Why does knee crunch when bending? Causes and Treatment

Probably, each person in his life had to feel at least once that his knee cracked while bending. But immediately it is worth noting the fact that while the person does not feel even the slightest manifestations of pain, but still this sound can create certain inconveniences, since few will be pleased to draw attention to themselves in this way. But is this phenomenon really harmless or is it a symptom of the onset of a serious illness? And if the disease, then what? And how to prevent it? Exactly answers to these questions are devoted to this article.

What it is

When they say that the knee crunches when bending, then this means crackling and clicking, released by the joints both during active movement, and during the passive. But, as practice shows, most often they are manifested during squats or fast walking. In most cases, this happens in athletes or athletes and speaks of their strong overtraining. But recently this problem began to arise both in adults and in children. So why is this happening?

Why knees crunch when bending

The reasons for this phenomenon can be various factors. Which include:

• A variety of diseases, for example, arthritis, tendenitis, 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 bit more.

Crunch 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 a symptom of something more serious. The determining factor that everything is normal is usually considered to be the absence of pain in the knee. So why knees crunch, but do not hurt? An enormous amount of dissertations and scientific works are devoted to answering this question. So, for example, it is believed that due to the increase in gas bubbles in the fluid that the joint is washing (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 reasons for the crunching or clicking. It should be noted 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 arise as a result of seizure of certain fragments of bones by a bunch or tendon that several protrude. As an example, you can bring the bones of the shoulders, thighs or wrists. In this case, the click will be somewhat quieter.

High mobility

Probably, each of us in his life was admired by acrobats or gymnasts who demonstrated a great stretch? But very few people know that most such people have a congenital defect of the connective tissue, which is manifested by a sufficient weakness of the joint-ligament apparatus. As practice shows, these people most often crack their knee when bending, but in their case it is more a manifestation of the norm than something requiring close attention on the part of specialists. But if such a phenomenon occurs with an enviable regularity, then it is still worth contacting a medical institution.

Arthritis, tendenitis, bursitis

As already mentioned, this phenomenon may be a variant of the norm, but if it starts to appear quite often and without observing the time interval, this is already one of the earliest symptoms of the fact that various inflammatory processes can start in the human body. In addition, one of the symptoms of the onset of the development of a serious disease is not only that the knee is constantly crunching, but also that this process is accompanied by severe pain sensations, and in some cases even a restriction of the mobility of the joint itself. Each of these symptoms can indicate the presence or development of diseases such as arthrosis, tendenitis, deforming osteoarthritis, bursitis.

Low mobility

As recent statistical studies show, some people who work primarily in offices and lead a sedentary lifestyle, one day are surprised to find that they have a knee crunches when bending / unbending. This is due to the fact that a person, by nature, needs at least insignificant physical exertion, and in the absence of these there is a gradual atrophy and weakening of the muscles, which in turn entails a weakening of the ligaments. As a result, the articular apparatus can no longer fully perform its functions, and as a result, characteristic clicks-crunches begin to appear even in the most elementary movement. Such signals in most cases carry information that the body is gradually decrepit, it is necessary to pay attention to its physical state.

Strong physical activity

Crunches the knee when flexing and failing to comply with the measures during exercise? It is worth considering that work related to lifting weights, 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 worth to reduce physical loads and to take care of yourself a little.

Injuries, injuries and dysplasia

The knees often crunch when you squat after having suffered various joint injuries in the past, because after that the joint becomes slightly weaker (even after the fully performed treatment measures), which in the future can be expressed in such characteristic sounds. In addition, it should be understood that this joint automatically falls into the risk group for possible repeated occurrence of damage. That is why it is recommended to avoid situations that can lead to them, and a characteristic click of the joints during movement serves more as a reminder that this joint should be especially protected.

Also answering the question: "Why do knees crunch when bending?", Do not forget about such a widespread 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 because of underdevelopment, but this does not prevent them from uniting them into one group.

Diagnostics

If the crunch in your knees causes some inconvenience, it is recommended to visit an arthrologist or orthopedist to prevent the development of arthritis or arthrosis in the future. A specialist after a full-time examination will be assigned certain diagnostic measures that are aimed at resolving the correct diagnosis and initiating adequate treatment. Such measures are in most cases introduced to the delivery of tests for reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and carrying out an X-ray and ultrasound of the joint.

Crunching their knees: what 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, topically applied ointments, which are based on bee honey or other substances containing warming components.

If excess weight is the reason that the knee crunches when bending, treatment consists in revising one's lifestyle. And more precisely, in its activation. All that is needed for this is just to devote one hour of your time to various exercises (walking, cycling). The only thing to remember is that all heavy and debilitating exercises should be absent from this list, since they can only be made worse by doing them.

If the cause of the crunch are hormonal disorders (most often diagnosed in women), then the treatment consists in using HRT (hormone replacement therapy). Appoints her, as a rule, an endocrinologist.

Crunch in the joints of children

As you know, children have a somewhat different from the adult joint structure. It is all the more important to find out why knees crunch in a teenager. There are several reasons for this:

• Pathology of the connective tissue. Such children are characterized by increased flexibility of the joints. If this child shows a crunch and clicking in the joints, then this is considered the norm. The only thing that these children are very often diagnosed with heart disease. That is why it is recommended to be under the control of cardiologists when this pathology is detected. Ideally, of course, it is best to diagnose the functioning of the heart, which in the future will make it possible to choose the most suitable lifestyle, which minimizes the aggravation of a possible disease.
• Short-term hypermobility of joints. Its cause is considered the uneven development of tissues and joints, which is quite common for teenagers, because their articular apparatus is not yet ripe. It is therefore quite natural that from time to time during the movement of the joints you can hear such characteristic sounds as a click or a crunch. The only thing that you need to pay attention to is that these phenomena are completely painless and do not cause discomfort.

Preventive actions

When crunches knees, than to treat such a condition, as a rule, appointed specialist. But there are also some measures aimed at reducing or completely eliminating this phenomenon.

Let's start, of course, with gymnastics, which you need to deal with every day. The most common exercises include:

• Squats. Do them preferably from 2 approaches, ten times each. In addition, you should stay a little in the sitting position for a few seconds.
• Pull up the legs to the chest area.
• Exercises "bicycle" and "scissors".
• In addition, various gadgets, creams and taking a hot bath proved to be very good, especially after a hard day's work.
• Another tool that received good reviews is a compress, which includes orange juice and vegetable oil.

But once again we remind that before applying all of the above means, it is best to contact a specialist.