A clicking knee: when it is normal and when to see a doctor
Almost everyone hears their knee click or crackle now and then. Usually it is harmless, but sometimes it is an early signal worth paying attention to.
Where the noise comes from
Doctors call joint noise crepitus. Painless, occasional clicks when standing up or squatting usually come from gas bubbles in the joint fluid or from tendons gliding over bone. These sounds are common in healthy people and need no treatment on their own.
When the noise is worth a closer look
The large Osteoarthritis Initiative study followed 3,495 people who had no knee osteoarthritis symptoms at the start. The more often people reported knee crepitus, the more likely they were to develop osteoarthritis symptoms — pain and stiffness — in the following years [1].
What the doctor will do
- Examine the knee and check range of motion and ligament stability.
- Order an X-ray to assess the joint space and signs of osteoarthritis.
- If needed, a joint ultrasound, which shows fluid, ligaments and tendons well.
What you can do yourself
- Strengthen your thigh muscles: strong quadriceps take load off the knee.
- Keep a healthy weight — every extra kilogram adds load on the knees.
- Choose gentle activity: walking, swimming, cycling.
Sources
- Lo GH, et al. Association between self-reported knee crepitus and incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis Care & Research, 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This article is based on scientific publications and clinical guidelines. It does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
