Crackling/Crunching noise in knee when squatting, anyone else?

[CaliiforniaLove]

Whenever I squat (even bodyweight) I get this crackling sound in my left knee just about before I hit parallel, then it stops once I go below parallel. Once I begin to go back up, it crackles again during the same range of motion as when I was going down. It's not like the sound you make when you crack your knuckles, it's a crackling/crunching, not a popping/cracking. There is zero pain when it happens, and nothing feels weird, but it's definitely audible. I'm only 165 lbs so I doubt it's due to obesity or anything. It doesn't happen when just flexing my knee, only when I squat.

Anyone else experienced this?

[NekromanticBJJ]

Stand up
Bend your knees SLIGHTLY
Bend down

do you hear any sounds?

[CaliiforniaLove]

Stand up
Bend your knees SLIGHTLY
Bend down

do you hear any sounds?

Yes the same noise that happens when I squat.

Edit: Did it a few more times with no noise, but it definitely made the same noise the first few times I did it.

[DanH75]

maybe just the fluid moving around in your knee mate, If you haven't got any pain then I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

[daniel_2k8]

Put you're finger's on the outer side of you're knee up on the top part and straighten you're leg out then back in repeately, do you feel the crunching?

[Patrice_Lumumba]

Fuk, exact same **** happens to me! It's a sickening noise yet doesn't hurt.

[CaliiforniaLove]

Put you're finger's on the outer side of you're knee up on the top part and straighten you're leg out then back in repeately, do you feel the crunching?

Idk if I'm doing what you suggested correctly, but no I don't hear anything when I do that.

[Just Scrap]

Put you're finger's on the outer side of you're knee up on the top part and straighten you're leg out then back in repeately, do you feel the crunching?

That tends to happen to me sometimes. What does this mean?

[Maestro]

I hear it when i wake up in the mornings.

It is usually air being released in the synovial fluid which is between your joints. It doesn't really mean any thing.

[CaliiforniaLove]

bump, thanks for the replies so far

[onebigc]

That happens to me in my left knee, not my right and that pressure or kink feels like my knee is not going to be able to bend. It is very distracting and hurts my confidence during lifts as in I worry about my knee locking up on me even though it won't happen.

I switched to lunges and it was better but was still present. Then I transferred my weight more forward during the lunge and extended my arms out in front and guess what... the popping noise doesn't happen or it happens less often and with less pain. Now during the lunge I don't bend my knee much past 90 degrees like doing ass to ground squats.

I would look into changing your squat form and test/tune changing the outward angle of your feet or knees.

I am bow legged so I wonder if that plays a role in how I can comfortably work my legs... not sure how this affects anything but it is a variable. Why my left and not my right...IDK. I do know that when I run my natural gate favors a different gate for each leg so maybe its just my bone geometry that causes this knee popping issue during squats.

[CaliiforniaLove]

Yeah I've actually not even been working my legs since I first noticed it. Don't wanna take any chances with my knees.

[Sonic06]

Bump.

I have a similar issue. Crackling sound, even when I bend the knee slightly. Doesn't really hurt, but if there is one thing I fear while lifting, it's a knee injury. I stopped squatting just to be on the safe side.

[braindx]

Bump.

I have a similar issue. Crackling sound, even when I bend the knee slightly. Doesn't really hurt, but if there is one thing I fear while lifting, it's a knee injury. I stopped squatting just to be on the safe side.

In general, painless cracking is fine. Some people just have crackly joints.

However, in some cases clicking/cracking does indicate that you are starting to develop improper articulation of the joint either due to poor technique/recruitment issues, poor mobility or strength imbalances.

[ClassicKaley]

Whenever I squat (even bodyweight) I get this crackling sound in my left knee just about before I hit parallel, then it stops once I go below parallel. Once I begin to go back up, it crackles again during the same range of motion as when I was going down. It's not like the sound you make when you crack your knuckles, it's a crackling/crunching, not a popping/cracking. There is zero pain when it happens, and nothing feels weird, but it's definitely audible. I'm only 165 lbs so I doubt it's due to obesity or anything. It doesn't happen when just flexing my knee, only when I squat.

Anyone else experienced this?

I get this too.

I've noticed it since high school, not specifically while working out, but just in general when I bend my knee or bend down in a certain way. Always thought it was because I played sports or put a lot of pressure on my knees from running but maybe not?

I don't think it has to do with how much you weigh, since I weight a lot less than you and I still get it.

[LW53]

bump, same thing happened to me yesterday... first time since i started squating circa in over 7 years ago.
worst of all this happened during a week back from only bodyweight exercises (vacation). only noticed till i got home.. and i didnt even use my regular weights in the gym. didnt change my routine or anything (see below)
squats, overhead bb lunges, romanian lunges, hamm curls, ab circuit.

dont want to hijack the thread, but i am very very worried. took about 6 glucosamine caps this past 24 hours...

Put you're finger's on the outer side of you're knee up on the top part and straighten you're leg out then back in repeately, do you feel the crunching?

...fml.

[bronchoTE09]

Bump.

I have a similar issue. Crackling sound, even when I bend the knee slightly. Doesn't really hurt, but if there is one thing I fear while lifting, it's a knee injury. I stopped squatting just to be on the safe side.

I had the same crunching sound back in spring of last year. I played football and squat and cleaned alot.

Yea it didnt hurt, so i continued with my training. By november of last year, I had my knee scoped and cleaned out. Still as of today, I cant do back or front squats because of knee pain. Dr said the noise was the rough cartlidge scraping together and rubbing off.

If you have a scratching sound, I'd advise you stop whatever it is your doing.

[LeanNate]

I had the same crunching sound back in spring of last year. I played football and squat and cleaned alot.

Yea it didnt hurt, so i continued with my training. By november of last year, I had my knee scoped and cleaned out. Still as of today, I cant do back or front squats because of knee pain. Dr said the noise was the rough cartlidge scraping together and rubbing off.

If you have a scratching sound, I'd advise you stop whatever it is your doing.

OK, but how do you know your knee injury was caused by squats and not by the other stuff you did during practice.

[therealxception]

Put you're finger's on the outer side of you're knee up on the top part and straighten you're leg out then back in repeately, do you feel the crunching?

yes i feel the exact thing you mentioned

also i have pain during squatting, this started juz dis week and i couldnt do more than 3 reps squatting

its hurts only during squatting otherwise no pain in normal activties except crunching

am really worried , coz i do a lot of cardio and need to lose more weight.. so am more concerned about my knee

kindly help with a reply

thanks

[RyanUnreal]

I have the same problem with my knees and iv always wondered if i should get it looked at. its all painless for now. but when i sit down or stretch my legs both knees crack loudly. would fish oil really help with this problem?