Noisy knees: does cracking your knee cause arthritis?
There is no good evidence that cracking your joints causes arthritis. Knee noises are very common. Grinding noises are linked with arthritis, but studies suggest this often reflects joint changes that are already there, not damage caused by the noise [1,2].
First things first
You are far from alone
Doctors call knee noise crepitus: a grinding, crackling or popping that you feel or hear when the knee moves. A 2025 review of 103 studies found it in about 41% of the general population, 36% of people with no knee pain, and 81% of people with knee osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis) [2].
The link
Linked with arthritis, but not shown to cause it
People with noisy knees had about 3.8 times the odds of arthritis showing on X-ray [2]. In a large US study, people who noticed knee noise more often were more likely to develop painful knee arthritis over 4 years. The odds were about 1.5 times higher for those who noticed it “rarely” and 3.0 times higher for “always” [1].
The key detail: over 75% of these new cases happened in knees that already showed arthritis on X-ray but were not yet often painful [1]. This suggests the grinding often reflects early joint change that is already present. It does not show that the noise, or cracking, causes arthritis [1,2]. The certainty of this evidence is low to very low [2].
Cracking on purpose
What about cracking your joints deliberately?
No study has tested deliberate knee cracking. The research that exists is on knuckles (finger joints):
- One doctor cracked the knuckles of one hand for 50 years (at least 36,500 times) and found no arthritis in either hand. This was a single person [3].
- In a study of 215 people, hand arthritis was about as common in knuckle crackers as in non-crackers (18.1% and 21.5%), and cracking more often made no difference [4].
- A 1990 study of 300 people found no more hand arthritis in crackers, although crackers had more hand swelling and weaker grip [5].
- A 2017 ultrasound study found similar grip strength, and slightly thicker cartilage, in crackers [6].
These studies are small, and they looked at hands, not knees [3,5,4,6].
At a glance
Knee noise in short
| Question | What studies show | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Are knee noises common? | Yes: about 4 in 10 people in the general population [2] | Low to very low |
| Are they linked with arthritis? | Yes, often with joint change that is already there [1,2] | Low to very low, plus one large study |
| Does cracking joints cause arthritis? | No good evidence that it does; no study has tested knees [3,5,4,6] | Low (hands only) |
How doctors use it
Noise is one clue among several
Crepitus is one of the signs doctors use when diagnosing knee arthritis, together with persistent pain, short-lived morning stiffness, reduced function, restricted movement and bony enlargement [7]. Noise alone does not make the diagnosis. Painless noise on its own is not a reason for scans (expert advice).
When to get checked
Get your knee checked if the noise comes with…
- pain or swelling
- locking (the knee gets stuck) or giving way
- a recent injury
These signs come from expert advice rather than trials.
Honest limits
What we don’t know yet
No study has looked at deliberate knee cracking and arthritis. The knuckle studies are small and from hands [3,5,4,6]. The large US study did not assess arthritis behind the kneecap [1].
Dr Aditya Aggarwal sees people with knee pain, injuries and arthritis at Aggarwal Clinic, Patiala. A clicking knee without pain or swelling usually needs no tests, but an examination can help if you’re worried.
Sources
References
- Lo GH, et al. Subjective crepitus as a risk factor for incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis Care Res. 2018;70(1):53-60. doi:10.1002/acr.23246
- Couch JL, et al. Noisy knees - knee crepitus prevalence and association with structural pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2025;59(2):126-132. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2024-108866
- Unger DL. Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers? Arthritis Rheum. 1998;41(5):949-950. doi:10.1002/1529-0131(199805)41:5<949::AID-ART36>3.0.CO;2-3
- Deweber K, et al. Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. J Am Board Fam Med. 2011;24(2):169-174. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2011.02.100156
- Castellanos J, Axelrod D. Effect of habitual knuckle cracking on hand function. Ann Rheum Dis. 1990;49(5):308-309. doi:10.1136/ard.49.5.308
- Yildizgören MT, et al. Effects of habitual knuckle cracking on metacarpal cartilage thickness and grip strength. Hand Surg Rehabil. 2017;36(1):41-43. doi:10.1016/j.hansur.2016.09.001
- Zhang W, et al. EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69(3):483-489. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.113100
Evidence checked 5 October 2026.
Next step
WhatsApp your reports to +91 84477 30708, or call +91 98768 24676, to arrange a consultation with Dr Aditya Aggarwal at Aggarwal Clinic, Patiala. No diagnosis or treatment advice is given over WhatsApp.
General information only; it doesn’t replace a consultation. In an emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.