Several symptoms can affect the knee, a naturally overloaded joint. Understand whether the “crackling” noise requires attention
Anyone who has ever felt their knee “pop” knows the concern the symptom can generate. In fact, this is one of the joints that suffers the most from overload in the body. This is why it is so common for injuries to affect the region. But is the “crackling” a cause for concern?
According to Dr. Isaias Chaves, an orthopedic doctor who specializes in knees and hips, knocking knees are a very common complaint in orthopedic practices, especially among women.
“The kneecap (that little ball in front of the knee) articulates with the femur and the movement can generate a ‘click or crackle’. This click may or may not be accompanied by pain,” says the specialist.
According to him, when the patient feels the knee pop, it is most likely due to an abnormal movement of the kneecap relative to the femur. Care must be taken as this can cause damage to the knee cartilage over time. “The popping of the knee is a warning sign that something is not normal,” warns the orthopedist.
What does knee snap mean?
According to the doctor, ticking could be the first symptom of an alteration in the movement of the patella in relation to the femur in the knee region. “Pain in the front part of the knee, increase in volume and even the famous ‘water in the knee’ can be consequences of this patellofemoral joint dysfunction,” he explains.
If the patient does not seek specialized help, lesions to the kneecap cartilage may appear and progress severely, warns the specialist.
An example is patellar chondropathy, a very common pathology among women. Despite its frequency, many patients are unaware that its cause can be treated with physical activity aimed at strengthening the muscles and correcting knee movement.
Associated symptoms that deserve attention
Other symptoms associated with popping may also indicate knee problems. This is the case of pain, joint effusion (water in the knee) and loss of muscle mass in the thigh, as the patient stops using the limb due to pain.
Treatment
“Always seek out an orthopedist, knee specialist for proper treatment. The treatment is based on eliminating the patient’s pain crisis and then correcting the movement so that friction and clicking noises stop occurring,” emphasizes Dr. Isaiah.
According to the specialist, there are some cases where the patient needs surgical treatment to adjust the patellar movement. However, in the minority of cases, surgery is an alternative.
The orthopedist emphasizes that the treatment of “knee cracking” depends on the joint action of orthopedists, physiotherapists and physical educators. According to him, this combination is the one that provides the best results for the patient in the short and long term.
“Patients who treat painful cracking conditions based only on infiltrations carried out by orthopedists, for example, have a high rate of recurrence of symptoms. This is because, when infiltrates or takes drugs, the patient only acts on the consequence of the problem and not on the cause,” he concludes.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
