Knee popping sounds while working out

While doing Legs and Back and Plyo I hear noises in my knees. Often one of them is *kind of* sensitive. Just enough to notice and that's just in everyday life. I don't want to make anything worse. I was wondering if anyone could advise on knee braces and what kinds?

In certain exercises I hear pops and in others I hear a little tiny series of pops. My form is lacking because my balance sucks especially in the one legged exercises. I know that better balance will come with time but what do I do in the meanwhile? I feel like my wobbly-ness is doing more harm.

Thanks!

Replies

  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    It really can be several different things and may be worth keeping and eye on. If you hear a pop and have no pain it could be soft tissue bands that are harmlessly rubbing in the joint but if you are hearing popping and cracking and are experiencing some pain or alot of pain then you could be looking at cartilage damage or possibly a torn meniscus or loose bodies of the two floating around in the knee joint... I have No meniscus left in either knee, and no cartilage left in either knee and have been bone on bone for the past decade so whenever I am walking or bending my knee's are popping and cracking and making a host of noises... lol I would recommend if it keeps up and you are still having pain you might consider seeing your doctor and possibly getting a referral to an Orthopedic surgeon for a consult... Strengthening the muscles in and around the knee joint is the best way to reduce damage to the knee joint itself but you need to build those muscle up slowly if you have under lying issue and there again I good reason to seek medical advice.... Best of Luck
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    tagging because I have similar issues of sometimes feeling a pop on my knee when I bike. No pain, just annoying feeling.
  • Tuesday20
    Tuesday20 Posts: 93 Member
    I get popping in my wrists when trying push ups and I cant do side leg raises due to popping in my hips (that's a bit sore)... slightly concerned
  • Awesome. Thank you.

    I have no pain while working out which is weird because the faint pain that I ever experience just crops up other times in life. If I thought about my best guess it would be walking up stairs. It's not even pain, just sensitivity.

    I'm thinking I may get a brace. The twisting and wobbling can not be good for preventing further damage.

    Oh, and big respect for your 300+ lb. weight loss. Amazing.
  • Senneth12
    Senneth12 Posts: 72
    A lot of times popping is nothing, sometimes it's something. The only person who can tell you is a good doctor or physical therapist.

    But, in regards to bracing. I have a couple if joints that are permanently braced, and a couple more that are sometimes braced. The wrong type of brace can do a lot of damage, and one of the big reasons permanent bracing is controversial is that it weakes your joints. Outside if medical necessity, putting on a brace so you are able to complete an exercise means you still aren't completing the exercise correctly.

    Think about this for a second. It isn't just your knees. If your knees are wobbling, then so are your ankles and hips. A knee brace changes the mechanics of your knee and restricts motion, which puts different stress in your ankle and hips and back, etc.

    No one here can recommend a good brace for you, because braces aren't universal. The type that works for be person won't work for another. Even good orthopedic doctors can be iffy on which braces are best. They've usually written a category, and then we've worked with bracing people and physical therapists to find the best braces for me.

    If you are set on bracing your knee, I would strongly recommend doing so through an orthopedist's office. Braces are a band aid. They're compensating for weakness, and are covering up the real problem. Sometimes, that is completely necessary. But bracing one joint to get through a workout where you admit you have sloppy form without consulting a physical therapist or an orthopedist is asking for an injury. Maybe not to your knee, but to one of the joints that is connected to it.
  • Interesting. Thank you for that. Specialist doctors are definitely not within my budget so I'll be mindful and continue working on form over reps.