Is joint crunching without pain dangerous and should it be treated?

If a joint makes a popping, clicking, or crackling sound when moving, but there is no pain, swelling, redness, limited mobility, instability, or joint locking, in most cases the sound itself is harmless and does not require treatment. Joint noises can be caused by the formation of a gas cavity in the synovial fluid, the movement of a tendon or ligament relative to a bony prominence, or the peculiarities of joint surface motion. [1]

The habit of cracking knuckles has also not been proven to cause osteoarthritis of the hand. Observational studies have not found an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in people who regularly crack their knuckles, including analyses of the relationship between the duration and frequency of this habit. However, the quality of the long-term evidence base is limited: most studies are relatively small and observational, so it is more accurate to say not "absolutely proven harmless," but "no convincing evidence of an increased risk of osteoarthritis has been obtained." [2]

There is an important exception: a crunching sound can sometimes be a sign of a change in the joint itself, but this does not mean that the sound is causing this change. This has been particularly well studied for the knee. A 2025 meta-analysis showed that knee crepitus occurs even in people without pain, but is also statistically associated with radiographic and some magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs of osteoarthritis. The reliability of these estimates was low to very low. Therefore, painless knee crepitus often does not require treatment, but persistent crepitus may be one element of the overall clinical picture, especially with age. [3]

You should consult a doctor if the sound is accompanied by pain, swelling, warmth, or redness of the joint, limited motion, a feeling of the joint locking or "giving way," or if the crunching occurs after an injury. The combination of a hot, swollen joint with a fever or significant deterioration in health requires prompt medical evaluation. [4]

Why do joints make sounds at all?

A similar-sounding "crunch" can be caused by a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, any clicking sound cannot be considered normal cavitation or a sign of cartilage destruction based solely on the nature of the sound.

Conventionally, joint noises can be divided into several main types.

The nature of the situation	Possible mechanism	What is usually more important than the sound itself
A single loud click when stretching a finger	rapid formation of a gas cavity in the synovial fluid	absence of pain and swelling
A clicking sound when moving a certain movement of the shoulder, hip, or ankle	movement of a tendon or ligament through a bony structure	pain, recurrence, limitation of movement
Minor cracking sound in the knee when squatting	movement of articular surfaces, soft tissues, and sometimes changes in cartilage	pain, swelling, knee function
Clicking sound after injury	damage to a ligament, meniscus, cartilage or other element	pain, instability, blockage
A rough grinding sound with pain and stiffness	degenerative changes in the joint are possible	clinical symptoms of arthrosis

This distinction is approximate. For example, a knee with arthrosis may produce the same clicking sounds as a healthy knee, while a pathological change on an MRI may not cause any symptoms at all. [5]

Therefore, the main diagnostic question is not “what sound exactly am I hearing?”, but:

"What else happens to the joint at the same time as the sound?"

What happens when a person cracks their knuckles?

In a classic knuckle crack, the joint surfaces separate slightly, the pressure within the synovial joint rapidly changes, and a gas cavity forms in the synovial fluid. This process is called tribonucleation.

In 2015, researchers observed the popping of metacarpophalangeal joints in real time using magnetic resonance imaging. At the moment of separation of the articular surfaces, a new intra-articular cavity was created, and this cavity persisted after the popping sound. This disproved the older, simplistic explanation that the sound necessarily arose from the "bursting of a pre-existing bubble." [6]

That is why the common explanation is:

"The gas bubbles just burst."

Not quite accurate.

Current data better support a model in which the rapid formation of a gas cavity during separation of the articular surfaces is associated with sound. The details of the acoustic mechanism remain debated, but the involvement of a gas cavity is considered well-documented. [7]

After such a snap, the same joint typically cannot immediately "pop" again. A repeat event requires time for intra-articular conditions to return to their original state. Experimental models reproduce this characteristic refractory period. [8]

Does cracking your fingers cause arthritis or arthrosis?

Available research does not confirm that habitual knuckle cracking increases the risk of hand osteoarthritis.

A 2011 study compared 215 people aged 50 to 89 years who had previously undergone hand X-rays. The presence of osteoarthritis was similar in people who regularly cracked their knuckles and those who did not. No association was found with the total duration of the habit or the approximate number of cracking episodes over the years. [9]

A 2018 review of the clinical literature reached a similar conclusion: studies assessing the association of habitual knuckle cracking with osteoarthritis were predominantly observational and did not show a consistent association between the habit and osteoarthritis.[10]

A more recent ultrasound-guided study assessed 400 joints in 40 asymptomatic adults. Those who habitually cracked their knuckles showed no reduction in grip strength, swelling, or functional performance compared to those without the habit. Immediately after cracking, the joint's range of motion increased slightly. The study was small and not designed to evaluate decades of exposure, so it confirms the absence of short-term harm rather than definitively resolves the question of long-term safety. [11]

The Arthritis Foundation also considers the claim that "cracking your knuckles causes arthritis" to be a common myth.[12]

Does this mean you can crack your knuckles as much as you want?

The presence of sound without pain in itself is usually not a problem, but there is no need to deliberately apply excessive force to the joint.

Studies of habitual knuckle cracking evaluate routine manipulation of healthy joints. They do not demonstrate the safety of aggressive finger twisting, repeated sharp jerks, or forced joint movement beyond its natural range.

Hospital for Special Surgery experts note that too aggressive a force could theoretically injure muscles, tendons or ligaments, although such situations are rare. [13]

The practical criterion is very simple: if you have to overcome pain, significant resistance, or move the joint unusually far to get a click, you should not do it.

This is especially true for a joint that has recently been injured or remains unstable.

Why tendons and ligaments may click

Not every sound originates within the joint cavity. Sometimes a tendon or ligament jumps over a bony prominence during movement, then returns to its new position with a characteristic click.

This mechanism is found, for example, around the ankle, hip, shoulder, and some other joints. The Hospital for Special Surgery lists the displacement of tendons and muscle structures across bony surfaces as a common cause of joint clicking. [14]

If this occurs without pain, swelling, or impaired motion, the clinical significance is often minor.

But the combination:

Recurring clicking in the same place + pain + feeling of instability

Already worth evaluating, as it is sometimes associated with tendon irritation, instability, or another mechanical problem.

What is crepitus?

Crepitus is a crackling, creaking, or frictional sensation in a joint during movement. The term is especially often used in relation to the knee.

Crepitus is different from a single, loud snap of a finger. Sometimes a person describes it as:

• slight crackling;
• "sand";
• creak;
• crunching under the kneecap;
• a feeling of slight friction when squatting.

It can exist both in a completely painless joint and in cases of disease.

This is why crepitus itself is not a diagnosis of arthrosis. [15]

How often do people's knees crack without pain?

Some particularly useful modern data has emerged here.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2025 included 103 studies and over 36,000 participants. The authors estimated that knee crepitus occurred in approximately 36% of pain-free individuals, although the power of this estimate was very low due to significant heterogeneity across studies. [16]

That is, painless cracking of the knee is not at all a rare finding.

In the same study, crepitus was more common in people with osteoarthritis and was statistically associated with radiographic evidence of the disease and some changes on magnetic resonance imaging. However, this was an association, not proof that the crepitus was damaging the joint.[17]

This difference is fundamental:

A crunch may sometimes accompany changes in the joint, but this does not mean that it was the crunch that caused these changes.

Could a painless knee pop be an early sign of osteoarthritis?

Sometimes it can be a marker of an increased likelihood of structural changes, but it is impossible to diagnose arthrosis based on sound alone.

In a large longitudinal cohort of the Osteoarthritis Initiative, in people without symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, more frequent complaints of crepitus were associated with a higher likelihood of developing symptomatic osteoarthritis in subsequent years. A particularly high proportion of new cases occurred in people who already had structural evidence of osteoarthritis on baseline radiographs but did not yet have frequent pain. [18]

This is an observational study. It does not indicate that crepitus is the cause of the disease.

A more recent meta-analysis from 2025 also found an association between crepitus and signs of osteoarthritis, but the authors rated the certainty of the evidence as low or very low.[19]

The practical conclusion, therefore, is modest: if the knee has been making a painless cracking sound for a long time, there is no need to panic; if the sound is gradually accompanied by pain, stiffness, swelling, or decreased function, the clinical significance changes.

Why MRI can show changes even in a person without pain

This is a useful nuance, because the desire to “check a cracking joint with an MRI just in case” can give rise to a new problem - incidental findings.

A systematic review of knee magnetic resonance imaging studies in adults without pain and known trauma found that structural changes are quite common. The incidence of cartilage defects, meniscal lesions, osteophytes, and other findings increased with age.[20]

That is the result:

"The MRI shows changes in the cartilage"

It does not necessarily explain the sound being heard and certainly does not mean that surgery is necessary.

In one study of 230 knees in asymptomatic adults, various MRI findings were extremely common. This further demonstrates why imaging findings should be interpreted in conjunction with the patient's complaints and physical examination, rather than in isolation. [21]

Therefore, an asymptomatic click is a poor reason to independently search for everything possible using highly sensitive imaging.

Do I need an X-ray or MRI if the joint only crunches?

In isolated, painless crunching without trauma, swelling, limitation of motion, or mechanical blockage, there is usually no reason to immediately perform imaging.

Even for chronic knee pain, current American College of Radiology criteria recommend starting with plain radiography when needed, rather than automatically proceeding to magnetic resonance imaging. An updated set of criteria was published in 2026. [22]

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine also recommends against ordering magnetic resonance imaging even for anterior knee pain unless there is effusion or mechanical symptoms and appropriate functional treatment has been completed first.[23]

If such a cautious approach is used even for some types of pain, then prophylactic MRI solely due to sound without other symptoms even more rarely changes tactics.

Evaluation becomes more warranted if blockage, painful snapping, recurrent effusions, instability, sequelae of trauma, or persistent pain are present.

Cracking sound when doing squats - are squats themselves harmful?

If your knees crack when you squat, but the movement doesn't cause pain, the sound alone is usually not a reason to stop squatting or physical activity.

Joint noise can arise from the movement of the patella relative to the femur, tendons, and other soft tissues. The AAOS lists several potentially harmless and pathological sources of knee noise and recommends evaluating them in the context of pain, instability, and other symptoms. [24]

Stopping movement simply because of sound can lead to unnecessary restrictions on physical activity.

The situation is different if, along with squatting, pain, swelling, a sensation of the knee "sagging," or locking occurs. In this case, it makes sense to evaluate the exercise technique and the joint itself.

Knee Cracking and Osteoarthritis: How to Distinguish Cause and Symptom

Osteoarthritis can indeed be accompanied by crackling and a sensation of friction. However, its primary clinical manifestations are pain, stiffness, and decreased function, rather than the sound itself. The NHS and Mayo Clinic list crepitus among the possible signs of the disease, but also emphasize pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and sometimes swelling. [25]

This explains the apparent contradiction:

"Crunching occurs with arthrosis" - true.

“Any crunching means arthrosis” is incorrect.

“The crunching caused arthrosis” is also not clear from this data.

The same physical phenomenon can occur in both a healthy and an affected joint.

A crunch after an injury is a different situation.

If the click occurs directly during the injury, it cannot be assessed in the same way as a habitual painless crunch.

For example, after a knee injury, a clicking sound may accompany a ligament or meniscus injury. The AAOS states that a meniscus injury may present as a clicking, locking, or a feeling of something being stuck inside the knee.[26]

The combination is especially informative:

Trauma → clicking → pain or swelling that appears quickly → instability or inability to use the joint normally.

This sequence requires an in-person assessment.

The NHS recommends emergency treatment for severe pain following an injury, inability to bear weight on the joint, obvious deformity or loss of sensation.[27]

What does it mean if a joint clicks and locks?

The repetitive locking or sensation that the joint is physically stuck in a certain position is much more important than the sound itself.

For the knee, a similar picture can occur with damage to the meniscus, a free intra-articular fragment, and some other mechanical conditions. [28]

Here we are no longer talking about harmless cavitation.

If you periodically cannot fully bend or straighten your knee, shoulder, or other joint, and movement is restored only after additional maneuvers, you should consult a musculoskeletal specialist.

The same applies to the feeling of instability when a joint suddenly “gives way”.

What if the crunching appeared with age, but there is no pain?

Age-related changes can indeed make joint sounds more noticeable, but the absence of pain and normal function remain reassuring signs.

With age, structural changes in joints are increasingly detected, even in people who are asymptomatic. This is particularly well demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging studies of the knees. [29]

Therefore, a 55-year-old person should not expect that his joints will look exactly the same on imaging as they did at 20 years old.

At the same time, age-related cracking should not be considered evidence of inevitable arthrosis.

Osteoarthritis is assessed based on a combination of clinical manifestations and, if necessary, examination data.

Why does one joint crack and the other not?

Even symmetrical joints are not required to behave the same way.

The sound can be affected by:

• position of tendons and ligaments;
• features of anatomy;
• range of motion;
• past traumas;
• muscle control;
• features of articular surfaces.

For example, one knee may crack during every squat, while the other remains virtually silent, although both function normally.

The mere fact of a one-sided sound without pain does not yet prove pathology.

What is alarming is not the asymmetry of sound as such, but a new asymmetry of function: one knee has begun to swell, become limited in movement, hurt, or give way.

Is it necessary to treat joint crunching?

Isolated painless crunching usually does not require treatment.

The Mayo Clinic, in its discussion of painless knee crepitus, clearly states that if there are no other symptoms, no specific treatment is needed.[30]

There is no need to take:

• chondroprotectors;
• painkillers;
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• collagen;
• "joint lubricant";
• vitamin complexes

For sound reduction only.

The sound itself is not a disease and does not require medication to suppress it.

If a specific cause is identified - for example, osteoarthritis with pain, meniscus damage, or tendon disease - that condition is treated, not the acoustic effect.

Should I take collagen if my joints start to creak?

A crunch without pain is not, in itself, an indication to take collagen supplements.

It does not prove collagen deficiency and does not allow one to determine the condition of articular cartilage.

Even if a particular supplement is being studied for symptomatic osteoarthritis, that is a completely different clinical question than whether a person is taking a drug prophylactically simply because of clicking.

Therefore the scheme is:

"My joints are starting to creak → my collagen is worn out → I need to take collagen supplements."

Does not correspond to how joint diseases are diagnosed.

It is much more useful to assess pain, function, physical activity, injury sequelae, and other real risk factors.

And glucosamine and chondroitin

The same logic applies to glucosamine and chondroitin.

Painless joint crunching is not an independent disease and does not require pharmacological prophylaxis.

The presence of sound also does not allow us to assess the thickness or condition of the cartilage.

If a person has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, the use of supplements is assessed individually based on current recommendations and the individual's situation. However, there is no medical basis for using such supplements simply to try to improve joint comfort.

Do I need to stretch the joint more?

If the joint functions normally and does not hurt, special therapeutic exercises just to eliminate the sound are usually not required.

However, regular physical activity, muscle strength, and maintaining a normal range of motion are important for musculoskeletal health.

There is no need to avoid movement out of fear:

"If it crunches, it's wearing out."

The sound itself does not prove cartilage damage.

On the other hand, there is no need to deliberately repeatedly produce a click, believing that this “develops” or “adjusts” the joint.

When a painless crunch still deserves a routine evaluation

Even without pain, consultation may be reasonable if the sound is new and accompanied by changes in joint mechanics.

For example:

• the joint regularly locks;
• instability or "breaking" appears;
• the range of motion has noticeably decreased;
• swelling has developed;
• the joint started clicking again after a recent injury;
• the person feels that the tendon is constantly jumping painfully;
• a gradually increasing stiffness arises.

For the knee, the AAOS specifically lists locking, instability, weakness, pain, and changes in motion as features that help distinguish common noises from a problem requiring evaluation.[31]

If the only complaint is:

“My knees have been crunching when I squat for years, but there is no pain, swelling, or restriction of movement,”

The likelihood of needing active treatment is significantly lower.

When you need to see a doctor quickly

What is especially important is not the volume of the crunch, but the inflammatory and traumatic symptoms.

The NHS recommends urgent medical assessment if a joint is painful, swollen, and hot, especially along with a high temperature, chills, or general malaise. This combination can occur with infectious arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. [32]

After an injury, more urgent help is needed when:

• very severe pain;
• inability to walk or put weight on the joint;
• noticeable deformation;
• numbness or loss of sensation. [33]

In these situations, the question is no longer whether the crunching is “normal.”

Sound is only one element of the picture.

How to evaluate your joint without self-diagnosis

The most helpful thing to do is ask yourself a few simple questions.

What's happening	How it is usually interpreted
Only sound, no pain, full movement	more often benign joint noise
The crunch has been going on for many years without any changes.	usually a less disturbing pattern
The crunching sound appeared along with the pain.	an assessment of the cause of the pain is needed
There is swelling or warmth	an inflammatory or traumatic process is possible
The joint is blocked	there may be a mechanical problem
The joint is giving way	stability and surrounding structures should be assessed
The clicking sound occurred during the injury.	damage to ligaments, meniscus or other tissues must be taken into account
Rough crepitus appeared gradually with pain and stiffness	osteoarthritis is possible among other causes

This table does not allow for self-diagnosis. Its purpose is to demonstrate why isolated sounds and sounds with impaired function are clinically distinct situations. [34]

What is often misunderstood

"The crunching sound means the bones are rubbing against each other."

Usually not. The classic finger snap is associated with pressure changes and the formation of a gas cavity in the synovial fluid, while other sounds can occur when tendons and ligaments move. [35]

"Cracking your knuckles will inevitably lead to arthritis."

Modern observational data do not support this. [36]

"If arthrosis can crunch, then any crunch is arthrosis."

No. Painless crepitus is also common among people without diagnosed osteoarthritis.[37]

"If there is no pain, the joint is guaranteed to be perfect."

No, that's not true. Structural changes can exist without pain, especially with age, and some types of crepitus are statistically associated with radiographic changes. However, a finding without symptoms does not necessarily require treatment. [38]

"We need to get an MRI to make sure everything is okay."

Not necessarily. High-sensitivity imaging often detects changes even in completely asymptomatic people, so the test should be ordered when its results could change the diagnosis or treatment. [39]

"The louder the click, the more severe the damage."

Sound volume alone is not a measurement of cartilage damage or disease severity.

Clinically, pain, swelling, function and the mechanism of symptom occurrence are much more important.

Key points from experts

Eric M. Ruderman, MD, is a rheumatologist and professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. His academic appointment and specialization are confirmed by Northwestern University's official profile. [40] In an Arthritis Foundation article, Dr. Ruderman directly addresses the myth of knuckle cracking, pointing out that this habit does not damage the joint and is not considered a cause of arthritis. [41]

Sabrina M. Strickland, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery. She is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and specializes in knee conditions, including patellofemoral pathology and cartilage injuries. [42] In a patient file at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Strickland explains that most isolated knee clicks and pops are harmless; it's pain, swelling, locking, or other dysfunction that should be a concern. [43]

Joel M. Press, MD, a physician specializing in physical and rehabilitation medicine, is the director of physical medicine at the Hospital for Special Surgery and a professor of rehabilitation medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. [44] In an HSS opinion piece, he notes that joint noise alone is not cause for concern; clinical significance arises when pain, swelling, redness, limitation of motion, or joint locking are also present. [45]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for your joints to crack every day?

Yes, if it is a familiar, painless sound and the joint moves normally. Frequency alone does not determine the presence of disease. Clinical significance increases with the appearance of pain, swelling, blockage, or instability. [46]

Why do fingers crack?

When a joint is stretched, the pressure in it changes and a gas cavity quickly forms in the synovial fluid; this process is associated with a characteristic click. [47]

Is it harmful to crack your knuckles on purpose?

Regular, habitual crunching has not been associated with an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in existing studies. However, deliberately applying excessive force or pushing the movement to the point of pain is not recommended. [48]

Why can't you crack your finger a second time right away?

After the click, the intra-articular gas cavity takes time to disappear and restore the original conditions, so there is a temporary period when it is difficult to obtain a repeat click. [49]

Is it dangerous if your knees crack when you squat?

Unless there is pain, swelling, blockage, or instability, the sound itself often requires no treatment. Knee crepitus is common even in people without pain. [50]

Could a painless crunch be a sign of osteoarthritis?

Crepitus, especially in the knee, is sometimes statistically associated with structural features of osteoarthritis. However, the sound alone does not establish a diagnosis, and the presence of a connection does not mean that the crunching is caused by the disease. [51]

Do I need an MRI for a cracked knee?

If the only complaint is a painless sound and function is fully preserved, routine magnetic resonance imaging is usually unnecessary. Even in chronic pain, modern criteria begin imaging with simpler methods, and magnetic resonance imaging is used when indicated. [52]

Why does my shoulder or hip click when I do a certain movement?

One cause may be a tendon or other soft tissue moving over a bony prominence. If it is painless and movement is not restricted, this condition is often harmless. [53]

What's worse - a click or a grinding sound?

The nature of the sound alone cannot reliably assess the condition of a joint. Coarse crepitus does occur in osteoarthritis, but the presence of pain, stiffness, limited motion, and swelling is much more important. [54]

Can crunching appear with age?

Yes. Age-related changes in joints and surrounding tissues can make sounds more noticeable. However, structural changes are often detected even in people without symptoms. [55]

Should I take collagen because of the crunch?

No. Isolated crunching is not a sign of established collagen deficiency or an independent indication for supplementation.

Should I limit my exercise if my knees are crunching?

If movement is painless and there is no swelling, instability or locking, the sound itself is usually not a reason to stop physical activity.[56]

When does a crunching sound after an injury require a doctor?

If the click is followed by pain, rapid swelling, inability to use the joint normally, instability or locking, the joint should be assessed in person. [57]

When does joint cracking require urgent help?

Urgent evaluation is needed not because of the sound itself, but if the joint has become hot and swollen due to a high temperature, or if severe pain, deformity, or inability to bear weight on the limb occurs after the injury. [58]

Main

Painless joint cracking is usually harmless. The sound may be caused by the formation of a gas cavity in the synovial fluid, tendon movement, or the interaction of articular surfaces. It is not, in itself, evidence of cartilage "wearing down." [59]

For habitual knuckle cracking, current data show no increased risk of osteoarthritis. For the knees, the situation is a bit more complex: crepitus is often found in completely pain-free individuals, but statistically, it can accompany structural signs of osteoarthritis. Therefore, the correct formulation is that the sound can be a marker of joint condition, but not a proven cause of its destruction. [60]

The practical guideline is not volume, but function. If the joint moves freely and is not painful, swollen, locked, or unstable, no specific treatment or examination is usually necessary. The development of pain, swelling, stiffness, locking, instability, or association with trauma changes the situation and warrants a medical evaluation. [61]