Creaky knees can cause a lot of worry in people and eventually lead to anxiety-avoiding behaviour because negative health beliefs are associated with the crepitations. This can lead patients into a downward spiral of altered abnormal movement behaviour fuelled by negative thoughts. First, no definitive link between crepitation noise and pathology has been demonstrated to date. If pain accompanies joint crepitation, contact a health professional to evaluate the situation.

Interestingly, years of cracking of the knuckles showed no signs of osteoarthritis. The clunk can be explained as the slipstick phenomenon where the movements of the kneecap and femur are jerky and produce signals on vibratory arthrography. These vibrations are reduced with osteoarthritis and are almost lost with advanced kneecap changes, probably due to hypomobility and loss of joint lubrication. In short, degenerative joints are actually less likely to produce crepitus. But what about fine grating? That is also normal because fluid flows through the slightly rough back of kneecap surface.So perhaps we should not see creaking knees as a sign of pathology, but as a positive sign because our joints are mobile and well-lubricated.Translated with DeepL.com (free version)