Arthritis Causes & Risk Factors Does Joint Cracking and Snapping Cause Arthritis? By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 04, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Ozeri, MD Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD LinkedIn David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he does research at Sheba Medical Center. Previously, he practiced at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Cracking, popping, or snapping joints is a common experience for many individuals. Some people make their joints crack, while others have cracking and creaking joints with normal activities. The good news is that there is no evidence that typical knuckle cracking or joint creaks will cause arthritis. PhotoAlto / Frederic Cirou / Getty Images Causes of a Cracking, Creaking, or Popping Joint Different conditions may cause a cracking joint, and the problem is not always clear. In most cases, the exact cause of a crack joint cannot be determined. Some causes may include: Gas Bubbles The slow accumulation of gases around a joint can cause the formation of tiny bubbles of gas. Joint cracking may occur when these gases are released. Tendons or Ligaments Tendons and ligaments cross over the joints. These structures may pop or crack as they snap over the bony prominences around the joint. Arthritis Damage to the joint surface, the cartilage, can cause cracking joints. However, this type of joint cracking usually is found in older patients who have known arthritis. It is uncommon for a patient's first complaint of arthritis to be joint cracking. Does It Cause Arthritis? It's unlikely that joint cracking is a significant cause of arthritis. Joint cracking is usually painless, and so long as it does not cause pain, most healthcare providers agree that you are unlikely to be doing any harm. There are some conditions that can cause joint cracking that need to be addressed, but these tend to cause symptoms of pain. If you have joint cracking that causes pain, you should be evaluated by your healthcare provider. Otherwise, you are not likely to be causing any problems, including arthritis, by your joint cracking. When the noise is coming from your joints are associated with pain, there could be sources of the pain including loose cartilage in the joint, swelling, and other problems that may need to be addressed. Causes of Arthritis There are certain conditions and activities that can lead to the development of arthritis. Some of these so-called 'risk factors' are things you can control, and others are things you are stuck with. Among the common causes of arthritis, are the following: Age: As we get older, arthritis becomes more common. Joint cartilage is not made to last forever, and cartilage has very limited capacity to heal or regenerate. For this reason, once you lose cartilage, you are unlikely to ever get it back. That's why we focus so heavily on preventing the progression of arthritis.Genetics: Our parents, or more precisely, our genetics are likely to blame for making certain individuals more likely to develop joint swelling and pain. Some people are born with cartilage that seems to last, and joints that don't wear out. Others have anatomy that leads to the development of early joint problems.Body Weight: People who are heavier are much more likely to wear out their joints, especially in their knees, hips, and spine. Because the cartilage has to carry the added burden of the excess body weight, the cartilage is more likely to wear away.Injury: Previous injury to the joint surface can cause damage to the joint cartilage that may not heal. The result of this damage may be the early onset of an arthritic joint. A Word From Verywell Contrary to what you may have been told over the years, cracking of your joints has not been shown to be a cause of arthritis later in life. When joint cracking or popping is painful, it is probably worthwhile to have this evaluated to see if there is an underlying source of the pain. Painless noises coming from the joints may have a number of different sources, but most often this is not of clinical consequence and does not lead to the development of arthritis in your joint. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Deweber K, et al. "Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis" J Am Board Fam Med. 2011 Mar-Apr;24(2):169-74. Tuan RS, Chen AF, Klatt BA. "Cartilage regeneration" J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013 May;21(5):303-11.