Wellness Fitness 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. By Dr. Roshini Raj Dr. Roshini Raj Roshini Raj, MD, is Health magazine's medical editor and coauthor of What the Yuck?!. Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Raj is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical Center, a contributor on the Today show, and a co-founder of the Tula skin care line. health's editorial guidelines Published on July 4, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email MichaelSvoboda. Photo: Michael Svoboda/Getty Images 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. 12 Yoga Poses for People Who Aren't Flexible Have you had any injuries involving the joint? If a ligament heals improperly, the joint may pop when you move it. You’re still young, but keep in mind that joints may also start to make noise as you age, because some of the cartilage wears away over time. But if you are experiencing any discomfort in the joint, see your doctor. It’s possible you have a ligament injury or arthritic damage that needs to be investigated. Health’s medical editor, Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, is assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit