After I stand after sitting or lying for any length of time, I am getting various "cracking" noises from around the bottom of my achilles tendons (but more on one leg) and it feels like something is "twanging". It's not sore (yet), but a bit worrying. Has anybody else had this?
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cut the heel tabs off your shoes, stretch (the one using stairs) religiously, & have a week off.
Both achilles have 'cracked' on and off for 20 yrs. oddly they only do so while walking, never while running. A number of other joints do the same, including my big toes and shoulders. In fact the only time my heels didn't crack was/is when the right achilles is inflamed/puffy. When I ice it sufficeiently the crack returns and I know I'm through it.
I suspect that this should only reassure long term crackers - but whenever I'm consulted about painless clicking (technically known as vacuolation) I'm quick to play it down.
Obviously if it hurts - that's a different matter
Thanks for that. I have also suffered from intermittent "cracking" of various joints all my life too. Mine don't crack while running either. I'm probably a bit oversensitive to it as my calves were a bit tight a couple of weeks back and I started noticing the cracking more.
Good to know the technical name for it too.
I've not yet come across a convincing explanation for it.
The rheumatologist I trained under tried to explain it in terms of joint fluid changing shape - the sudden distortion of joint capsule giving an intantaneous wobble board effect. It doesn't feel like this, i have to say.
I think of it as a ligament/tendon catching a bony prominence and then 'twanging' off it, like a guitar string catching a plectrum. This is how it feels when I know I need to clunk, but need to waggle the relevant limb a bit to 'release' it.
Whatever - it will just make those around you wince, and do you no harm at all.
blimey
Yes, it's the achilles and, like Blimey, I can feel it "twanging" when I'm walking around (esp in bare feet). But not when running (as far as I can tell).
I should have said "twanging occasionally when walking around". What I said sounds worse than it is.