Do your knees ever "click"?

[Capnwilliam]

Do you sometimes get a "clicking" sound or sensation in your knees? My left knee is doing this today. I reckon I'll have to be careful about squats. I do have arthritis in both knees - the right one's the worse one.

Jim

[dbx]

Mine snap, crackle, & pop......until I get going. And then they're fine .

[djl_ottawa]

I get the same thing in my right shoulder. I am told that it's the fluid in the joint. As you get older, you lose some. So the click you hear is the pause/move of the joint in question. (This is from my family doctor)

[Werloc]

It all depends on what it really is. I know that since I was 25 or so, every time I squat down, both knees crack loud. No pain, so I never had it looked at.

[lukamar]

Mine have clicked and clunked since I was in my 20's. It doesn't hurt so I don't worry. I was also been told by an Ortho that I needed knee replacements when I was around 35, I declined. I'm still walking around with the same pegs but I also know that I have a lot of play in my joint so i don't squat with much weight any more and I have gone to hacks that don't bother me but they should. Do what you have to but unless it's hurting you I wouldn't worry on exorcises that don't create a lot od shear.

[ntrllftr]

Sounds like the beginning of patella femoral syndrome. I was told i needed some sort of surgery like drilling holes in my knee cap and letting the blood fill the pocket between the knee cap and femor. I had real bad pain and decided to do PE on myself to strengthen it. Now I am starting to squat a lot without any "clicking or pain.


The patella, commonly referred to as the "knee cap", and its tendon transmit power from the quadriceps to the lower leg. Normally, as the knee bends, the patella slides smoothly along a groove in the thigh bone. However, under certain conditions the patella may experience forces which push it against the sides of the groove, causing pain. Additionally, inflammation and roughening of the smooth underside of the patella may occur. Collectively, this process is referred to as patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). Some of you may be familiar with the older term, chondromalacia patella.

PFS is one of the most common causes of knee pain in runners. The pain is usually located in the front part of the knee, but may be on the inside, outside, or vaguely located. The pain can feel either sharp or dull, and is often made worse by squatting or walking down stairs. Sometimes there is grinding or clicking. Predisposing factors include,

Training errors - excess hill work, stairs, or too much distance
Biomechanical abnormalities - overpronation, "knock knees", poor pelvic control
Muscle tightness - calf, hamstrings, iliotibial band, or vastus lateralis.
Muscle weakness - vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), gluteus
Treatment involves rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and taping. Taping can supply immediate pain relief and helps correct abnormal positioning of the patella. It is continued until stretching and strengthening exercises re-balance the patella. Soft tissue therapy and stretching help loosen tight structures. The exact stretch depends upon which muscles are tight. Once pain has resolved then strengthening exercises can be started to prevent the condition from returning.

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm like Mr. Flay of Mervyn Peake's Titus Groan - knees, ankles, and shoulders have cracked and popped all my life.

[alkell]

Mine snap, crackle, & pop......until I get going. And then they're fine .

Same here and my hip.

[Mark1T]

My knees click, hurt, crackle, grind and groan. But, I feel like I am alive and after I am warmed up, everything's alright

[djflex]

Mine used to click everytime i went down the stairs. it just stopped one day, same with my shoulders. I had a doctor check it out once and she had no concerns.....

[Skidmarx]

It's a natural thing. Now if there's pain with the snapping/popping then you may have a problem.

[lukamar]

Anyone using wraps and if so are they helping?

[djflex]

Anyone using wraps and if so are they helping?

Only use wraps when squatting very heavy (for me) and low reps. Maybe for the last set. They helped my knees, but I really try not to use them as much as back in the day. I do keep a set of wraps and a knee brace in my gym bag just in case though

[lukamar]

Only use wraps when squatting very heavy (for me) and low reps. Maybe for the last set. They helped my knees, but I really try not to use them as much as back in the day. I do keep a set of wraps and a knee brace in my gym bag just in case though

I've got braces for both knees but I find them uncomfortable and never use them. In fact they are sitting on a shelf. I keep thinking it may be worthwhile getting wraps and seeing if that helps at all.

[Mark1T]

Anyone using wraps and if so are they helping?

Yes, I started using wraps for my working sets and I value the support they give me. If I were not going heavy (for me), I would not need them.

I am sure wraps would help you out. Just remember to take them off after each set, because they will cut off the circulation. Wrap them for each set.

[SR800]

yes

[V-240]

My whole body pops regularly. I'd be worried if it ever stopped!

[BePrecise]

Sounds like the beginning of patella femoral syndrome. I was told i needed some sort of surgery like drilling holes in my knee cap and letting the blood fill the pocket between the knee cap and femor. I had real bad pain and decided to do PE on myself to strengthen it. Now I am starting to squat a lot without any "clicking or pain.


The patella, commonly referred to as the "knee cap", and its tendon transmit power from the quadriceps to the lower leg. Normally, as the knee bends, the patella slides smoothly along a groove in the thigh bone. However, under certain conditions the patella may experience forces which push it against the sides of the groove, causing pain. Additionally, inflammation and roughening of the smooth underside of the patella may occur. Collectively, this process is referred to as patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). Some of you may be familiar with the older term, chondromalacia patella.

PFS is one of the most common causes of knee pain in runners. The pain is usually located in the front part of the knee, but may be on the inside, outside, or vaguely located. The pain can feel either sharp or dull, and is often made worse by squatting or walking down stairs. Sometimes there is grinding or clicking. Predisposing factors include,

Training errors - excess hill work, stairs, or too much distance
Biomechanical abnormalities - overpronation, "knock knees", poor pelvic control
Muscle tightness - calf, hamstrings, iliotibial band, or vastus lateralis.
Muscle weakness - vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), gluteus
Treatment involves rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and taping. Taping can supply immediate pain relief and helps correct abnormal positioning of the patella. It is continued until stretching and strengthening exercises re-balance the patella. Soft tissue therapy and stretching help loosen tight structures. The exact stretch depends upon which muscles are tight. Once pain has resolved then strengthening exercises can be started to prevent the condition from returning.

Superb post ntr. I was diagnosed with that over 10 years ago and it actually got me into weight training. Now I've always learned that performing Terminal Knee Extension (TKE) on the last 30 degrees of the leg extension machine was the way to strengthen the VMO and correct PFS. Do you know if this has ever been proven or is it just a "traditional" exercise recommendation? I haven't been able to find any solid research on it.

[Hibiscus09]

Mine don't click, but they squeak a little and feel kind of spongy at times when I'm doing heavy leg presses. I've backed off on the weight somewhat, just in case that's my joints or cartilage being ground down. There's no pain associated with it.

If you have arthritis in both knees, perhaps you should consult your doctor as to what exercises are best for you. I would think strength training would help the condition. It seems stronger muscles would help take some of the pressure off the joints.

[Stenn]

My knees sometimes pop when I squat. I don't mind it at all except that it can be embarrasingly loud at times. My right elbow sounds like it's full of gravel when I do dips. In spite of all the noise, I've had no pain in my knees. My elbows are a different story...

Oh, and I've never used knee wraps.

[Tommy W.]

Sounds like the beginning of patella femoral syndrome. I was told i needed some sort of surgery like drilling holes in my knee cap and letting the blood fill the pocket between the knee cap and femor. I had real bad pain and decided to do PE on myself to strengthen it. Now I am starting to squat a lot without any "clicking or pain.


The patella, commonly referred to as the "knee cap", and its tendon transmit power from the quadriceps to the lower leg. Normally, as the knee bends, the patella slides smoothly along a groove in the thigh bone. However, under certain conditions the patella may experience forces which push it against the sides of the groove, causing pain. Additionally, inflammation and roughening of the smooth underside of the patella may occur. Collectively, this process is referred to as patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). Some of you may be familiar with the older term, chondromalacia patella.

PFS is one of the most common causes of knee pain in runners. The pain is usually located in the front part of the knee, but may be on the inside, outside, or vaguely located. The pain can feel either sharp or dull, and is often made worse by squatting or walking down stairs. Sometimes there is grinding or clicking. Predisposing factors include,

Training errors - excess hill work, stairs, or too much distance
Biomechanical abnormalities - overpronation, "knock knees", poor pelvic control
Muscle tightness - calf, hamstrings, iliotibial band, or vastus lateralis.
Muscle weakness - vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), gluteus
Treatment involves rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and taping. Taping can supply immediate pain relief and helps correct abnormal positioning of the patella. It is continued until stretching and strengthening exercises re-balance the patella. Soft tissue therapy and stretching help loosen tight structures. The exact stretch depends upon which muscles are tight. Once pain has resolved then strengthening exercises can be started to prevent the condition from returning.

Thanks!

What have you found to be good VMO strengthening exercises?


TW

[ntrllftr]

Superb post ntr. I was diagnosed with that over 10 years ago and it actually got me into weight training. Now I've always learned that performing Terminal Knee Extension (TKE) on the last 30 degrees of the leg extension machine was the way to strengthen the VMO and correct PFS. Do you know if this has ever been proven or is it just a "traditional" exercise recommendation? I haven't been able to find any solid research on it.

There are mixed results / feelings from doctors on all the research that I found on doing extensions. For ME doing light extensions at 20 rep range have helped. Sure i had to do it for a year or so but now i am able to blast out 120lb extenxions for reps of 6-8 without any pain. I did some other exercises as well which I will carry on to Tommy comment...

Thanks!

What have you found to be good VMO strengthening exercises?
TW

As I stated above I also did step ups, lunges and deep squats on the Smith Machine (not going over a 45lb plates on a side), sissy squats. Two other important things that I think helped were doing the stepper and the stationary bike on a higher level setting.

[slackdaddy]

Sounds like the beginning of patella femoral syndrome. I was told i needed some sort of surgery like drilling holes in my knee cap and letting the blood fill the pocket between the knee cap and femor. I had real bad pain and decided to do PE on myself to strengthen it. Now I am starting to squat a lot without any "clicking or pain.


The patella, commonly referred to as the "knee cap", and its tendon transmit power from the quadriceps to the lower leg. Normally, as the knee bends, the patella slides smoothly along a groove in the thigh bone. However, under certain conditions the patella may experience forces which push it against the sides of the groove, causing pain. Additionally, inflammation and roughening of the smooth underside of the patella may occur. Collectively, this process is referred to as patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). Some of you may be familiar with the older term, chondromalacia patella.

PFS is one of the most common causes of knee pain in runners. The pain is usually located in the front part of the knee, but may be on the inside, outside, or vaguely located. The pain can feel either sharp or dull, and is often made worse by squatting or walking down stairs. Sometimes there is grinding or clicking. Predisposing factors include,

Training errors - excess hill work, stairs, or too much distance
Biomechanical abnormalities - overpronation, "knock knees", poor pelvic control
Muscle tightness - calf, hamstrings, iliotibial band, or vastus lateralis.
Muscle weakness - vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), gluteus
Treatment involves rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and taping. Taping can supply immediate pain relief and helps correct abnormal positioning of the patella. It is continued until stretching and strengthening exercises re-balance the patella. Soft tissue therapy and stretching help loosen tight structures. The exact stretch depends upon which muscles are tight. Once pain has resolved then strengthening exercises can be started to prevent the condition from returning.

You're pretty good. I'm in physical therapy three days a week right now for a loose kneecap. I thought that it was my knee joint popping in and out but the ortho said that it is my kneecap. It had done this for a couple of years but now it swells up pretty badly when cycling.

I wear a brace that the ortho gave me that pushes the cap over and holds it in place. The PT also tapes the cap over which stops all the movement.

[EMISGOD]

Knees, ankles, elbows, shoulders, sometimes back...all of them do it and have for years. I really don't pay attention anymore, unless there is also pain accompanying those...