What Does That Pop Mean?

Everyone pops and clicks somewhere on their body. Subsequently, it's normal to wonder what that pop could mean. Is it concerning? Is it just normal aging? Are my joints healthy? Unfortunately, the answer isn't always clear and informative. The good news is that the sounds are usually harmless. 

Crepitus is the medical term for crackling, popping or grating sounds that accompany movement of a joint. There are 3 common causes for crepitus.(1,2)

 Articular Pressure Changes:

Synovial joints are the most common type of joint in your body. They’re filled with fluid that reduces friction in your joints. As you bend a joint, it stretches the synovial membrane and increases the space inside decreasing the pressure. When the pressure drops, the gasses within these joints (oxygen and CO2) become less dissolvable. If the gasses can't dissolve they form tiny air bubbles. When these air bubbles collapse or pop, you may hear a popping sound. These air bubbles may be visible on X-rays when taken right after the joints have been cracked.

Bone on Bone Grinding: 

As joint cartilage wears down with aging, bones can rub on each other causing grinding sounds.

Ligament or Tendon Snapping Over Bone: 

When muscles and structures are too tight, or become less elastic with age, the ligaments/tendons can make a popping sound when they rub over the bone with movement.

If there is pain associated with the clicking/popping, there could be an underlying issue and assessment of the area for pathology is warranted. Rotator cuff tears, labrum tears, or other joint dysfunctions can lead to pain and should be properly evaluated. Even pain-free popping can be pathological in nature, such as bursitis in the shoulder leading to clicking/snapping without pain.(3) Ultimately, it is likely that pain-free popping is completely normal, but when in doubt get it checked out.

References:

1. Español VHPR |. Video: Why Do My Joints Crack? | Spine-health. www.spine-health.com. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.spine-health.com/video/video-why-do-my-joints-crack
2. Why Do Joints Pop And Crack? www.youtube.com. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfK-GLNjgA
3. Nischal N, Iyengar KP, Botchu R. Clicking shoulder due to snapping Subacromial subdeltoid (SASD) bursitis: a case report of an unusual presentation in clinical practice with imaging features [published online ahead of print, 2022 Dec 5]. J Ultrasound. 2022;10.1007/s40477-022-00758-0. doi:10.1007/s40477-022-00758-0