My knees crack every time I go up stairs, and my shoulders pop when I do arm circles. It doesn't *hurt*, but it's loud. Is this a normal part of training, or a warning sign that things are wearing out?
The general rule from physios is: **If there's no pain, it's not a problem.** It's usually just "crepitus" - gas bubbles popping in the synovial fluid, or a tendon snapping over a bone. Annoying, but harmless.
Yep, what HealthExplorer said. If it's a *painful* click, or if the joint *locks* up, that's when you see someone. A painless "pop" is usually fine. A good warm-up sometimes makes it happen less.
Collagen and fish oil *might* help reduce it over time by improving the joint fluid quality, but yeah, I wouldn't stress about it if there's no pain.
Phew. Okay, "no pain, not a problem" is a big relief. They're just noisy! Thanks, all.