Joints represent the most important part of the musculoskeletal system of a person; it is precisely on them that the mobility and connection of the bones of the skeleton depends. The sudden sounds that are heard during their work, alarm the person, because normally there should be no noise. How to understand why a joint crunches? Is it associated with the disease or due to physiological reasons?
Physiological reasons
Why are bones and joints crunching, is it always dangerous? Answer: no, there is a crunch that does not pose a danger to humans. The following processes are able to explain its appearance.
- Hypermobility of the joints. This phenomenon is considered a version of the norm when it comes to boys and girls. Crunch - a signal for the production of collagen fibers with a specific structure, more tensile. Perhaps heredity, causing the formation of fragile tissues, is to blame. This is why the joints crackle. Treatment in this case is not required. The compaction of fibers happens with age, but the process is able to take pathological forms.
- Flick. As a result, the ligament touches the protruding portion of the bone. There is no reason to worry.
- Concentration of carbon dioxide in the articular cavity. Gas in the event of a fall back causes a squelching sound that takes the form of an articular crunch.
Pathological causes
It is worth making an appointment with a doctor if a crunch is present in a certain area, you must definitely find out why the shoulder joints, elbows, and hips are crunching. Also, excitement is caused by additional symptoms - inflammation, problems with mobility, swelling, pain, redness. All this in aggregate may indicate the presence of a disease, inflammation, trauma.
Risk group
The likelihood of encountering diseases of the joints causing a crunch is highest for the following groups of people:
- dancers, ballerinas;
- athletes (not only professionals, but also amateurs who devote a lot of time to sports, who do not know how to calculate loads);
- obese people;
- specialists whose work is associated with the constant transfer, lifting weights (loaders, builders);
- girls who do not crawl out of stilettos.
Those at risk should pay maximum attention to preventive measures. Then you don’t have to go to the doctor asking why the bones and joints are crunching.
Wrong lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main factors in the development of joint crunch, the occurrence of diseases. If a person's professional activity implies a constant long-term stay in one position (standing, sitting - does not play a role), he is in danger. An effective preventive measure - at least once an hour to devote five minutes to the movement - to walk, do light gymnastics.
Joint troubles are well known to people with extra pounds. The main target is the spine, legs - this is why the joints on the legs crackle. Only getting rid of excess weight, regular exercise will provide a chance to fix everything. The development of arthrosis at the initial stage is easy to stop, there is even the opportunity to activate the growth of cartilage tissue.
The constant wearing of uncomfortable shoes, bad habits, poor nutrition - all this also translates into inadequate blood supply to tissues, organs, can cause diseases related to joints.
Inflammation, trauma
The reason why joints in the knees are crunching can be an inflammatory process that occurs in the tendon (tendonitis), as well as inflammation of the periarticular bag (bursitis). If the tissues are inflamed, joint movements may be accompanied by characteristic noise. The exact cause of the phenomenon can only be established by an orthopedic surgeon.
Tendonitis manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- pain intensified by rapid movements;
- local swelling;
- crunch.
The main manifestations of bursitis:
- redness;
- increase in skin temperature;
- pain in the area of the bag;
- crunch.
A loud, single crunch can indicate a rupture of the ligament, tendon (full, partial), meniscus damage, deep crack, fracture. A number of sports lead to chronic injuries that cause unstable joints. In such a situation, a crunch can be safely called a warning about the threat of post-traumatic arthrosis, so it is very important to ask in a timely manner, for example, why the hip joint is crunching.
Arthrosis
The main target of arthrosis is the knee and hip joints, it is also possible damage to the joints of the fingers and toes, ankle. The disease reports itself in a hoarse, coarse, dry crunch. With the development of arthrosis, the clarity of sound increases, a person feels pain. Crunch is not the only symptom of this disease.
- Pain, mainly resulting from a heavy load, in the process of movement. If the patient is resting, remains motionless for some time, the pain subsides. If arthrosis becomes severe, sharp pain sensations remind of it with every movement, do not stop for a long time.
- Stiffness in the movements. Knee joints lose flexibility, it is difficult to raise their legs high - this is how the onset of the disease looks. What follows is an increasing limitation in mobility.
- Deformation. Outgrowths (osteophytes) occur, bones enclosed inside the joint are deformed, and fluid accumulates in the joint, leading to its “bursting”.
This is how the main symptoms of arthrosis look - one of the most common reasons why a joint crunches. Overweight, leading to excessive load on the legs, is one of the main factors in the "wear" of the joint. Also dangerous is the seemingly innocuous habit of cracking fingers. It is believed that the disease threatens primarily the elderly, but representatives of the younger generation are not protected from it.
Osteochondrosis
Another popular cause of “crunchy” joints is osteochondrosis, approximately 60% of people are familiar with this disease in varying degrees. Basically, the disease develops in individuals who adhere to a sedentary lifestyle. Also, the wrong potassium-calcium balance and an excess of calcium can become a factor causing the deposition of salts. Osteochondrosis, in addition to crunching, can inform about itself with the following symptoms:
- numbness of the limbs;
- pain in the joints;
- regular bouts of dizziness.
“Initial” osteochondrosis looks harmless, but its neglected form can lead to a violation of cerebral circulation, immobility (complete or partial). Prevention of osteochondrosis, its treatment at the initial stage is a balanced diet, an energetic lifestyle. All this will help to avoid the unpleasant question of why the joint crunches.
Ankylosis
The so-called restriction of joint mobility, which takes a pathological form, even complete immobility is possible. Crunch is one of the manifestations of this dangerous disease, developing due to the fusion of articular surfaces, which is caused by dystrophic processes, infection. The cause may also be intraarticular severe fractures, which entailed a violation of the articular surfaces. Ankylosis can be the result of prolonged wearing of gypsum.
A sharp pain with ankylosis appears with every attempt to move. It is possible to fight the disease only surgically, while instead of a diseased joint, a prosthesis is installed.
Teen crunch
The ligamentous apparatus of a teenager does not keep pace with the rapid development of his bone tissue, the production of articular fluid is delayed, resulting in an unpleasant crunch. This should not be scared, this signal only reports about the spasmodic development that the youthful organism is undergoing. The crunch in this case is absolutely not a threat.
Crunch in children
Parents of infants often encounter such a thing as the sounds made by the joints of the baby. For example, a mother or father is engaged in developmental gymnastics with the child, they take him in his arms, while clicks are heard, a slight crunch. Why do babies crackle joints, is there any need to worry about this?
The most common cause of the phenomenon - the musculoskeletal system has not yet had time to form. In this case, there is no reason for concern, the strengthening of the system will occur with the growth of the baby. Unfortunately, very young children are not immune from a number of diseases and pathologies:
- joint hypermobility;
- dislocations, subluxations, dysplasia;
- rheumatism;
- reactive arthritis (a consequence of infection);
- rheumatoid juvenile arthritis.
To worry the parents of the baby up to a year is worth in the following cases:
- long-term continuation of the crunch;
- the appearance on the legs of the asymmetry of skin folds;
- clicks during extension, flexion;
- Difficulty in the separation of the hips (dislocation, subluxation);
- redness, swelling of the skin in the articular zone;
- crying baby with a crunch.
Even one of these signs is the reason for immediate medical advice.
Preventative measures
Prevention of articular crunch is the most important task, which is recommended to pay attention even to those who do not belong to the risk group and who are not yet interested in why the joint crunches. The following prescriptions from doctors help maintain health.
- A sedentary lifestyle is the main danger factor. Swimming, long walks, gymnastics are effective prevention. This does not mean that you need to set sports records - excess load is as harmful as its absence.
- At least 2 liters of water should be consumed per day.
- In one position is allowed to stay a maximum of half an hour. Breaks during sedentary work protect against joint diseases.
- The diet should be balanced, it should have a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables.
- A regular visit to a professional massage therapist.
The appearance of a crunch in the joints can be a symptom of a disease, which should be taken carefully.