Squats are an exercise that many people do at the gym. It’s a classic! But have you ever heard your knees crack while performing this exercise? This is why this can happen and whether it is bad.
There is air in your joints and it cracks
Sometimes the cracking of joints can be caused by air. There is fluid in your joints and bubbles can form in them naturally. By moving you can burst this bubble and that makes a sound. This is nothing to worry about. This is something your body just does sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with it.
It could be your attitude
When performing a squat you use many different muscles and joints. As a result, a muscle may not be positioned quite correctly. Very small changes in your posture can cause minor creaking. For example, if you place more pressure on the outside of your foot than on the inside, you will have an uneven distribution of weight. This puts more pressure on your knees and this can cause a crack. If you are unsure whether your posture is correct, you can always try to stand a little wider. Doesn’t this help? Then ask a more experienced sports or trainer for help.
You have some wear and tear
Moving your knee involves a lot of friction. This friction can cause wear and tear over time. If you have been exercising intensively for a long time, it is not surprising if your knee cracks a little here and there. As long as this doesn’t hurt, there’s nothing to worry about, it’s probably just a sign of your hard work. There isn’t much you can do about it once it’s already there. Taking good care of your joints with the help of stretching and a massage here and there is never a bad idea anyway.
You may have arthritis
Arthritis is irritation of your joints. You can get it in your knees, ankles and hips. This can happen when you chronically put a lot of pressure on a joint and it cannot recover properly. This is a process that takes place in the long term, so it is not due to one workout. With arthritis it is safe to exercise, but be careful and take enough rest in between. Over time, you can gradually make your workouts harder and longer. Consult with a medical professional about the best routine for your body.
You have scar tissue around your knee
Have you ever had an injury to your knee? Then there is a chance that the cracking is caused by scar tissue. This is due to the friction of this tissue during movement. As long as you don’t experience any pain, there is nothing wrong.
When is something going on?
Not quite sure if the cracking is okay? If it is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms, we recommend that you see a doctor: swelling, pain, an unstable feeling in your knees, a change in the movement of your knee and the formation of bruises.
