Medical Conditions - Clicking Sounds In Joints

Air bubbles in the synovial fluid, the substance that surrounds and lubricates the joints, and the snapping of taut ligaments, as they move from one bony surface to another, produce the audible sound. It is commonly referred to as crepitus when people hear this noise in their knees while climbing and descending stairs. Pain or swelling that comes along with joint cracking usually points to a mechanical issue or disease activity within or near the joint, such as torn or frayed cartilage.