My wrists crack and make crunching sounds. What is the cause?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My wrists crack and make a crunching sound when I move them around in circular motions. I had a trauma to the wrist before two years. Now, I get pain shooting through the wrist. Is this normal or what is the problem? Please help.

Answered by Sreenivasa Rao

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I would like to have more details on the pain in the wrist and have you ever had any fall recently. The cracking sound is due to an imbalance of musculature resulting in bone on bone rubbing and pain could be (depends on the underlying pathology) from cartilage erosion to TFL (tensor fasciae latae) tear. I would like to know the place of pain and till what level is the pain getting radiated. Definitely, pain is not normal and may need an investigation to rule out the underlying reason. As much as you can keep icing your wrist and stretch your forearm muscles to receive stress and tightness.

For more information consult a physiotherapist online

Answered bySreenivasa Rao

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At July 14, 2018
Reviewed AtApril 30, 2025

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