Probably, every person in his life had to at least once feel that his knee crunches when bent. But it is immediately worth noting the fact that at the same time a person does not feel even the slightest manifestations of pain, but still this sound can create certain inconveniences, since few people will be pleased to draw attention to themselves in this way. But is this phenomenon actually harmless or a symptom of the onset of a serious illness? And if the disease, then what? And how to prevent it? It is the answers to these questions that this article is devoted to.
What it is
When they say that the knee crunches during bending, then this means crackling and clicking, emitted by the joints during both active movement and during passive movement. But, as practice shows, most often they appear during squats or fast walking. In most cases, this happens in athletes or athletes and indicates their strong overtraining. But recently, such a problem began to arise in both adults and children. So why is this happening?
Why do knees crunch when bent
The reasons for this phenomenon can be various factors. Which include:
- A variety of diseases, for example, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis.
- A certain way of life.
- Numerous physical activities.
- Damage and dysplasia.
In addition, such a phenomenon, when the knees crunch, but do not hurt, can be a manifestation of the norm. But let's dwell on each reason a little more.
Cracking in the knees as a variant of the norm
As practice shows, sometimes this phenomenon can be a manifestation of the norm and does not serve as symptoms of something more serious. The determining factor that everything is normal is considered to be the absence of pain in the knee. So why are your knees crunching but not sore? A huge number of dissertations and scientific works are devoted to the answer to this question. So, for example, it is believed that due to an increase in gas bubbles in the fluid that washes the joint (it is also called synovial), the volume of the joint cavity itself increases, which is accompanied by a characteristic click. Further, these bubbles dissolve, which in turn allows the joints to return to their original position, which can also serve as one of the causes of a crunch or click. It should be borne in mind that the time interval between such sounds can be from 15 to 25 minutes.
Another theory, which has been confirmed, says that these sounds can occur as a result of the ligament or tendon touching certain fragments of bones, which are somewhat prominent. An example is the bones of the shoulders, hips, or wrists. In this case, the published click will be slightly quieter.
High mobility
Probably each of us in his life admired acrobats or gymnasts who showed great stretching? But few people know that most of these people have a congenital defect in the connective tissue, which is manifested by a sufficient weakness of the joint-ligamentous apparatus. As practice shows, it is in these people most often the knee crunches when bending, but in their case it is more a manifestation of the norm than something requiring close attention from specialists. But if such a phenomenon occurs with enviable regularity, then it is still worth contacting a medical institution.
Arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis
As already mentioned, such a phenomenon may be a variant of the norm, but if it begins to appear quite often and without observing the time interval, then this is one of the early symptoms of the fact that various inflammatory processes can begin in the human body. In addition, one of the symptoms of the onset of the development of a serious disease is not only the fact that the knee constantly crunches, but also that this process is accompanied by severe pain, and in some cases even a limitation of the mobility of the joint itself. Each of these symptoms can indicate the presence or development of diseases such as arthrosis, tendonitis, deforming osteoarthrosis, bursitis.
Low mobility
As recent statistical studies show, some people working primarily in offices and leading a sedentary lifestyle, one day, are surprised to find that their knee crunches when bent / extended. This happens due to the fact that a person, by nature, needs at least insignificant physical exertion, and in the absence of these, a gradual atrophy and weakening of the muscles occurs, which in turn entails weakening of the ligaments. As a result, the articular apparatus can no longer fully perform its functions, as a result of which characteristic click-crunches begin to appear even with the most elementary movement. Such signals in most cases carry information that the body is gradually decreasing, it is necessary to pay attention to your physical condition.
Strong physical activity
Does the knee crunch when bent and when measures are not followed during exercise? It is worth considering that work related to weight lifting or weightlifting can also lead not only to this phenomenon, but also cause a disease such as arthrosis. Therefore, at the first manifestations of a crunch or clicks, it is worthwhile to reduce physical activity and take care of yourself a little.
Injuries, injuries and dysplasia
Quite often crunch your knees when you squat after suffering various injuries of the joints in the past, because after that the joint becomes a little weaker (even after fully implemented therapeutic measures), which in the future can be expressed in such characteristic sounds. In addition, it should be understood that this joint will automatically fall into the risk group for the possible re-occurrence of damage. That is why it is recommended to avoid situations that can lead to them, and the characteristic click of the joints during movement serves to a greater extent as a reminder that this joint should be especially protected.
Also answering the question: “Why do knees crunch when bending?”, One should not forget about such a common phenomenon as the underdevelopment of various tissues that are in the joint, it is also called dysplasia. In the presence of dysplasia, the damaged joint is to some extent considered weakened, but not due to external damage, but to a greater extent due to underdevelopment, but this does not prevent them from being combined into one group.
Diagnostics
If a crunch in the knees causes certain inconvenience, it is recommended to visit an arthrologist or orthopedist to prevent the development of arthritis or arthrosis in the future. After a full-time examination, a specialist will appoint certain diagnostic measures that are aimed at making the correct diagnosis and initiating adequate treatment. Such measures in the majority of cases are introduced to take tests for reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, and X-ray and ultrasound of the joint.
Crunch your knees: how to treat
Depending on the diagnosis, the most appropriate treatment is prescribed. So, for example, with arthritis or arthrosis, anti-inflammatory and antihistamines are used, which are prescribed for a certain course. In addition, ointments are applied locally, which are based on bee honey or other substances containing heating components.
If overweight is the reason that the knee crunches when bent, the treatment is to review your lifestyle. And more precisely, in its activation. All that is needed is to devote one hour of your time to doing various exercises (walking, cycling). The only thing to remember is that all heavy and exhausting exercises should be absent from this list, since doing them can only make things worse.
If the cause of the crunch is hormonal imbalance (most often diagnosed in women), then the treatment consists in the use of HRT (hormone replacement therapy). It is prescribed, as a rule, by an endocrinologist.
Joint crunch in children
As you know, children have a slightly different joint structure from adults. It’s all the more important to find out why a teenager’s knees crunch . There are several reasons for this:
- Pathology of the connective tissue. Such children are characterized by increased flexibility of the joints. If this child manifests crunching and clicking in the joints, then this is considered the norm. The only thing that these children are often diagnosed with heart disease. That is why, when identifying this pathology, it is recommended to be under the control of cardiologists. Ideally, of course, it is best to diagnose the functioning of the heart, which in the future will allow you to choose the most suitable lifestyle, which will minimize exacerbation of a possible disease.
- Short-term joint hypermobility. Its cause is the uneven development of tissues and joints, which is quite common for adolescents, since their articular apparatus has not yet matured in essence. Therefore, it is quite natural that from time to time during the movement of joints you can hear such characteristic sounds as a click or a crunch. The only thing you need to pay attention to is that these phenomena are completely painless and not cause discomfort.
Preventive actions
When the knees crackle, how to treat this condition is usually prescribed by a specialist. But there are also some measures aimed at reducing or completely eliminating this phenomenon.
We begin, of course, with gymnastics, which you need to do every day. The most common exercises include:
- Squats It is advisable to do them from 2 approaches, ten times each. In addition, you should stay a bit in the sitting position for a few seconds.
- Pulling the legs to the chest area.
- Exercises "bike" and "scissors".
- In addition, various lotions, creams and a hot bath have proven themselves quite well, especially after a hard day's work.
- Another remedy that has received good reviews is a compress, which includes orange juice and vegetable oil.
But once again we remind you that before applying all of the above tools, it is best to consult a specialist.