Trick or Click: What’s This Clicking Sound in My Knee?

alitddevelopment
Oct 22
5 min read

As the leaves change and the air gets crisp, you might notice more than just Halloween decorations around your neighborhood in Suwanee, GA or Duluth, GA. You might notice a spooky sound coming from your own knee: a pop, click, or creak that makes you wonder, "Is that a trick, or just a harmless click?" Let’s demystify the noises your knees make and figure out when it’s time to seek answers.

Don't let knee concerns keep you from enjoying your time.

A Peek Inside Your Knee: How It Works and What Makes Noise

Your knee is a complex hinge joint where your thigh bone (femur), shin bone (tibia), and kneecap (patella) meet. It’s supported by a cast of characters: ligaments for stability, tendons for movement, and cartilage (menisci) that act as shock absorbers. So, what’s causing the soundtrack?

Often Harmless "Clicks" (The "Treats"):

Cavitation: This is the pops and cracks you might hear when you bend or straighten your knee. It’s often just nitrogen gas bubbles releasing from the joint fluid, much like cracking your knuckles. If there’s no pain or swelling, it’s usually nothing to fear.

Noises That Might Need Attention (The Potential "Tricks"):

Ligament and Tendon Movement: A ligament or tendon can briefly snap over a bony prominence as you move, creating a clicking or snapping sound. While often harmless, if it becomes painful, it could indicate inflammation or tightness.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS): Sometimes, the kneecap doesn’t track smoothly in its groove, leading to a grinding or grating sensation (crepitus) along with pain, especially on stairs. See our detailed article on PFPS here.

Osteoarthritis: As the protective cartilage wears down, the joint surface becomes rough. This can cause a consistent, painful grinding or crunching sound during movement.

Meniscus Tears: The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage. A tear in it can cause a painful "click," "pop," or "lock" sensation, often accompanied by swelling.

Tendinopathy: When tendons around the knee (like the patellar tendon) become irritated or degenerated, movement can cause pain and sometimes a clicking sensation.

When to Be Concerned: Separating Sound from Symptom

The key question isn't just about the sound, but what comes with it. A click alone is often just a noise. You should pay closer attention and consider an evaluation if the sound is accompanied by:

Pain (the most important sign)

Swelling or stiffness

A feeling of the knee "giving way" or locking up

Reduced ability to move or bear weight on the knee

Treatment Approaches for a Noisy, Painful Knee

The goal of treatment is never to just silence the click, but to resolve the underlying cause of any pain or dysfunction.

An effective plan often includes:

Strength Training: Specifically targeting the hips, glutes, and quadriceps to ensure the knee has stable support.

Stretching: Improving flexibility in tight muscles like the hamstrings, calves, and IT band that can pull the knee out of alignment.

Improved Posture and Movement Control: Retraining how you walk, squat, and climb stairs to reduce harmful stresses on the knee joint.

How a Physical Therapist Can Help Diagnose and Treat Your Knee

This is where we play detective. A physical therapist is an expert in human movement. We don’t just listen to the sound; we analyze the why behind it.

During your evaluation, we will:

Perform a Thorough Assessment: We’ll test your strength, flexibility, and movement patterns to pinpoint the source of the problem.

Provide a Clinical Diagnosis: Based on our findings, we can determine if you’re dealing with PFPS, a meniscus issue, tendinopathy, or another condition.

Create a Personalized Treatment Plan: We’ll design a targeted program with hands-on therapy and specific exercises to alleviate your pain, improve function, and address the root cause of the noise.

Finding Answers for Your Knee in Suwanee and Duluth

If your knee has been making more noise than a creaky floorboard and it’s starting to worry you, local help is available. For residents of Suwanee and Duluth, a physical therapist near you can provide the clarity you need. Once you know the source of your knee click, you can enjoy the local Halloween family time, like the Suwanee Spooky Spirits 5k, the Buford corn maze, the Duluth Howl on the Green, or a family Dinner and a Boovie in Suwanee Town Center. A local physical therapy practice will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine if your knee’s soundtrack is a harmless "click" or a "trick" that needs a treatment plan.

Your Next Step Toward Quiet Confidence

You don’t have to live with uncertainty or pain. If you're ready to get started on solving the mystery of your noisy knee, schedule a consultation with a physical therapist. For those in Suwanee, GA and Duluth, GA, seeking local physical therapy means getting expert, personalized care to restore comfortable, quiet movement.

Don't Let a Noisy Knee Spook You

Remember, while a click can be unsettling, it’s often not a serious issue. But when pain joins the party, it’s time to seek a professional opinion.

If you're looking for a diagnosis for knee pain in Suwanee, GA or effective knee treatment in Duluth, GA, we invite you to contact our clinic. Together, we can figure out if your knee is playing a trick on you and get you back to moving with peace of mind.

References and Further Reading

For those interested in the science behind joint sounds and knee conditions, we have compiled a list of credible sources.

Song, S. J., Park, C. H., Liang, H., & Kim, S. J. (2018). Noise around the knee. Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery, 10(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2018.10.1.1

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). (2022). Common Knee Injuries. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/common-knee-injuries/

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). (2019). Overview of Arthritis. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/arthritis

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). (2023). Physical Therapist's Guide to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. https://www.apta.org/patient-care/evidence-based-practice-resources/cpgs/patellofemoral-pain

Couch, J.L, & Culvenor, A.G., et. al. (2025). Noisy knees - knee crepitus prevalence and association with structural pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2025 Jan 2;59(2):126-132. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108866 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39375004/

Medically reviewed by

Jon Preston

Founder & Lead PT of Therapeutic Dynamics

Jon has over 25 years of experience in rehabilitation and patient care. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Physical Therapy degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. Jon served as a staff member on the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, for six years. As Director of Physical Therapy, in both hospital and out-patient facilities, he has been instrumental in program development, with emphasis on orthopedic manual therapy. His background includes both clerical and industrial ergonomic assessment, and lecturing on injury prevention and body mechanics. His post-professional education has centered upon manual therapy management of spinal and other musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. He founded Therapeutic Dynamics in 2005 with the goal of providing patients with a practice alternative, which focuses on individualized hands-on treatment.