My knees make a "cracking" sound when I squat. Is there something wrong with my joints?

Netizen asked: I am 25 years old. When I squat and stand up, my knees make a "cracking" sound, but it doesn't hurt.

What is going on? Is it possible that I have knee problems at such a young age?

Many people have experienced joint cracking. For example, the knuckles may make a "pop" sound when someone makes a fist, or stretch or turn the neck.

As long as your knee is not painful, red or swollen, and it does not affect your movement, it is most likely a physiological popping and you don't need to worry too much.

The knee joint is composed of two menisci, the patella, cartilage, joint capsule, ligaments, synovial bursa, nerves and surrounding muscles.

There are two main reasons why the knee joint pops:

① The knee joint moves in a large amount, causing noise due to friction and collision between the structures of the knee joint.

② When the knee joint is in a static state for a certain period of time, some gas will dissolve into the synovial fluid in the joint capsule, producing tiny bubbles. When we suddenly move the knee joint, the pressure in the joint capsule will change, and the bubbles will burst or vibrate with the synovial fluid, which will make a crisp sound.

These are all normal physiological phenomena. However, if the knee popping is accompanied by redness, swelling, pain and other symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately.

This clicking sound may be caused by problems such as meniscus, cartilage damage, or osteoarthritis. The cause must be identified and treated accordingly.