If you notice a grinding, cracking or popping sound when you raise your arms or move your shoulders, you’re hearing a sensation called crepitus. It’s a pretty common sensation, especially in individuals who are older or who have had a previous shoulder injury or surgery. But is the sensation a problem that needs to be treated by a specialist? In today’s blog, we explain how you should care for your shoulders if you’re dealing with a cracking or popping sound when you move your arms.
Why Is My Shoulder Cracking?
We explained the sensation you’re experiencing when you hear your shoulder crack during movement, but what’s actually causing this sensation in the first place? Crepitus can be caused by a number of different issues in the shoulder, some of which are more serious than others. We’ll take a closer look at some of the shoulder issues that can lead to crepitus below, but you should know that crepitus accompanied by pain isn’t normal. If the cracking sound is accompanied by significant pain or discomfort, head to a shoulder specialist to determine what’s going on and the best course of treatment.
Some of the shoulder issues that can produce a cracking sensation in the shoulder include:
- Cavitation – Cavitation is the term used to describe the release of gas from your joints, similar to when you crack your knuckles. The release of these tiny air bubbles can lead to a grinding sensation or popping noise. Because this usually doesn’t present with any pain, crepitus caused by cavitation isn’t really a concern for the patient or provider.
- Bursitis – Fluid-filled sacs called bursa help to lubricate structures in the shoulder joint to ensure it can remain mobile. If these bursa become inflamed, you may notice a pop when attempting to move your shoulder, and you may experience some discomfort. Working to calm these inflamed bursa with rest and physical therapy usually helps to resolve both bursitis and crepitus.
- Labral Tear – A ring of cartilage called the labrum helps to keep the ball of your shoulder joint in place. We tend to experience some mild tearing of the labrum as we get older due to years of physical stress on the joint, but if these tears become more significant, they can present with severe pain and a cracking sensation. This is an example of a situation where you should connect with a specialist to treat the issue instead of trying to deal with a torn labrum on your own.
- Previous Shoulder Injury Or Fracture – If you suffered a shoulder fracture as a result of trauma to the shoulder area, you may notice a cracking sound after the bone has fused back together. Sometimes it doesn’t heal perfectly and tiny ridges are created at the bone fusion site, and these ridges can catch or rub against other areas when you move your shoulder, leading to the crepitus sensation. If the condition isn’t painful, you may not need to treat it, so long as these ridges aren’t irritating other structures in your shoulder.
- Osteoarthritis – A final common cause of a cracking or popping shoulder is osteoarthritis onset. As protective cartilage in your shoulder breaks down, either as a result of natural degeneration or acute injury, structures can no longer move as fluidly. Bones may rub against one another as a result of the cartilage loss and cause discomfort, pain and the cracking noise you’re hearing.
Treating A Cracking Shoulder
As we mentioned above, treatment will be based on your underlying problem. In many instances, symptoms of discomfort and the crepitus sensation can be alleviated with the help of conservative treatments like rest, shoulder mobility exercises, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications. More hands-on treatment like corticosteroid injections and manual manipulation exercises may also prove beneficial.
For cases of crepitus that present alongside severe pain that don’t respond to conservative care, a minimally invasive procedure may be your best option. Whether that involves rotator cuff surgery, total shoulder replacement or a simple debridement procedure, we’re confident we can help improve the overall health of your shoulder joint. For more information, or to talk to a shoulder specialist about the discomfort or sensations you’re experiencing, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today at (865) 410-7887.
