Knee Clicking

[natlajoie]

My right knee started clicking about 3 months ago. I'm not sure what the area is called but it's right by the teardrop of my quad. Whenever I bend it, sit down, or try to squat, or do legs, it will click. It doesn't hurt all the time, but after using my legs for running or lifting it hurts a little in my knee itself.. It clicks everytime I bend my knee, no matter what I'm doing. I've already been to the doctor about this problem. He said I need to take like 3 months off.. and it will go away.. I don't see it as going away like that.. I wasn't given any advice on how to resolve the problem. I've been taking it easy this whole time. What should I do? Should I stop lifting and exercising?? Also it didn't use to click. I was doing squats for a few months and I figure that to have been the cause. I was still learning and form wasn't perfect. Now I don't like doing legs because when I try to get a good range of motion it clicks. I've pretty much stopped hard leg work, and cardio all together, except for stationary bike, but even on that it clicks.. It's not only a problem in the gym, but everywhere no matter what I'm doing.

[natlajoie]

I forgot to mention that it is on the inner side of my knee.

[TRun18]

I've heard multiple things clicking can mean.

-Just air escaping the joint
-Fluid being released to lubricate the joint
-Muscle imbalance causing the tendon to snap back into place


You should have asked your doctor what the cause of the clicking was, if you didn't, instead of just ways to get rid of it.

If it doesn't hurt I would say don't worry about it, but if it starts to hurt then I would start to take some precautions. My knees click as well, not all the time, but just every once in a while, some will hurt a bit, some wont.

Do you stretch at all?

[natlajoie]

I usually do a good warmup on the stationary bike for about 7-8 mins. After that I warm up with light weight for what I'm working out on. After I workout, I'll stretch. I'm going to have to return to the doctor to find out what's going on. I'm in the military and sometimes it takes a few visits before it's really looked at.. Mine clicks everytime I bend it past a certain angle, such as sitting. The doctor I saw told me it would just go away on it's own, and that I should do nothing the whole time.. I'm still able to get a full leg workout in, but it's really a nuisance to have it click on every rep. It feels like a tendon or something is sliding over. I understand that with age these things can happen as well.

[TRun18]

I sort of had the same thing a little over a year ago, I do a sport that involves a lot of impact/dropping down and taking the impact through the legs. I would get this pain in my knee at a very precise angle in one of my knees. I simple stopped going that far down and limited the impact/stress on the legs, and after a while it subsided and went away on its own.

[jbrowncbr]

check my post in this thread
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=114248181

[natlajoie]

I looked at my shoes, and they do wear on the outside more. I'd say it feels like a tracking problem. I usually will have slight pain after I workout legs the next day. The pain usually last no longer than 2 days, and it's only slight discomfort. Tried resting by taking whole month off of leg work and running, but didn't get any improvement. Right now I'm working on stretching. I'm just not sure if I should continue working the legs or stop. I would say that the pain is not enough for me to stop. It's the clicking that makes things very awkward. Every rep when bent past a certain point it will click.

[beachguy498]

Have you tried a support for it? The ones they sell in places like Sports Authority are pretty good, decent surgical supply shops have them, some drug stores as well. You may need a little support that will allow you to keep working out.

BG

[jimyd77]

i have issues with my knees, and usually get a clicking noise/feeling when I'm walking around or working out. my physical therapist told me it's just inflammation in the knee, and not to worry about it if there's no pain associated with it (there usually isn't). if it gets sore or tight, i use ice packs for fifteen minutes...one behind the knee, one on top of it, and then take some ibuprofen...that usually sorts it out.

[natlajoie]

It's definately something moving in my knee. I did a lot of squats in 2008, and it could be from an imbalance of muscle. Trouble is that this has been going on since Nov 2008. I haven't been able to workout my legs very effectively since realizing this problem. And I have pain in my patella as well. The left one is starting to have the same pain in the patella, but does not have any feeling of tracking problem. It has to be with something I'm doing, because both of them have pain in the same area. I'm scheduled for an appointment to finally see the doctor about it again in May. Hopefully, they'll be able to confirm the problem finally, and perhaps do an MRI or x-ray.

[PurpleRain90]

I have the same issue with my right knee, but the click is coming from the outer part of the knee.

I had osgood shalters on the same knee 4-7 years ago, can't even remember.

anyways, i just squat through it....

[Mr. Jeff]

Is it a clicking or a crackling?

[natlajoie]

Is it a clicking or a crackling?

It's definately clicking. I can auctually feel something sliding when I bend my knee past a certain point. It is most likely tracking problem. I'm just worried because it's been going on for about 6 months now. Squatting through it, is what seems to have it ongoing still. It didn't help when I went to the doctor and they told me it would go away on away with rest. So I rested for a month, then went back at the weights like normal. No real pain except in the front of the knee, patella. The knee pain is in both knees.. so very likely something I'm doing with the way my legs were developed. I've scratched my leg workout and replaced it with running while I try to get my knee tracking a little better. Also I'm doing a lot of stretching. I'm scheduled to see the doctor tommorrow. Hopefully, I can get referred to see a specialist.

[cady9843]

Is it a clicking or a crackling?

What if it clicks and crackles?? My left knee has been clicking randomly and if I try and squat, even no weight it crackles slightly.

[Mr. Jeff]

It's definately clicking. I can auctually feel something sliding when I bend my knee past a certain point. It is most likely tracking problem. I'm just worried because it's been going on for about 6 months now. Squatting through it, is what seems to have it ongoing still. It didn't help when I went to the doctor and they told me it would go away on away with rest. So I rested for a month, then went back at the weights like normal. No real pain except in the front of the knee, patella. The knee pain is in both knees.. so very likely something I'm doing with the way my legs were developed. I've scratched my leg workout and replaced it with running while I try to get my knee tracking a little better. Also I'm doing a lot of stretching. I'm scheduled to see the doctor tommorrow. Hopefully, I can get referred to see a specialist.

Probably mal-tracking. I have that in my right knee. My right knee usually pops when I extend my leg, like it temporarily pops back into place.

What if it clicks and crackles?? My left knee has been clicking randomly and if I try and squat, even no weight it crackles slightly.

I'm not too sure about the clicking, but if it's crackling it's probably crepitus.



BTW, what the **** happened to my original post? It just disappeared!

[natlajoie]

Well, I went to the doctor and they took x-rays of both knees, but I still need to make an appointment for ortho to get the results. Hopefully nothing that can't be sovled with some good stretching and work on muscle imbalances. I haven't done any leg workout for 3 weeks, and my knees feel a lot better, but still clicking for the right knee. I've just been running, instead. Seems to be working for now, but I want to get back to the weights, because I don't feel right just working my upper body. =(

[yitmy]

Your knee clicks you say.

This is when the knee cap has too much force pulling it out of the groove with knee bending and straightening. It may also be difficult walking down stairs due to knee feeling unstable.

This problem is easily remedied with some therapy and I see you live in California so I would go seek a physical therapist.

I can give you some exercises if you like and this may reduce some or all of your clicking. I need to know what equipment you have available...See my thread "so many posts so little time" for further info. But remember I am giving you exercises without being able to fully assess your knee, a Physical therapist would have the full picture. They would be able to assess your knee personally and supervise your exercises. Something I cannot do.

[karma_jesus45]

same here but for ankles mostly. They click on lunges all the time.

[natlajoie]

Your knee clicks you say.

This is when the knee cap has too much force pulling it out of the groove with knee bending and straightening. It may also be difficult walking down stairs due to knee feeling unstable.

This problem is easily remedied with some therapy and I see you live in California so I would go seek a physical therapist.

I can give you some exercises if you like and this may reduce some or all of your clicking. I need to know what equipment you have available...See my thread "so many posts so little time" for further info. But remember I am giving you exercises without being able to fully assess your knee, a Physical therapist would have the full picture. They would be able to assess your knee personally and supervise your exercises. Something I cannot do.

Yes, this is exactly what is happening. My right is tracking very poorly and I can feel it sliding, which is what is clicking. My left is growing into similar situation, but isn't as mal-tracking as much. The equipment I've been using for the last 2 months, is strictly dumbbell. I have the ironmaster super bench and the quicklock dumbbells. I do all my workouts at home. I'm going to be inquiring about seeing a physical therapist. I'm in the military, so I'm going through them for medical coverage. It's a been a little process because I just got off of active duty. I've been back in California for about 2 months now.

[yitmy]

Do you have a leg attachment for your super bench?

[natlajoie]

Do you have a leg attachment for your super bench?

I do have the leg attachment. I stopped doing leg extensions, because I read it's bad for your knee, but it really didn't hurt from doing that particular exercise. Just was taking precautions. One time though, I heard a lot of cracking in the knee cap when I was really flexing it out on leg extension, that was about 3 months ago.

[yitmy]

OK try this sit on your bench with your knee straight. Slowly bend your knee to about 45 degrees then raise up. Repeat this 10-12 times and perform 3 sets. This should get your knee to feel the inner quad contracting. This inner quad is also called the VMO or vastus medialis oblique which is solely responsible for your patellar alignment. If it does not fire your lateral and strong head will pull it to the side and "click".

This is but one exercise you can do. There are many others but this is a good start.

Let us know how it goes, and remember to rep!

[Metal_Fingers]

Yes, this is exactly what is happening. My right is tracking very poorly and I can feel it sliding, which is what is clicking. My left is growing into similar situation, but isn't as mal-tracking as much. The equipment I've been using for the last 2 months, is strictly dumbbell. I have the ironmaster super bench and the quicklock dumbbells. I do all my workouts at home. I'm going to be inquiring about seeing a physical therapist. I'm in the military, so I'm going through them for medical coverage. It's a been a little process because I just got off of active duty. I've been back in California for about 2 months now.

I have this problem. If it doesn't hurt then good, but I would recommend not squatting for a while. I started to click every single time I squatted down (not just exercising) and it soon turned into a pain. Now I have Petellofemoral Pain Syndrom, where my knee caps grind on my femur. It is a tracking issue I believe, but I have only gone to a paliminary doctor thus far. I haven't had time to schedule a follow up.

But it could be a sign of worse to come.

[natlajoie]

OK try this sit on your bench with your knee straight. Slowly bend your knee to about 45 degrees then raise up. Repeat this 10-12 times and perform 3 sets. This should get your knee to feel the inner quad contracting. This inner quad is also called the VMO or vastus medialis oblique which is solely responsible for your patellar alignment. If it does not fire your lateral and strong head will pull it to the side and "click".

This is but one exercise you can do. There are many others but this is a good start.

Let us know how it goes, and remember to rep!

Ok I'll give it a try. Thanks. I'd like to know if my routine is what caused this whole issue? My routine was as follows, and I'd do it in this order :
1. 6 X 8-12 reps, Barbell Squats
2. 3-4 X 8-12 reps, Leg press Machine
3. 4 X 10-12, Hamstring Curl
4. 4 X 15, Sitting Calf Raise with dumbbells on knees
5. 4 X 15, Leg press Machine but doing it for Calf extension.

That was typically my routine. I think, I built more of an outer quad and my hip flexion got tight. Now that I look at it, it was really heavy on quads. Not as much on hamstring.

I was trying a new routine with the dumbbells, but I can't even do it because of the knees now. So when I am able hopefully I can utilize some of these exercises...
New routine would include: Lunges, Dumbbell Squat, Stiff-leg Deadlift, Leg extension, Hamstring Curl, Sitting Calf raise, One leg standing Calf raise.

[natlajoie]

I have this problem. If it doesn't hurt then good, but I would recommend not squatting for a while. I started to click every single time I squatted down (not just exercising) and it soon turned into a pain. Now I have Petellofemoral Pain Syndrom, where my knee caps grind on my femur. It is a tracking issue I believe, but I have only gone to a paliminary doctor thus far. I haven't had time to schedule a follow up.

But it could be a sign of worse to come.

That's why I stopped doing leg exercises and started doing stretching. It has the pain under control.. But it still comes back every once in a while. Any exercise I do that involves knee flexing really gets the pain going in the pattella. Like lunges or squats. I'm sad because I love squatting, but I need to listen to my body and hopefully in the future I'll be able to return to them. When I went to the doctor, I was told not to do anything like leg extension, and decline crunch situps.. but those don't bother me at all. Like I said it's squats and lunges that really cause pain. I also tried to focus very carefully on the form of those exercises, hoping that the pain would go away. The pain was already there and it doesn't matter how good I execute the movements. I can do half squats and stop right before my knee is about to click, but it really defeats the purpose doesn't it? I like to do full range of motion squats, and I thought that full range squats were better for your knee anyways...

[yitmy]

I just started doing a leg routine from the website muscleandstrength.com. And boy am I sore. But anyhow back to your problem if it still is a problem that is.

I will add one additional exercise though to your routine and you should be dynamite. I however need you to do the leg machine first before I give you the kicker. So after a week remind me. And I will give you step 2.

[Joshspyker]

Well,I've been having the same clicking problem with my ankle. Though i haven't been experiencing any pain, there is this vein that I feel keeps movin from one side to the other!