rotating the ankle, a grinding or grating sound is produced.
Symptoms that co-occur may include:

• Joint stiffness
• Ankle swelling
• Reduced adaptability
• decreased range of motion
• Having trouble walking and bearing weight
• prone to falling and slipping

Crepitus of the Neck

The most typical symptom is neck popping.
Symptoms that co-occur may include:

• Popping, with or without pain.
• stiffness in the neck
• Pain-related limited range of motion

Crepitus-related conditions:

Crepitus is a sign of certain prevalent illnesses:

Osteoarthritis – because your bones grind against one another because cartilage is broken or deteriorated – while not everyone with arthritis will have crepitus Tennis elbow is an example of tendinitis, which is an injury and inflammation of a tendon. Crepitus in the knee can result from an injury, such as a meniscal tear, which is a common sports injury. The Baker’s cyst

Other types of arthritis and joint degeneration, including gout, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause crepitus.

If you have a disorder, such as tendonitis, that has induced inflammation around a joint, you may suffer crepitus alongside joint pain and restricted movement. Other frequent inflammatory joint conditions include:

• Bursitis
• Tenosynovitis
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Temporomandibular joint disorders

In rare circumstances, crepitus might be experienced if you have scleroderma. This is an uncommon disorder that causes the skin and connective tissues to stiffen and tighten. As the tendons and muscles press against the stiffened tissues, you can feel crepitus.

Diagnosis of Crepitus:

You should consult your physician if you have crepitus accompanied by pain, swelling, or pain.

Your physician will examine your joint physically. They could recommend additional examinations and scans to look into the matter more or to support a diagnosis, like:

• X-ray
• MRI scan
• CT scan
• Bone scan
• Blood tests: an analysis of a sample of your blood will look for indications of inflammation and infection.
• Antibody testing can help determine whether your symptoms are related to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
• Joint aspiration involves inserting a needle into your joint and extracting a sample of synovial fluid for further analysis.

How to Avoid Crepitus:

One of the greatest methods to avoid crepitus is through nutrition. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet to prevent inflammation from forming in your body and joints. Eating foods that lower inflammation before arthritis develops is critical to both avoiding it and relieving the pain.

If you have arthritis or another autoimmune illness, exclude all nightshades from your diet since some research suggests they may cause increased inflammation and pain in some people. Slowly reintroduce them to see whether they should be removed from your diet.

An anti-inflammatory diet should contain the following foods:

• Wild-caught cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and anchovies.
• Fresh fruits include blackberries, cherries, raspberries, and blueberries.
• Leafy greens include kale, broccoli, Swiss chard, and spinach.
• Nuts include walnuts, pine nuts, almonds, and pistachios.
• Olive oil.
• Any foods to which you are sensitive should be eliminated from your diet.

Common food allergies include the following:

• Wheat
• Soy
• Conventional cow’s milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Fish
• Seafood

Foods that may cause problems for persons with a rubber latex allergy:

• Apple
• Avocado
• Banana
• Carrot
• Celery
• Chestnut
• Kiwi
• Melons
• Papaya
• Raw potatoes
• Tomatoes

Additional preventive actions include:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, five days a week.
• Incorporating flexibility-focused exercises such as Pilates and yoga to maintain joint and muscle health.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

If you suffer pain, swelling, or moments when your joint catches or locks during crepitus, consult your doctor since these may be early indicators of arthritis and require additional investigation. If the crepitus worsens or is accompanied by uncomfortable pain, you should visit a doctor.

It is not ordinary for our bodies to generate sounds while we move. If you notice new joint sounds, swelling, redness, numbness, or weakness in your limbs or toes/fingers, consult your doctor. X-rays can indicate arthritis, but MRIs can show soft tissue injury.

Treatments for Crepitus:

Conventional Treatments:

Crepitus treatment is frequently not required unless the sounds are accompanied by pain or other symptoms. When more symptoms appear, your medical team may prescribe one or more of the following therapies, depending on the underlying cause:

• RICE Protocol: Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. For meniscus tears, edema, or injuries.
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs and other pain relievers.
• Prescription pain relievers.
• Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Corticosteroid
• Topical agents that require a prescription.
• If the crepitus is caused by an injury, it may require surgical correction.
• Injections of stem cells to treat knee osteoarthritis.

Physical Therapy for Joint Cracking:

Physiotherapists are certified healthcare specialists who have experience examining the joints of the human body. If you are experiencing pain, stiffness, or swelling due to clicking joints, an examination might be beneficial. This can assist in determining the source of the pain and rule out or avoid any injuries that may worsen. The therapies received will be determined by the reason for the joint clicking. If the reason is arthritis or a joint injury, the therapy will focus on reducing pain optimizing healing, and improving joint integrity. Some of the following therapies might be used:

• Electrotherapy
• Acupuncture
• Range of movement exercises
• Strengthening exercises
• Self-management strategies
• Proprioceptive exercises

Surgery;

• Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) to examine or correct joint injury.
• Joint replacement (such as hip or knee replacement) is used in extreme instances or when the joint is severely injured.

Five Natural Treatments for Crepitus Symptoms:

Boswellia serrata.
Also known as frankincense oil, this potent plant extract boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, relieves joint pain, and improves mobility, making it an excellent natural arthritis therapy.
One group was given 6 grams of Boswellia serrata, split into three equal doses after meals, while another group received the same amount but added a topical Boswellia serrata ointment to apply to the arthritic joints. Both groups showed substantial improvements in stiffness, joint swelling, and pain, as well as a decrease in blood triglycerides.

Turmeric
Turmeric has long been recognized for its ability to prevent blood clots, alleviate depression, battle obesity, control cholesterol, and reduce inflammation. It is also one of the greatest natural pain relievers available.
Researchers looked at the pain, stiffness, mobility, and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They found that taking 1,000 mg daily may provide pain relief advantages comparable to those of over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
According to the Arthritis Foundation, omega-3 fatty acids can lower inflammation in the body and aid in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis.
Individuals with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis received stronger pain alleviation, decreased failure of standard medication (DMARD therapy), and a higher incidence of remission while taking a high dosage of fish oil — 5.5 grams daily.

Collagen
Collagen, which is responsible for healthy skin, bones, joints, and tendons, is critical for anyone who suffers from joint crepitus. Inside the joints, collagen acts as a lubricant, allowing the bones to move freely without pain.
According to studies, oral collagen type V supplements can lower inflammation, assist prevent joint deterioration and aid in the treatment of arthritis. They recommend collagen type V for patients suffering from inflammatory joint illnesses since synovial tissues are frequently impacted and this kind of collagen is exposed during synovial inflammation.

Exercise
Staying active is a terrific natural muscle relaxer, and for people with arthritis or joints that crack, or pop, exercise is a great method to decrease fluid accumulation, and increase mobility, flexibility, weariness, and joint pain.

Walking and other low-impact activities are encouraged, but range-of-motion exercises should also be included to reduce stiffness. These exercises are supposed to help your joints move through their whole range of motion. This might involve doing arm circles, rotating your neck side to side, or moving your shoulders forward and back.

To assist preserve your joints, you should also strengthen the muscles around them. If you have inflammatory arthritis, weight exercising three days a week is ideal; however, make sure to take a day off between workouts. For cardiovascular health, choose low-impact aerobic workouts that are gentle on your joints. Swimming, walking, Pilates, cycling, and yoga all have health benefits.

Risk Factors of Crepitus:

The risk factors for Crepitus are:

• Being overweight
• Previous injury
• Family history of arthritis
• Inactive lifestyle
• Inflammation

Conclusion:

Crepitus refers to the popping, cracking, grinding, or grating noises that joints can create.
These noises are normally not cause for alarm. However, if they are associated with pain, edema, or reduced movement, consult your doctor.

Crepitus is most commonly associated with joints such as the neck, back, knees, shoulders, and ankles, but it can also occur in the lungs as a result of an upper respiratory infection. Conventional therapy focuses on pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications to address the underlying cause of the crepitus.

It is critical to prevent inflammatory joint problems by eating well, exercising regularly, and keeping a healthy weight. Six natural treatments for crepitus symptoms are Boswellia serrata, turmeric, omega-3 fatty acids, collagen, and exercise.

FAQs

References

• Spire Healthcare. (n.d.). Crepitus or clicking joints Symptoms, Causes & Treatments | Spire Healthcare. https://www.spirehealthcare.com/symptoms/crepitus/
• Sanguanwongwan W. (2024, September 20). Crepitus or cracking joints: causes and exercises to strengthen the joints. MedPark Hospital. https://www.medparkhospital.com/zh-CN/lifestyles/crepitus-or-cracking-joints
• Crepitus – Cracking Joints and How Physiotherapy Can Help? (n.d.). Cbphysiotherapy. https://cbphysiotherapy.in/symptoms/crepitus-cracking-joints
• Crepitus Symptoms, natural remedies and how to prevent – Dr. Axe. (2019, December 5). Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/health/crepitus/