A new study by researchers at La Trobe University has found that 41% of people have “creaky knees.”
This condition, called knee crepitus, is the cracking or grinding sound that knees can make when moving.
The study looked at how common the issue is and what it might mean for knee health.
Jamon Couch, a physiotherapist and graduate researcher at La Trobe, said many people with creaky knees worry that it could be a sign of something more serious, like arthritis.
This fear often leads them to avoid exercise, thinking it might make things worse.
However, Couch explained that there hasn’t been enough research to give clear advice about what knee crepitus means for knee health.
To learn more, the team analyzed data from 103 studies that included more than 36,000 people.
They found that 41% of the population had creaky knees, including 36% of people who had never injured their knees.
The study also revealed that creaky knees are more common in people with knee injuries, especially those affecting the knee cartilage. For example, 81% of people with knee osteoarthritis reported having creaky knees.
One important finding was that people with creaky knees were over three times more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis. They were also twice as likely to show signs of joint changes related to osteoarthritis on MRI scans.
Even though the exact cause of knee crepitus is still debated, Couch said people shouldn’t worry too much if their knees make noise, especially if there’s no pain. He encouraged people to keep exercising, as noisy knees without pain are unlikely to be causing any harm.
In short, if your knees crack or pop but aren’t painful, it’s usually nothing to worry about!
