photo: healthline

Most of the people have the habit of cracking their fingers all the time either intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes even when there is a sudden move or stretch, our joints make noise, which in scientific term is referred to as crepitus. It happens to all the people but is quite common in older people. But why do joints crack? Do you know the real reason behind this?

Why our joints cracks?
Cracking of joint can be due to several reasons. It can be either just be gas bubbles busting within the fluid surrounding the joints or the sound of the ligaments and tendons stretching and releasing. A soft snap which you feel at times while turning your neck suddenly can be due to a tight muscle or tendon moving over a bony structure. To get rid of the snapping, you can gently massage the joint and its surrounding where you mostly feel such kind of snap. At times the joints also make noise if you had an injury on that particular joint and the ligaments are not healed properly. The popping of joints is common in elderly people because some of the cartilage wears away over time.

Is it harmful?
As long as the sound is not accompanied by pain or swelling, you don't need to worry about it. If you are feeling any discomfort, see your doctor. At times it can also be a sign of ligament injury or arthritic damage that needs to be taken care of.