BACK & RIB PAIN
Why Does My Shoulder Pop? Causes & Treatment
May 29, 2020
Symptom Guides > Back & Rib Pain > Why Does My Shoulder Pop? Causes & Treatment

by
Dr. John Bernard
Dr. Bernard is an emergency medicine physician. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and did his residency in emergency medicine at the University at Buffalo.
You raise your arm and suddenly hear a pop, a crack, or a click. Sound familiar? If you’re experiencing these occasional sounds and sensations in your shoulder, rest assured that it is highly common. The shoulder, or glenohumeral joint, is one of the body’s largest and most complex joints and we use it frequently throughout each day. In the medical world, shoulder popping and cracking is also known as crepitus.
Crepitus is generally a common, harmless condition, unless accompanied by pain, swelling, and additional symptoms. Shoulder pain and stiffness are the third most common muscle and joint issues that bring people to the doctor.
In this article I’ll explore:
“Many medical professionals believe that the shoulder popping sound and sensation comes from the formation of tiny gas bubbles in the synovial fluid that fills the joint.”
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by
Dr. John Bernard
Dr. Bernard is an emergency medicine physician. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and did his residency in emergency medicine at the University at Buffalo.
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