Knee popping...

Same thing was going on with me when I began hitting the gym 6 months ago. My trainer advised me to start eating more fish... & since you're blessed with awesome seafood in NO so that shouldn't be hard to comply with.

Yeah, the supplements are probably a decent substitute but getting those minerals the old fashioned way seems to have done the trick for me. No more snap, crackle, pop when I'm in the gym.

LOL...you're holding the answer in your hands (avatar pic).

 

It is more than likely patello-femoral syndrome (PFS). It is caused by weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). Weakness of the VMO can cause a lateral tracking of the patella in the femoral groove. More common in women due to an increased Q angle and also with stair ambulation, running and deep knee bends.

Google PFS and see if it matches your symptoms. Always a good idea to get it checked out by your MD to make sure there aren't any internal derangements of the knee.

 

I figured that, given your avatar.

 

I've had (and still to a certain extent) have it. Having an MD check for internal knee issues, as PT suggest, is excellent advice. But assuming all is well, I can't suggest strongly enough hooking up with a good physical therapist. I'm a doc, and I know NOTHING compared to what these folks know about rehab and exercise modification. My physical therapist has kept me going through a litany of injuries (2 separated shoulders, cracked ribs, stress fractures, etc. as well as issues such as PFS, ITBS, etc.). Your body is like a Ferrari in that it takes increasing maintenance with age.

 

Change the routine on the pole?

Just kidding

 

I used to practice physical therapy before I switched professions and started with govt. work doing independent medical reviews.

To answer your question, yes physical therapists have 3 years of education beyond a bachelor's degree. A personal trainer can obtain their certification online in a few weeks.

The problem I have with a lot of personal trainers is not knowing their boundaries and scope of knowledge. Since the majority of people are not knowledgeable in exercise a trainer can get away with saying and or doing whatever they want. Now I am not saying that all personal trainers are bad or do this but I have seen this happen on more than one occasion.

If your condition is truly PFS there are specific stretches that should be performed and exercises that strengthen/target the VMO. It is not only important to know these exercises and the angles, ROM at which the musculature should be strengthened but why you are doing them.

For your particular problem/symptoms it would be best to be evaluated by an orthopedist who may provide you with specific exercises or things to refrain from doing. They might also refer you to physical therapy to be evaluated and taught an appropriate home program. This, of course, is if there are no problems that need to be handled outside the scope of physical therapy.

 

What PT 328 said.

 

right - see the orthopedist. I have the same issue, but never had any serious problems outside the noise.

I posted on another thread how I just tore my biceps / biceps tendon. I am 41, and in great physical shape, I am wondering if years of exercise (and age) caused it to happen. It's painful, and I think it will impact my exercise routine forever (I'll probably need surgery to fix it).

My point is - if there's weakness, you'll want to identify that so you can work around it. I've NEVER had any serious injuries prior to this, and the feeling is crushing - I am so bummed over it. If you are hearing something, then I'd follow the "where there is smoke there is fire" paradigm.

Good luck and stay healthy.

 

Agree with PT328 but have a little more to add. As we age, we tend to have more little issues. As long as you are not having pain with the popping then you are probably okay. The question is why is your knee popping. Is it because your muscles are weak, your patella is tracking poorly (could be the combo of both), or could it be something more simple and harmless like gas building up and then being released (the pop). In this case, it will usually pop once or twice as you move your knee then stop for a while until the gas builds back up. Just flexed and extended both of my knees and they both popped but no pain. Another issue could be that as you age the underside of your patellar surface wears and becomes more rough. This could produce the popping and still be pain-free. My personal feeling as I apply it to MY body is that if it doesn't hurt me, then I am not going to go see a doctor about it. Do your knuckles crack every now and then? Should you get them checked out? After working with orthopedic surgeons for many years, I would have to guess that when you go in and tell them that your knees pop occassionally but doesn't hurt, they may send you to PT (which is hundreds of times better than a personal trainer!) but that is about it. Maybe an x-ray. So, bottom line, get them checked out and you can have the peace of mind that you are ok or maybe on the rare chance, you will find a problem very early on and be able to correct it but go on and get it checked. Also PFS is called PFPS which stands for patella femoral pain syndrome. Pain is a huge part of that diagnosis.

 

My knees were popping when I first starting running in fivefingers, but it seemed to subside as I built calf strength. Sorry not a very medical answer!

 

My bet is still on PFS with causes including a tight IT band, weak VMO musculature and possibly excessive foot pronation leading to an increase in medial rotation of the tibia which is allowing the patella to come out of the patellar femoral groove. For giggles take a look at the bottom of your shoe at the heel. Is there more wear on the outside of the heel than the inside? If so, your foot is pronating with weight bearing. Orthotics can help this problem as good orthotics stabilize the foot and prevent pronation.

Most popping and cracking that is not painful is gas being released from the synovial capsule. It is a misnomer that cracking your knuckles leads to premature arthritis.

As you have stated, get it checked out by an MD/Physical Therapist for proper non-internet diagnosis. Once you do that let me know their findings.

 

Hmmmmm...seems no one has stated the obvious. Zoph....move knees away from ears and you won't hear the popping! Boyfriend may not be in favor of this treatment.