GetUpnGo

My knee is clicking audibly with each turn of the pedals. It doesn't hurt but it's an irritating noise. It seems to be located on the upper outer side (like the 1:00 position on the right knee if you were standing in front of me). The noise goes away if I pedal lightly. Anyone else have this problem? I noticed recently that my wrist makes a clicking noise when I lift a dumbell.

Speedskater

Knee crepitus is the medical term for crunching or popping in the knee joint.

rumrunn6

loose / torn cartilage. if no discomfort, I doubt a doc would operate to remove it. but he/she might have advice

Clyde1820

Back when I was young and fit, as a distance/trail runner, I had one ankle that tended to audibly "click," frequently at nearly every step on long, straight, flat runs at speed. Did this for a dozen years. Never interfered with anything, never impinged on my performance, never seemed a problem since it was merely a modest noise and nothing else.

'Course, I was young and fit then, decades ago. If it were happening now, with any joint, I'd be a bit more concerned and would probably ask the doc.

Arthur Peabody

I've had this. I used to ride in the middle of the night in the hot summer, chased down the least noise. I've heard the tips of laces tapping on shoes. It took a while to figure out that my knees were clicking because it didn't happen when walking or running. It either went away or my hearing did. I know that the latter is happening.

GetUpnGo

Same here, Arthur. The sound went away after a few weeks as mysteriously as it appeared. I too couldn't figure out for a long time what the noise was, assumed it was the crank.

Bogey Speedwell

I had this same bizarre thing happened to me this spring, it lasted 3-4 days if I recall. I called made a Dr appointment. One morning and about an hour before my appointment it went away. I saw a young PA, and since it quit, before I got there, there was no diagnosis.

SpedFast

I had a knee that did that for years. It never pained me so I basically ignored it. 74 now and not sure when it quit.

Arthur Peabody

I replaced the bottom bracket and the pedals, to no avail.

'Fortunately' it takes so long to get an appointment I time out. Good thing I've had no serious problems.

Had it hurt I would have known it was the knee sooner. I can get a bluetooth microphone, attach it do suspect joints, now. Sometimes an ankle clicks.

Alan K

As one grows older, some damage to your cartilage is not uncommon. Often there are small pieces that float about and depending on where they end up around the joint, they make these popping, clicking or even grinding sounds. If there is no pain, watch for a while, often these fragments will find a resting place and noises will reduce or go away.
You may wish to see your physician, who would probably get a few X-ray images from various angles to assess the situation. If pain becomes too much, arthroscopic surgery is an option, which does not involve large incisions common to conventional knee surgery.
Keep surgery as your last option, always!
There are some very useful exercises to strengthen muscles that support your knee, this would help taking some load off your joints, reducing pain, if and warped it appears. With a little luck, you might indefinitely delay that from happening.

GetUpnGo

Thank you, Arthur. I found your first paragraph particularly enlightening. Indeed, there never was any pain and the clicking went away and has not returned.

Alan K

I am glad you are doing well. 👍

jem01 

I have found the same thing… over time my right knee clicking went from occurring all thruout the day to now, about 8 years later, only occurring occassionally. There has never been any pain or limitations with activity…. So am grateful. But yes… it’s annoying! Appreciate you all’s insight!