YOUNG adults who experience cracking or grinding sounds in their knees after surgery may worry about early arthritis, but new research from La Trobe University suggests the noises—known as crepitus—may not be a warning sign.
The study, published in Arthritis Care & Research, tracked 112 young adults who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Participants were followed for five years with MRI scans and patient-reported outcomes to monitor osteoarthritis risk.
Graduate researcher and physiotherapist Jamon Couch said crepitus was linked to more pain, poorer function and higher rates of cartilage defects one year after surgery. However, over the next four years those with noisy knees fared no worse than those without.
“While knee crepitus was associated with early cartilage damage, it did not predict worsening pain or function over time,” Mr Couch said.
Around half of people with an ACL rupture will develop osteoarthritis symptoms within a decade—much earlier than uninjured peers.
But researchers say crepitus should not be overinterpreted as a diagnostic marker.
Dr Adam Culvenor, head of La Trobe’s Knee Injury Research Group, said the findings should reassure patients.
“Noisy knees aren’t necessarily a red flag. Staying active and engaged in rehabilitation is key,” he said.
