4

When I wake up and do stretching I hear some sounds from my joints. What do you call this crunching sound from bone joints?

Improve this question
1

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
4

This answer explains and organizes some of the terms sketchily presented in previous answers, and adds a term or two.

Wikipedia's cracking-joints article says

Cracking joints is the action of moving joints to produce a sharp cracking or popping sound. This commonly occurs during deliberate knuckle-cracking. It is possible to crack many joints, such as...

Besides referring to this noise as cracking and popping, wikipedia mentions the terms clicking and snapping.

Cavitation, more precisely discharge cavitation, "in joint fluid is thought to cause the popping sound produced by bone joint cracking, for example by deliberately cracking one's knuckles." Cavitation is "formation and implosion of cavities in a liquid" – that is, bubbles form and collapse, releasing energy and possibly making noise.

Another source of bone joint noise is crepitus, "the grating, crackling or popping sounds and sensations experienced under the skin and joints". Wikipedia mentions that cavitation, respiratory diseases, and rough surfaces in contact due to fractures or arithritis are some of the causes of crepitus.

Improve this answer
8

There are different words for it. Chiropractors often call it 'cracking the joints' when they adjust your back or neck. Other words used for this sound are snapping and popping. It is more or less up to you what word you want to use.

"My back often snap during Yoga", "Did you hear how my knee popped?" "You should not crack your neck." Etc. etc.

Improve this answer
1
  • Yep, "snap, crackle, pop".
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Mar 7, 2016 at 21:07
2

Perhaps you would call it crepitus.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Oh...be careful with crepitus. In Dorland's Medical Dictionary, the first definition is "1. the discharge of flatus from the bowels." (I'll let you do the translation into layman's terms.) You could use joint crepitus (which is "the grating sensation caused by the rubbing together of the dry synovial surfaces of joints") or crepitation ("2. the noise made by rubbing together the ends of a fractured bone.").
    – JLG
    Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 19:47
0

Wikipedia offers Cavitation rather than Crepitus which seems to be more of a grinding noise from worn down joints.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .