Bones cracking?

slipss

I wasn't sure where to ask this but I guess this is the right forum. You know when you stretch and you here a cracking, usually when you have been asleep or not moving too much for a period. I was just curious, what actually is the cracking noise?

DrIndy

Its when you stretch your joints and temporarily cause a vacuum in the synovial fluid that lines the joints when you stretch it out, when this collapses, then you hear a cracking sound.

littlebug

On the topic of bones cracking...

My bones have always cracked, all over, back, neck, shouylders, hips, knees, ankles, wrists, fingers! Bloomin' nuisance when I was a teenager trying to sneak up the stairs after a night out and my ankles could be heard a mile away. So I had the old wives tales... ooh be careful with that it can be a sign that you'll have arthritis later in life and then the medical facts (as per Dr Indy below) i.e. just harmless cracking, vacuum etc .

But here I am age 37 with sore joints all over which can get pretty bad to be honest. I'm seeing a rheumatologist month so I'll find out what's going on (i.e I'm not looking for medical advice!) .

But I'm interested to know are there any medical theories on this one... i.e cracking causing later problems, coincidence or both symptoms of and underlying syndrome (e.g rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis etc).

slipss

cheers Indy thats been wrecking my head for years.

doctor evil

My back started cracking after a fall from a horse, I went to a chiropodist as I was in pain and was told it was caused by spinal instability. My big toe cracks when I close it, its only my right and it is definatley stiffer at times than the left.