Joint "Popping"
Q. I am in fairly decent shape. I stay active and exercise. What does it mean when I hear my bones sometimes 'crack' when I do some movements? I do not ever feel pain. Will the exercise help and maybe stop the popping?
A. Exercise is good for both the body and mind, but it probably won't stop the popping. People of all ages and fitness levels experience that popping sound and it doesn't necessarily indicate any abnormal condition.
Your joints are lubricated with a substance called synovial fluid. It contains nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide gasses. The popping sound is actually bubbles of those gasses escaping when you move your joints. This is normal and nothing to worry about. But people who feel pain at those moments should consult their doctors. They may have arthritic joints due to the loss of cartilage.
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Send your Moving Free® with Mirabai questions to: askmirabai@movingfree.com. Be sure to visit Mirabai's Moving Free website at www.movingfree.com
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