Career as a catburglar FOILED! (Loud ankle noises)

[Furtherman]

Dr. Steve!

sr71blackbird and I just observed (in this thread (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72803)) that many times our ankles crack when we walk.


Mine usually happens at work. After sitting at my desk for a while, I get up and walk out my office door, ankles a'crackin'. Kinda loud to.

Any idea why? How to prevent?

Thank you!



*crack crack crack*

[sr71blackbird]

Mine make the popping noise when I walk or even just flexing the foot. My sister also makes the noise all the time too. It does not hurt when I hear it, but it is quite loud.

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve!

sr71blackbird and I just observed (in this thread (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72803)) that many times our ankles crack when we walk.


Mine usually happens at work. After sitting at my desk for a while, I get up and walk out my office door, ankles a'crackin'. Kinda loud to.

Any idea why? How to prevent?

Thank you!



*crack crack crack*

Joint cracking is just one of those things certain joints do...sometimes it's normal, sometimes not. First let me explain what in fact is "cracking" when you hear the noise, and then we can decide whether it's harmful to you.

There are three things that can cause abnormal noises when certain joints are moved.

nitrogen bubbles coming out of solution
ligaments and tendons being "plucked"
arthritic joint surfaces rubbing together


NITROGEN BUBBLES
In this scenario, most often heard when "cracking knuckles", the joint capsule is stretched to the point that a negative pressure is generated inside the joint itself. Gas (mostly nitrogen) flows rapidly out of solution creating a large bubble. The suddenness of this movement causes the joint to make a loud "snapping" or "cracking" sound.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/knuckle-cracking.gif
The hallmark of this kind of cracking is that once you do it, you have to wait for the gas to reenter the solution before you can do it again.

PLUCKING LIGAMENTS
In this scenario, a tendon or ligament is getting caught on an outcropping of bone when it moves. The tendon or ligament strrrreeetttcchhhhes until it can't take it any more, then snaps back rapidly, causing a "snapping" or "popping" sound. This one is common in the ankle:

http://www.nirschl.com/images/ankle.jpg
The hallmark of this kind of snapping is that it's reproducible...doing the movement right results in the sound happening every time.

ARTHRITIC JOINTS
Rough joint surfaces rub together creating a sandpaper sound, but occasionally "catch", causing a snap or popping sound.

http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/knee/knee_osteoarthritis/knee_osteoarth_intro01.jpg

The hallmark of this kind of sound is it's accompanied by PAIN.

Sounds to me like your ankle cracking that is occuring after sitting falls into the second category. When you sit, something in your ankle is shifting slightly, and when you get up to walk, it snaps around a few times until everything gets back to normal again. I'm betting you don't notice it again until you sit down again or maybe even go up a flight of stairs.

hope this helps!


your pal,



steve

[Furtherman]

Ahhh.. the ligaments are getting caught on the bone! Got it.

Thanks Doc!!!

Love the thread title. For a second you had me confused. (Hmmm... I don't recall ever writing a title like that!)

[Dr Steve]

Ahhh.. the ligaments are getting caught on the bone! Got it.

Thanks Doc!!!

Love the thread title. For a second you had me confused. (Hmmm... I don't recall ever writing a title like that!)


ha, sorry...yeah, it's not clear that when I move the threads I get to title them. I try to keep them somewhat close to the original question so the original poster will find it, but I kind of went off the deep end with this one. :-)

[Snoogans]

Joint cracking is just one of those things certain joints do...sometimes it's normal, sometimes not. First let me explain what in fact is "cracking" when you hear the noise, and then we can decide whether it's harmful to you.

There are three things that can cause abnormal noises when certain joints are moved.

nitrogen bubbles coming out of solution
ligaments and tendons being "plucked"
arthritic joint surfaces rubbing together


NITROGEN BUBBLES
In this scenario, most often heard when "cracking knuckles", the joint capsule is stretched to the point that a negative pressure is generated inside the joint itself. Gas (mostly nitrogen) flows rapidly out of solution creating a large bubble. The suddenness of this movement causes the joint to make a loud "snapping" or "cracking" sound.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/knuckle-cracking.gif
The hallmark of this kind of cracking is that once you do it, you have to wait for the gas to reenter the solution before you can do it again.

PLUCKING LIGAMENTS
In this scenario, a tendon or ligament is getting caught on an outcropping of bone when it moves. The tendon or ligament strrrreeetttcchhhhes until it can't take it any more, then snaps back rapidly, causing a "snapping" or "popping" sound. This one is common in the ankle:

http://www.nirschl.com/images/ankle.jpg
The hallmark of this kind of snapping is that it's reproducible...doing the movement right results in the sound happening every time.

ARTHRITIC JOINTS
Rough joint surfaces rub together creating a sandpaper sound, but occasionally "catch", causing a snap or popping sound.

http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/knee/knee_osteoarthritis/knee_osteoarth_intro01.jpg

The hallmark of this kind of sound is it's accompanied by PAIN.

Sounds to me like your ankle cracking that is occuring after sitting falls into the second category. When you sit, something in your ankle is shifting slightly, and when you get up to walk, it snaps around a few times until everything gets back to normal again. I'm betting you don't notice it again until you sit down again or maybe even go up a flight of stairs.

hope this helps!


your pal,



steve

i get all three of these

[sr71blackbird]

Is there any harm done by the plucking ligaments in my ankles? Like, are they getting stretched out of shape? Its been happening my whole life since I was a kid. My sister too. Just curious. Thanks