Should You Be Worried If Your Joints Crack All the Time?

Should some in their 30s be nervous about popping, cracking joints? Health's medical editor weighs in.

Q: I'm only 34, but my joints are already cracking and popping. Is that a bad sign?

A: As long as the sound doesn’t come with any pain or swelling, you don’t need to worry. Popping or cracking noises could just be gas bubbles bursting within the fluid surrounding the joint, or the sound of ligaments and tendons stretching and releasing. Do you notice it more when you repeatedly move the joint (when you’re doing shoulder presses at the gym, for instance)? A soft snapping or clicking sound is also sometimes caused by a tight muscle or tendon moving over a bony structure. To help silence the snapping, try doing some gentle stretching that involves the joint and the surrounding muscles.