Crunching sound in knees

[SunandMoon]

So I've noticed the past few days when I workout, namely doing squats (without weights) I get this crunching sound in my right knee, it hurts a little bit. Is this a normal thing? I'm only 24 so it couldn't be like arthritis or anything, right? Anybody have this problem - Know of any way to remedy it at home?

 

I'm also worried 'cause awhile back I had an incident and got a big bruise on my knee from it. But I don't think that it has anything to do with that becuase I would think that this would've happened earlier on if so.....

[tman666]

Sometimes knees just make noise. Mine crackle sometimes too, especially when I'm not warmed up quite yet.

 

That said, if you can feel it and it hurts, to me it indicates that something could potentially be messed up. The only way to know for sure would be to go see an orthopedic doc who specializes in knees and have them check you out.

 

In the meantime, make sure that you're stretching out your hip flexors, hamstrings, glutes, IT bands, and ankles. Read this article by Mike Robertson: Knee Pain Basics Part 1 | Robertson Training Systems

[todreaminblue]

So I've noticed the past few days when I workout, namely doing squats (without weights) I get this crunching sound in my right knee, it hurts a little bit. Is this a normal thing? I'm only 24 so it couldn't be like arthritis or anything, right? Anybody have this problem - Know of any way to remedy it at home?

 

I'm also worried 'cause awhile back I had an incident and got a big bruise on my knee from it. But I don't think that it has anything to do with that becuase I would think that this would've happened earlier on if so.....

 

 

i have right leg problems, i actually get an audible crack that others can hear when twisting my leg in a certain way.......i used to dance a lot in my younger days....the right leg suffered since i had an incident with a martial artist smack head..dropped me by sweeping it out from underneath me...he swept it out by going from the inside of my right knee.......i continued to dance for a couple of years and it got worse with dropping and gaining wight during pregnancies..doesnt help i am accident prone......it feels like my knee it isnt......its the muscle that runs vertically from my thigh to my shin it bows out and snaps back in thii is actually audible to others not only me........causes huge problems..i used to march alot ex defence force....heel toe march....so mine is also mucking up due to stress..i have had to crawl when it gets really bad......i havent had it happen in a while i have dropped a heap of weight... when it does happen i get over it quicker.....your knee could be a lot of things it could stem from hip alignment, poor foot wear (get fitted with the best shoe for what sport or exercise you do) it could be inside the knee in the ball and socket lack of cushioning or wear and tear on cartilige...you need to go to a doctor and a specialist to get it seen too.....because i didnt........i now have permanent problems with that whole leg........it also causes problems with my left leg because i favor my right....i have achilles tendon problems now in my right leg....please go to a doctor and get your knee seen to .....so you can continue to do the things you love to do......how is your footwear?...i am going to have to go to a specialist myself soon...i hope that you do too..deb

Edited December 5, 2012 by todreaminblue

[SunandMoon]

Sometimes knees just make noise. Mine crackle sometimes too, especially when I'm not warmed up quite yet.

 

That said, if you can feel it and it hurts, to me it indicates that something could potentially be messed up. The only way to know for sure would be to go see an orthopedic doc who specializes in knees and have them check you out.

 

In the meantime, make sure that you're stretching out your hip flexors, hamstrings, glutes, IT bands, and ankles. Read this article by Mike Robertson: Knee Pain Basics Part 1 | Robertson Training Systems

 

It might be because I haven't loosened up well enough, will spend more time on my warm-up. Thanks for the article! Will read through that.

 

@todreaminblue; Sorry to hear you have leg troubles. I would go to the doctor for it, but I just got out of the hospital not too long ago and must get that paid off first, somehow. And I don't have medical insurance, so yeah it'll be awhile.

[todreaminblue]

It might be because I haven't loosened up well enough, will spend more time on my warm-up. Thanks for the article! Will read through that.

 

@todreaminblue; Sorry to hear you have leg troubles. I would go to the doctor for it, but I just got out of the hospital not too long ago and must get that paid off first, somehow. And I don't have medical insurance, so yeah it'll be awhile.

 

 

sorry to hear about that no medical insurance.....have you thought about strapping the knee and if you are having problems with squats trying an alternative exercise that doesn't put strain on the knee as much...or taking supplements that are specific for joint mobility.....my leg will pull through....i hav ea triathlon to do next year....lol......i think the more weight i drop from my frame the more i willl have control on my leg stresses when i am under my ideal weight next year....i feel that will help.... i am taking supplements and i know what movement it is that causes problems....dancing the way i normally would is out....im avoiding exercises that strees the situation.......i wish you the best.......i also suggest water therapy ....swimming to loosen that knee......less stress and strain ..and to me is wonderful anyway...I looooove swimming nothing finer...............my pt told me that gem..its a good one...deb

[johan]

Sounds normal to me. Just pay attention for distinct pops that really hurt.

[FitChick]

Do shallower squats. Build up the muscles around the knee to stabilize it. I inherited bad knees and that has helped me. I don't do lunges, at least not the ones where you lunge forward or back. I am in the lunge position but pulse up and down. Stationary lunges? Not sure how to explain it. I also do a lot of floor work with leg weights for abductors, adductors, hamstrings and quadriceps.

 

I can't stretch my quads by pulling my foot back to touch my butt. My knees don't bend that far. So I do what is similar to a mermaid stretch, sitting on the floor, except I lean over onto my forearm and slightly back, just until I feel a nice stretch in the quad and hip flexor. So much easier on the joints.

 

I also take a combo pill of MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin.

[SunandMoon]

Do shallower squats. Build up the muscles around the knee to stabilize it. I inherited bad knees and that has helped me. I don't do lunges, at least not the ones where you lunge forward or back. I am in the lunge position but pulse up and down. Stationary lunges? Not sure how to explain it. I also do a lot of floor work with leg weights for abductors, adductors, hamstrings and quadriceps.

 

I can't stretch my quads by pulling my foot back to touch my butt. My knees don't bend that far. So I do what is similar to a mermaid stretch, sitting on the floor, except I lean over onto my forearm and slightly back, just until I feel a nice stretch in the quad and hip flexor. So much easier on the joints.

 

I also take a combo pill of MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin.

 

Shallower squats...yeah. But you don't get so much of a workout from that though, right? When I do squats my butt and thighs are pretty much horizontal to the ground or lower. So I guess I can try that as my right knee is still cracking, the pain, it, it feels like when something is swollen that kind of "floaty bloated" feeling...it's wierd.

 

Come to think of it my father has bad knees...but I have fine range with mine, very flexible and rarely hurt except for that aforementioned swollen sensation. May have just been overusing it or stressing it too much, hmm.

[Emilia]

Shallower squats...yeah. But you don't get so much of a workout from that though, right? When I do squats my butt and thighs are pretty much horizontal to the ground or lower. So I guess I can try that as my right knee is still cracking, the pain, it, it feels like when something is swollen that kind of "floaty bloated" feeling...it's wierd.

 

 

Shallower squats are not necessarily better. The knees are designed to bend.

 

Is the pain below your knee cap, under it or to the side?

[Million.to.1]

I get cracking knees when i walk down stairs.. and they swell. Both do, and have for years. They are really bad sometimes. I can't run or kneel for long periods and it restricts alot of my activities when they are swollen.

I blame the 7 years of tap dancing in my youth.

[Ross MwcFan]

It happened to me for a few weeks, I think it was because I went quite heavy with the squats one day and it kinda did some damage to my knees, after that even if I squatted without weights they would make a crunching sound.

 

I stopped working out for a while, and now it seems to have gone away.

[Emilia]

A lot of the time the crunching is your kneecap rubbing the joints under it and it's due to tight quadriceps muscles. Streching your quads on a daily basis would get rid of a lot of knee pain in the world, it's the most common cause of the 'runners knee' effect.

[Crusoe]

Shallower squats...yeah. But you don't get so much of a workout from that though, right? When I do squats my butt and thighs are pretty much horizontal to the ground or lower. So I guess I can try that as my right knee is still cracking, the pain, it, it feels like when something is swollen that kind of "floaty bloated" feeling...it's wierd.

 

 

Knees are full of fluid, when under pressure air pockets are created which then pop. Sometimes it's a bit painful, sometimes not, either way, perfectly normal.

 

Trust me, you know all about it if things are rubbing on each other or if something is torn and out of place.

[SunandMoon]

Shallower squats are not necessarily better. The knees are designed to bend.

 

Is the pain below your knee cap, under it or to the side?

 

It's more so surrounding the knee cap. It's not like a very debilitating pain as I can continue, it feels odd is all.

[SunandMoon]

A lot of the time the crunching is your kneecap rubbing the joints under it and it's due to tight quadriceps muscles. Streching your quads on a daily basis would get rid of a lot of knee pain in the world, it's the most common cause of the 'runners knee' effect.

 

This helped to a degree, I stretched my quads more so than I had been doing and the, I guess, frequency and volume of the sound decreased. It is still there, but nowhere near as noticable. I guess we'll see if this did the trick in a few days or not.

[It's Just Me]

I've had knee problems all my life, thanks to playing soccer as a teenager, and have always had that crunching/grinding sound when bending my knees. That is the sound of worn cartilage. When I was 18, an orthopedic surgeon told me to lay off all sports that were hard on the knees, or I'd be in big trouble by the time I turned 40. I ignored that advice and kept doing what I was doing because I enjoyed volleyball, softball, step classes, running...

 

I'm now 47. Two years ago, after a slippery five-hour winter hike, my left knee seized up and stayed that way for two weeks. Long story short, I now have osteoarthritis in both knees and will likely require a knee replacement by the time I'm 60 if I'm not careful. So, now I'm careful. Kinda. I cycle instead of running, and use trekking poles when hiking over tricky terrain to take my weight off my knees.

 

Keep your quads and hams strong, and avoid putting pressure on your knees when they're bent. Pick something other than squats, and set your sights on sports that aren't hard on the knees. I wish I had.

[Emilia]

I've had knee problems all my life, thanks to playing soccer as a teenager, and have always had that crunching/grinding sound when bending my knees. That is the sound of worn cartilage. When I was 18, an orthopedic surgeon told me to lay off all sports that were hard on the knees, or I'd be in big trouble by the time I turned 40. I ignored that advice and kept doing what I was doing because I enjoyed volleyball, softball, step classes, running...

 

I'm now 47. Two years ago, after a slippery five-hour winter hike, my left knee seized up and stayed that way for two weeks. Long story short, I now have osteoarthritis in both knees and will likely require a knee replacement by the time I'm 60 if I'm not careful. So, now I'm careful. Kinda. I cycle instead of running, and use trekking poles when hiking over tricky terrain to take my weight off my knees.

 

Keep your quads and hams strong, and avoid putting pressure on your knees when they're bent. Pick something other than squats, and set your sights on sports that aren't hard on the knees. I wish I had.

 

Your knees are designed to be fully flexed. Your muscles shorten too if you don't use your joints to their full ability.

 

You are the same generation as I am (I'm 40) and unfortunately we didn't have access to the knowledge and understanding that current young generations do. If you had stretched your quads properly and had worked on the strength of your hip muscles, you would have prevented your knee cap rubbing your knee and your knees being damaged by lack of strength/gait support.

 

Squatting isn't bad for you, full movement in the knees are good because it's what they are designed for. Not knowing how to strengthen the muscles, how to keep them and tendons long and flexible is the problem. You put your joints under pressure where the surrounding tissue isn't there to support them.

 

OP, strong glutes and hips are essential.

Edited December 10, 2012 by Emilia

[Emilia]

This helped to a degree, I stretched my quads more so than I had been doing and the, I guess, frequency and volume of the sound decreased. It is still there, but nowhere near as noticable. I guess we'll see if this did the trick in a few days or not.

 

Make sure you stretch for the full 30 seconds, same should apply to hamstrings and calves.

[Own Worst Enemy]

It doesn't hurt but it clicks and it just doesn't feel quite right! So I went to see the chiro; she said my hip is fractionally out of alignment so I have unknowingly been walking with my knee at a slight angle to compensate all my life. This has created a small amount of scar tissue and so when the rowing machine forces my knee to bend in a straight line, the kneecap glides over the rough scar tissue and that is what is creating the clicking/popping sensation.

 

She said either do lunges or something that won't force that action, or better, buy insoles and straighten everything back. Good advice but needless to say, this time of year has led to abandoning the lot and going to the pub instead, o dear. Anyway, I just mention it as it might be worth a quick check of your hip as well if it doesn't clear up!

[SunandMoon]

Make sure you stretch for the full 30 seconds, same should apply to hamstrings and calves.

 

Been doing 25 seconds with three or so reps for each leg while standing/balancing (don't like lying in the floor). And well it worked!! No crunching sound, nor any pain. Thank you for that! I guess I was just not stretching and warming up enough.