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Cracking your knuckles, hips, and ankles can sometimes relieve a bit of pressure, which feels good. However, if you aren’t cracking them on purpose, you may wonder if that popping sound is something to worry about. If certain symptoms accompany the cracking, you should make an appointment with your chiropractor or physician. However, in general, popping joints are not dangerous. Below is a brief overview of why joints crack and when the issue requires help from a professional.

Why Joints Crack & Pop

Ligaments

Your ligaments are the fiber-like tissues that band your bones together. If you’ve been inactive for an extended time, your ligaments can tighten up. If you suddenly move or rotate at an odd angle, a ligament may pop. Generally, this will not hurt, but a small amount of pain may accompany the noise.

Nitrogen

Joints are surrounded by lubricant to ease movement. When joints are moving—and moving the liquid with them—tiny bubbles of nitrogen can form. If the bubbles escape through the joints, you hear a popping sound. Those who crack their knuckles are familiar with this sound, but it can also happen in the ankles, wrists, knees, shoulders, and any other joints.

chiropractorAging

Over the years, your body wears down. Joint surfaces can become rough as the body loses cartilage or develops arthritis. With age, the deterioration of the joints leads to more popping and cracking sounds, especially in those who develop osteoarthritis. While you should seek treatment for arthritis pain management, the cracking noises should not concern you.

Should You See a Chiropractor?

If you’ve noticed your joints popping and cracking a bit more than usual, you may be wondering if you need to make an appointment with your chiropractor. Because the sound happens naturally, it does not need to be addressed by a professional. 

However, if your crack is accompanied by other symptoms such as back pain, swelling, bruising, limited motion, or a locked joint, then seek medical treatment or chiropractic adjustment. Joint cracking accompanied by other, more serious symptoms can be indicative of a problem like joint dislocation or gout. 

 

If your cracking joints are accompanied by pain, swelling, and limited motion, then seek holistic care from a chiropractor. At Get Well Family Chiropractic in Florissant, MO, expert chiropractors give each patient the attention they need. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, this wellness center also offers nutrition advice and holistic care for whole-body health. Call (314) 524-2580 to schedule an appointment, and visit their website to learn more about services and techniques.

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