Oh, Those Noisy Knees

Was that sound from your knees?" asks your friend in horror as you climb the stairs and try to ignore the unfriendly attention to the ever-increasing sound of the aging process.

What is going on? You know from your online research that it could be -

• Rough articular surfaces rubbing against each other
• a tendon rubbing against a bone or
• a progressive loosening of the ligaments around your ankles, knees, hips or shoulders
• or it could be all of the above

But what's really going on?

"As we age, the articular surface in cartilage—which covers the ends of bones in the joints, allowing them to slide over each other—is no longer as smooth as when we were younger. This change, plus the loss of some synovial fluid in the joints, can cause creaking when we move," explains Kurt Chambless, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgeon

The problem is especially challenging for women. "Women's hips are wider, which places greater pressure on the inside of the knee," says Chambless. "Estrogen may make women's joints looser and therefore less stable, which leads to more wear and tear on the knee."

Chambless adds, "And walking around in high heels is another factor in that heels generally tilt you forward placing pressure on the underside of the kneecap, a common site of osteoarthritis."

No wonder, then, that women represent two-thirds of patients getting knee replacements, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons*.

To be proactive, you may want to consider a low impact exercise program, progressive resistive program and occasional use of over the counter medicines such as Aleve or Advil.

But when sound is accompanied by pain, swelling, redness, limited range of motion or locking of the joint—see your doctor, advises Katie Sohler, PT, CIMT, CSCS, ASTYM, BenchMark Physical Therapy. These could be signs of arthritis. "Anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy can help," Sohler says.

Physical therapy for arthritis may include more than range-of-motion exercises and resistance training. According to Sohler, "We create an individualized physical therapy program based on your symptoms and disease progression." She adds, "Plus, a physical therapist can make sure you're doing the exercises correctly to prevent further injury."

She goes on to say, "Whatever you do, do not suffer in silence."

Does someone you know have pain in their knees and is not currently receiving any treatment? Encourage them to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to set up an appointment for a FREE ASSESSMENT.

*AAOS 2008