Are Popping Noises Harmful?

A common question that I hear from many of my patients is “Why does my ‘shoulder’, or ‘knee’, or ‘foot’ or ’neck’ make that ‘Popping’ Noise?” Knees, shoulders, feet and necks are the usual culprits involved in the making of funny noises. People who saw the original Cinderella movie were exposed to the knee popping of the evil step-sister, every time she took a step on the offending leg.

Anyway, this common sound is generally known as “Cavitation” in the world of health care.  It is typically caused by a gas filled cavity or bubble forming in the joint.  The same thing happens when you crack your knuckles; the space between the joints widen and the synovial fluid is pulled into the space and causes the “cracking” noise.

 However, I have heard other unusual noises, and no, they are not related to the digestive system!  Some people with shoulder tightness develop fascial restrictions or tightness in their shoulder blade.  They may hear some rubbing or popping noises when they shrug their shoulders.

And finally, for those who hear “rice krispies” in their neck, it is an entirely different cause.  Unfortunately, that is probably due to degeneration of disks in the cervical spine and can be a natural part of the aging process.

In conclusion, the human body is amazing, but it can also be a very noisy structure at times. Most of the time the noises are harmless, but if anything sounds unusual or causes discomfort, contact your health care professional for more information.

Discuss your questions about popping with our  WWSPT professionals.