Popping and cracking of muscle/joints

rpgdemon · 10-05-2010, 11:33 PM

Stiff joints that pop/crack a bunch, which aren't painful or anything, but are annoying. How does the NPF suggest dealing with them? Just stretch more? Or is there some other trick to it?

I mean, I'm not inflexible because of this, I can put my legs behind my head, bend my arm backwards, and other crazy contortions, but the cracking is really annoying/slightly worrisome.

Krylo · 10-06-2010, 12:09 AM

Amputation.

Azisien · 10-06-2010, 12:56 AM

Have you tried exercising? Like, putting on some muscle? I know some of my buddies have had bum shoulders all their lives and those are starting to mend a bit due to some really basic weight lifting.

bluestarultor · 10-06-2010, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

Have you tried exercising? Like, putting on some muscle? I know some of my buddies have had bum shoulders all their lives and those are starting to mend a bit due to some really basic weight lifting.

Muscle has nothing to do with it.

I've had a similar thing for as long as I can remember. I just accept that my joints crack. It's nothing to be worried about. It's just bubbles in your joint fluid popping due to decreased pressure. The gases are then reabsorbed into the joint fluid.

Here: http://health.howstuffworks.com/huma...uestion437.htm

Nikose Tyris · 10-06-2010, 08:25 AM

Don't avoid it; use it as a weapon to frighten people. Begin screaming after a partciularly large crack, act like a bone snapped. Claim you have a rare disease.

pochercoaster · 10-06-2010, 08:51 AM

From the brief research I just did, flexibility actually contributes to joint popping. When you flex a joint slightly beyond its normal range of motion it's more likely to fill with the gas that escapes when it cracks.

I'm also a very bendy person and my joints pop and crack a lot- like Blues, I've just come to accept it.

However, you might want to watch which joints crack a lot, especially if you have stiffness- if it's your neck or spine, you might want to consider some strengthening exercises. Although the joint is what's making the sound, the ligaments around it may be working harder to support your greater range mobility. Link: http://www.spinegroup.com/Advice/NkCrk.html

That aside, arthritis can also cause cracking due to the cartilage around the joints being worn out.

Professor Smarmiarty · 10-06-2010, 09:14 AM

To be honest I wouldn't trust anything on a chiropracty website. Cause they crazy nutters.

pochercoaster · 10-06-2010, 09:17 AM

Edit: I didn't notice that was a chriopracty website. Whoops. But I saw that idea come up in a few other places.

Regardless, if there's stiffness some gentle exercise would probably help. If there isn't and you're not arthritic, then meh. Some people just have joints that pop a lot.

Here's a slightly more reliable source (along with Blues' link): http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/...osteoarthritis
How to keep your joints healthy: http://arthritis.webmd.com/caring-your-joints Again the only reason I link this is because you shouldn't be stiff...

Azisien · 10-06-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Muscle has nothing to do with it.

Right, I forgot. Muscle doesn't support joints and ligaments. How silly of me.

Melfice · 10-06-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

Right, I forgot. Muscle doesn't support joints and ligaments. How silly of me.

Truth, but Blues IS right about the popping.
As for the stiff shoulder... that's where you come in, with the muscle building. Probably.

10-05-2010, 11:33 PM	#1
rpgdemon Not a Taco Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,313	Popping and cracking of muscle/joints Stiff joints that pop/crack a bunch, which aren't painful or anything, but are annoying. How does the NPF suggest dealing with them? Just stretch more? Or is there some other trick to it? I mean, I'm not inflexible because of this, I can put my legs behind my head, bend my arm backwards, and other crazy contortions, but the cracking is really annoying/slightly worrisome. __________________ I did a lot of posting on here as a teenager, and I was pretty awful. Even after I learned, grew up, and came to be on the right side of a lot of important issues, I was still angry, abrasive, and generally increased the amount of hate in the world, in pretty unacceptable ways. On the off chance that someone is taking a trip down memory lane looking through those old threads, I wanted to devote my signature to say directly to you, I'm sorry. Thank you for letting me be better, NPF.

10-06-2010, 12:09 AM	#2
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	Amputation. __________________ I am very tired.

10-06-2010, 09:17 AM	#8
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	Edit: I didn't notice that was a chriopracty website. Whoops. But I saw that idea come up in a few other places. Regardless, if there's stiffness some gentle exercise would probably help. If there isn't and you're not arthritic, then meh. Some people just have joints that pop a lot. Here's a slightly more reliable source (along with Blues' link): http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/...osteoarthritis How to keep your joints healthy: http://arthritis.webmd.com/caring-your-joints Again the only reason I link this is because you shouldn't be stiff... Last edited by pochercoaster; 10-06-2010 at 09:24 AM.

10-06-2010, 12:56 AM	#3
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	Have you tried exercising? Like, putting on some muscle? I know some of my buddies have had bum shoulders all their lives and those are starting to mend a bit due to some really basic weight lifting.

10-06-2010, 08:51 AM	#6
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	From the brief research I just did, flexibility actually contributes to joint popping. When you flex a joint slightly beyond its normal range of motion it's more likely to fill with the gas that escapes when it cracks. I'm also a very bendy person and my joints pop and crack a lot- like Blues, I've just come to accept it. However, you might want to watch which joints crack a lot, especially if you have stiffness- if it's your neck or spine, you might want to consider some strengthening exercises. Although the joint is what's making the sound, the ligaments around it may be working harder to support your greater range mobility. Link: http://www.spinegroup.com/Advice/NkCrk.html That aside, arthritis can also cause cracking due to the cartilage around the joints being worn out.

10-06-2010, 09:14 AM	#7
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	To be honest I wouldn't trust anything on a chiropracty website. Cause they crazy nutters.