Do you ever find yourself wondering why your elbow cracks or pops during push-ups? If so, you are not alone. For many of us, our elbows make a popping sound during a push-up session. But what is causing the cracking noise? Is it something to be concerned about?

In most cases, elbow cracking during pushups is harmless and nothing to worry about. If you’re concerned, or if the sound is accompanied by pain or discomfort, consider speaking with a trainer or physical therapist who can help you modify your exercise routine to prevent the popping sound from occurring.

In this article, we will explain why your elbows pop when doing push-ups, provide three more reasons for clicking elbows, and give five ways to silence the popping.

Popping and Push-Ups? Why is Your Elbow Cracking?

When doing repetitive exercises like push-ups, the most likely cause of a popping sound is tight muscles rubbing over the bone, or tendons rubbing over the bone. It could also be a sudden release of gas within the joint. This occurs when the pressure inside the joint increases and causes the fluid to expand and quickly burst through, resulting in a loud cracking noise. A lack of range of motion or misalignment in the elbow joint, as well as elbow subluxation can lead to popping, clicking, or snapping sounds.

If you experience pain due to your elbow popping during push-ups, it is important to seek medical attention as this could indicate an underlying issue such as bursitis or tendonitis that needs to be addressed. Furthermore, if you are unable to complete push-ups without your elbow making a popping sound, it is likely that you need to improve your range of motion and work on strengthening and stabilizing your elbows for better performance.

Whether your elbow is popping due to expanding gas or misalignment, it is important to address the underlying issue and improve range of motion and stability to avoid further injury.

3 More Reasons for Clicking Elbows

There may be several other reasons why your elbows may click while exercising. Here are three more possible explanations for why you might experience elbow cracking during exercise:

1. Overuse of joints – If you overuse your elbow joint while exercising, it can cause excessive wear and tear on the joint resulting in cracking or clicking sounds when moving. Additionally, if you have pre-existing conditions such as arthritis or bursitis, these may also contribute to clicking in the elbow when doing push-ups.
2. Improper form – Poor posture and incorrect technique can cause additional strain on the elbow joint which may lead to increased friction and cracking noises when pushing up from the ground. Proper form is key to avoiding injury and reducing discomfort during exercise, so make sure that you practice good form with each rep of a push-up.
3. Weak muscles – Weakness in the triceps or bicep muscles can result in instability of the elbow joint which could contribute to clicking sounds during exercise. Strengthening exercises such as triceps kickbacks and bicep curls will help improve overall stability and reduce clicking noises associated with push-ups.

No matter what causes your elbow cracking during exercise, it is important to take proactive steps to address any underlying issues that could be contributing factors. If you suspect an underlying medical condition or poor form is causing your elbow pain, seek professional advice from a qualified physician who can diagnose and treat the issue accordingly.

By taking the time to address any underlying issues that could be causing your popping elbows, you can ensure a pain-free exercise experience and continue to reap the benefits of push-ups.

5 Ways to Silence the Popping

Elbow popping can be an annoying and potentially painful experience when doing push-ups. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce or eliminate this problem. Here are five methods to silence the popping:

1. Warm up – Before starting any type of physical exercise, it is important to warm up your body with light stretching and dynamic movements. This helps prepare your muscles and joints for the workout ahead, reducing the risk of injury.
2. Change positions – If you notice that your elbows click more when in certain positions, try changing up your form a bit. This can help reduce strain on specific joints which could be causing the clicking sound.
3. Strengthen muscles – Strengthening the triceps and bicep muscles will improve overall stability and reduce clicking noises associated with push-ups. Try adding in some triceps kickbacks or bicep curls into your routine to strengthen these areas.
4. Avoid overusing – Overusing a joint can cause excessive wear and tear resulting in cracking or clicking sounds when moving so be sure to give yourself rest days so that your body has time to recover between workouts.
5. See a specialist – If you suspect an underlying medical condition is causing your elbow pain, seek professional advice from a qualified physician who can diagnose and treat the issue accordingly.

By taking these steps, you should be able to significantly reduce or even eliminate any popping in elbows while doing push-ups.

When should I be concerned?

Keep in mind that elbow cracking is not always something to worry about, but if pain persists or worsens with physical activity, then it’s important to take action sooner rather than later to avoid further complications down the road.

At Town Center Orthopaedics, we have excellent medical providers who know just what to do. Our dedicated and highly skilled staff of orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists is ready to diagnose your condition and provide cutting-edge treatments that give all patients the best outcomes to get you back in the game again.

Request an appointment today!