Last week I said that many of us with chronic pain feel like we are poking around in the dark… trying to find our way to living better, primarily by touch – instead of having support and guidance.

There’s barely any medical support beyond medication; there are no well-structured and evidence-based recovery programs; accessing current, good-quality information that can put our minds at ease is challenging.

Yet, modern pain science has proven that understanding what is going on with our bodies and making sense of things can calm down the sensitized nervous system, reduce pain, and speed up recovery.

Take knees, for example.

Achy knees are one of the most common complaints across all age groups – my son, who just turned 30, complains of his knees just as much as my mom does, and my left knee has been clicking since – well – forever.

It can feel worrisome when the knees are constantly ticking and clicking, and grinding is even worse – it all can sound pretty scary.

Do these noises mean anything at all?

Scientists discovered that:

• “Clicks” are most likely due to muscles and tendons moving over each other and the bones. And they are – can you guess it? – harmless!

• “Pops” is most likely air bubbles forming in the knee’s lubricating fluid during specific movements. Also harmless!

• “Grinding” and “grating” sounds are usually the most worrisome but also typically harmless. While some studies suggested that these noises can relate to changes in the surface of the bone, other studies indicate that they do not, so there is no reliable evidence to tell scientists that these noises mean anything in particular.

• People with knee osteoarthritis generally notice more noises from their knees. However, scientists couldn’t confirm if that happens because the lubricating fluid in the knees is thinner, making noises easier to hear, or because people with knee pain tend to pay more attention to their knees and noises.

Do you have ticking, clicking, grinding knees? 

Are you ready to make sense of your temperamental knees?

This month in Satori Signature Workshop, we are taking a deep dive into pacing our activities:

How do you get more active without flaring up?

Movement or exercise? Or both? What’s the difference?

What about movement snacks? How do they work?

And what about training?

February is all about knees at Satori  – no poking around in the dark required.

Instead, we will combine pain science, hands-on anatomy, and plenty of movement to build our own well-structured and evidence-based rehab program.

P.S. Have you tried this knee-wagging movement from last week?