Is it bad that my knees click?

Clicking knees are very common. Check out the reasons why your knees might click, and why it isn't always a reason to worry.

Clicking knees are very common and isn’t a cause for concern unless it causes pain or limits how much you can move your knee. If you feel these symptoms along with the clicking, book in an appointment and we can delve a little deeper. If not, then there’s no need to stress! There are 3 reasons your knee might be clicking, and they’re all perfectly normal.

My knees click. A lot. I can even make them click on command. But I’m only 24 and should have knees like a spring chicken, right? Well here's the reason for mine, and a lot of other people’s clicky knees. Most of your joints are surrounded by a liquid substance called synovial fluid. This is designed to absorb shock, lubricate and provide nutrients to your joints. Air bubbles can form in this fluid, and when these bubbles pop, you hear a click or a crack. It’s very common, and some people can get some pretty loud clicks. You might have seen this in those satisfying chiropractic adjustment videos.

Another reason your knees might click is a tendon or ligament that is flicking over other structures in the knee. Usually the click is felt when bending the knee. I get this when I do hamstring curls at the gym, and it can be a little disconcerting. However, it's nothing to be alarmed about and very, very rarely does it progress to pain.

The final reason your knee is clicking is due to your knee-cap, or patella. When you bend and straighten your knee, your patella slides up and down a groove. The surface of this groove can be a little uneven, causing a clicking or grating noise as the patella slides up and down. The clicking in this case would be felt more in the front of the knee during activities like standing up or using stairs.

We all have a tendency to dwell on and inflate problems with our body (thanks Dr Google). If your knee clicks without pain or a restriction of your knee movement, don’t worry. Research has shown that it’s not a sign of arthritis, it doesn’t mean your knees will get worse over time and it’s not a sign of bone rubbing on bone.

Get outside and use those knees!