Is It Normal for an Elbow Injury to Crack or Click?

Causes of Post-Injury Elbow Cracking

When your elbow gets injured, what’s happening inside the joint changes. These are the most common reasons for those post-injury sounds:

Inflammation and Swelling

Even when bruising looks better on the outside, swelling inside the joint can stick around. This extra fluid changes the pressure in the joint. When you move your arm, tiny gas bubbles in the joint fluid can pop, or tendons may slide over swollen tissue and snap slightly. This snap can cause a clicking or popping sound.

Scar Tissue Build-Up

When your body heals a sprain or small tear, it creates scar tissue to repair the damage. Scar tissue isn’t as smooth or flexible as normal tissue. As you move your elbow, this rougher tissue can rub, grind, or catch on nearby bone or muscle, creating a clicking or grinding feeling.

Plica Syndrome

A plica is a small fold in the lining of the joint. After an injury, this fold can become irritated or thick. When you straighten your arm, the thickened plica may get caught in the joint, causing a painful snapping or popping sensation. You can feel this sensation on the outside of the elbow.

Loose Pieces Inside the Joint

With more serious injuries, a tiny piece of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint. This is like having a small pebble in a machine; it can make the elbow catch, click, or even get stuck briefly when you move it.

When Should You Be Concerned?

A common rule doctors use is: If it clicks but doesn’t hurt, it’s often not serious. If it clicks and hurts, get it checked. You should see a physical therapist or doctor if the clicking comes with any of the following:

• Sharp pain
• Locking
• Instability
• Loss of motion
• Numbness or tingling

In some cases, a nerve on the inner side of the elbow can shift slightly during movement, causing snapping along with tingling.