Knee Clicks

June 13, 2024

Say goodbye to knee clicks! Discover proven strategies for relief and how to maintain knee health.

Understanding Knee Clicks

Before diving into the treatment of 'knee clicks', it is important to understand the causes and types of knee clicking noises. This understanding can help individuals to better manage and treat their symptoms.

Causes of Knee Clicking

Knee clicking can be caused by various medical issues. Here are some of the most common causes:

Ligament injuries: Instability in the knee due to injuries in the ligaments can lead to clicking sounds. The knee has 4 principal ligaments: ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL, which if injured or torn, can create instability and cause clicking in the knee.
Meniscus tears: Often associated with pain, meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries that can cause clicking in the knee. Risk factors include advanced age, male gender, work-related kneeling, and climbing stairs [1].
Osteoarthritis: This is the most common form of arthritis and can result in knee swelling and loss of cartilage, leading to clicking in the knee. Approximately 13% of women and 10% of men aged 60 years and older have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
Patellofemoral syndrome: Characterized by a misalignment of the kneecap, this syndrome can cause repetitive rubbing of the kneecap against the boney wall, resulting in knee clicking and pain.
Post-surgical scar tissue development: Following a knee surgery, scar tissue can develop and lead to clicking sounds.

Types of Knee Clicking Noises

There are several types of sounds that may be referred to as 'knee clicking'. Let's explore some of these noises below:

Knee popping: This can occur when air seeps into the lubricating fluid within the joint space, creating tiny bubbles that burst when the knee is bent or stretched, causing a popping or cracking sound. This condition is usually harmless and does not cause pain.
Knee snapping: A snapping noise might be a sign of a meniscus tear, which can cause knee pain, swelling, tenderness, redness, and locking. Meniscus tears may require arthroscopic debridement or surgical reattachment of the torn ends for severe cases.
Knee cracking or crunching: Also known as crepitus in the knees, a crushing feeling when bending and straightening the knee can be caused by irritated cartilage due to conditions like chondromalacia or knee arthritis [3].
Knee tendonitis: Tendon swelling can cause audible snaps as the knee is bent. Rest, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and arthroscopic hip surgery may be recommended for treatment.

Understanding the different types and causes of knee clicks can be beneficial when seeking treatment for these symptoms. It's always recommended to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Effects of Knee Clicks

Knee clicks can not only be annoying but could also be indicative of certain underlying knee conditions. It's essential to understand the potential impacts on knee health and the association of knee clicks with other knee conditions.

Impact on Knee Health

Knee clicking can be a sign of various medical issues such as ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, soft tissue injuries, meniscus tears, patellofemoral syndrome, and scar tissue development following surgery [2].

Ligament injuries, in particular, can cause instability in the knee, leading to clicking sounds. The knee has 4 principal ligaments: ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL, which, if injured or torn, can create instability and cause clicking in the knee [1].

If left untreated, knee instability can lead to knee buckling, which is almost always associated with knee pain and muscle buckling. This can have a debilitating impact on quality of life [4].

Association with Knee Conditions

Knee clicking is not always indicative of a serious problem. Knee popping, snapping, cracking, or crunching noises can be harmless and may be due to aging joints. However, they could also indicate serious conditions such as a torn meniscus or early knee arthritis, especially if accompanied by pain or loss of joint mobility.

It's important to remember that knee clicks are not always indicative of a serious problem. However, if they are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, swelling, or limited mobility, it's advisable to seek medical advice.

In summary, while knee clicks can often be harmless, they can also be a symptom of various knee conditions. If you're experiencing persistent knee clicking, especially if it's associated with other symptoms, it would be beneficial to seek medical advice. Understanding the potential impacts of knee clicks on your knee health can help you take proactive steps towards managing and treating your knee conditions.

Managing Knee Clicks

While knee clicks can be alarming, there are several management strategies that can help alleviate this condition. From home-based exercises to professional physical therapy, you have a range of options to help reduce knee clicks and improve your overall knee health.

Home-Based Exercises

A home-based, self-managed program of simple knee strengthening exercises can bring significant relief over time. According to a study published in the BMJ, performing such exercises over a two-year period significantly reduces knee pain and improves knee function in overweight and obese individuals with knee pain.

These exercises may include:

Leg raises
Wall squats
Calf raises
Step-ups
Seated straight-leg raises
Short-arc leg extensions

In addition, weight loss achieved through dietary intervention was not directly associated with improved knee pain or function but was linked to a reduction in depression.

Physical Therapy Options

For more persistent or severe cases of knee clicks, professional physical therapy may be the right course of action. Physical therapists can provide targeted exercises and stretches to strengthen the knee and reduce the frequency of knee clicks.

Crepitus in the knees, a crushing feeling when bending and straightening the knee, can be caused by irritated cartilage due to conditions like chondromalacia or knee arthritis. Unlike mechanical popping, crepitus is more persistent and is generally felt more than heard. Physical therapy can often help manage these symptoms.

Knee popping can also be caused by knee tendonitis, where tendon swelling can cause audible snaps as the knee is bent. In these cases, rest, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy may be recommended for treatment.

Remember, physiological noise in the knee is common, usually painless, and harmless. It is often sufficient to explain the cause of the noise to patients and reassure them. Various exercises for stretching and strengthening the musculotendinous structures may be beneficial, especially for ligament snapping.

However, it's important to differentiate between physiological noise and pathological noise, as the latter may require appropriate treatment for baseline lesions. Always seek professional advice if you're unsure about the cause or severity of your knee clicks.

Treating Knee Clicks

When it comes to treating knee clicks, there are a variety of methods available, ranging from nonsurgical treatments to surgical solutions. The choice of treatment often depends on the underlying cause of the knee clicking, the severity of the symptoms, and the overall health and lifestyle of the individual.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Nonsurgical treatments are often recommended as the first line of defense against knee clicking. These treatments aim to manage the symptoms, improve knee function, and enhance the quality of life of the individual. According to ProHealth Clinic, crepitus or the knee clicking sound that may follow knee surgery does not impact the long-term prognosis or quality of life after three years.

Physiological noise in the knee is common and usually painless. It can be caused by various factors such as a buildup or bursting of tiny bubbles in the synovial fluid, snapping of ligaments, catching of the synovium or physiological plica, hypermobile meniscus or discoid meniscus, and perception of previous noise after knee surgery due to emotional concerns.

In such cases, reassurance and explanation of the cause of the noise to patients are often sufficient. Various exercises for stretching and strengthening the musculotendinous structures may be beneficial, especially for ligament snapping.

Surgical Solutions

While nonsurgical treatments are often the first line of defense, surgical solutions may be considered in cases where conservative treatments fail to provide relief. Surgeons can offer surgical solutions for knee clicking, but it's important to note that nonsurgical treatment options using orthobiologics like PRP and stem cell injections are also available.

The doctors at Centeno-Schultz Clinic are experts in the treatment of ligament injuries and have pioneered the use of bone marrow stem cells in the nonsurgical treatment of ACL tears. They highlight that the risks of traditional ACL graft surgery include a 6x risk of re-tear within 24 months post-surgery and the development of arthritis.

As always, it's crucial to seek professional medical advice when considering treatment options for knee clicks. This will ensure a thorough evaluation of your condition and the most effective treatment plan for your specific needs.

Preventing Knee Clicks

Preventing knee clicks involves understanding the risk factors and implementing strategies that can help mitigate these risks. It's always better to prevent knee clicks where possible, as they can be indicative of underlying knee conditions that might require treatment.

Risk Factors to Consider

Several risk factors can increase the likelihood of experiencing knee clicks. These can range from natural aging of the joints to serious conditions such as a torn meniscus or early knee arthritis, particularly if accompanied by pain or loss of joint mobility [3].

Another risk factor to consider is knee buckling, which is often associated with knee pain and muscle buckling. If left untreated, this can have a debilitating impact on quality of life.

Identifying these risk factors early and addressing them can help in preventing knee clicks and maintaining overall knee health.

Strategies for Prevention

There are several strategies that can help prevent knee clicks. Here are some of the most effective methods:

Knee strengthening exercises: A home-based, self-managed program of simple knee strengthening exercises can significantly reduce knee pain and improve knee function, particularly in overweight and obese individuals with knee pain.
Weight management: While weight loss achieved through dietary intervention was not directly linked to improved knee pain or function, it was linked to a reduction in depression, which can indirectly influence the perception of pain and function.
Regular check-ups: Routine check-ups with a healthcare provider can help detect early signs of knee conditions that might result in knee clicks, such as meniscus tears or early knee arthritis.
Healthy lifestyle habits: Habits such as maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding excessive strain on the knees can contribute to overall knee health and help prevent knee clicks.

By understanding the risk factors associated with knee clicks and implementing these preventative strategies, individuals can help maintain their knee health and potentially avoid the need for more invasive treatments.

Addressing Knee Click Concerns

While knee clicks are a common phenomenon, there are instances when they may warrant medical attention. Understanding when to seek advice and the importance of proper diagnosis is critical to maintaining good knee health.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Knee clicking, characterized by periodic snaps, pops, and crackles, may be due to osteoarthritis among other reasons. While noisy knees are usually not a concern, experiencing discomfort along with the clicking may warrant a visit to the doctor [7].

Another instance where medical advice should be sought is when crepitus is experienced in the knees. This is a crushing feeling when bending and straightening the knee and can be caused by irritated cartilage due to conditions like chondromalacia or knee arthritis. Unlike mechanical popping, crepitus is more persistent and is generally felt more than heard.

It's crucial to remember that physiological noise in the knee is common, usually painless, and harmless. However, if the noise is accompanied by pain, swelling, or other unusual symptoms, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional.

Importance of Proper Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis is key to addressing knee clicks effectively. Crepitus may represent the first symptom of patellofemoral osteoarthritis (OA). Pathological noise requires appropriate treatment for baseline lesions. It is important to differentiate between physiological noise and pathological noise, and to perform diagnostic interventions only in selected patients.

Physiological noise around the knee can be caused by various factors such as a buildup or bursting of tiny bubbles in the synovial fluid, snapping of ligaments, catching of the synovium or physiological plica, hypermobile meniscus or discoid meniscus, and perception of previous noise after knee surgery due to emotional concerns.

Understanding the root cause of the knee clicks can guide the treatment approach, helping to alleviate discomfort and prevent further complications. Therefore, if knee clicks are causing concern, it's advisable to seek medical advice for a thorough evaluation and diagnosis.