The short explanation
Ghutne se awaaz aana, jaise cracking ya grinding, bahut common hai aur akele awaaz ka matlab yeh nahi ki arthritis hai. Many people have clicking knees without any problem. When noise comes along with pain, stiffness after rest, swelling or difficulty with stairs and getting up from the floor, especially after 50, it can be a sign of osteoarthritis, where the cartilage cushioning the joint slowly thins. It is very common in women in this age group and can usually be managed well with exercise, weight management and other measures.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Doctors look at your symptoms, examine the knee and may suggest an X-ray. Blood tests are usually not needed for osteoarthritis but may be done if another type of arthritis is suspected.
- Strengthening the thigh muscles is one of the most helpful things for knee osteoarthritis. A physiotherapist can show suitable exercises. Walking, cycling and water exercises are usually well tolerated.
- Reducing deep squatting and sitting cross-legged on the floor, using a western toilet if possible, and keeping a healthy weight reduce the load on the knees.
- Unproven oils, belts and expensive supplements are widely sold for knee pain; ask your doctor before spending money on them.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell whether you have osteoarthritis. That needs an examination and possibly an X-ray.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is the noise and pain in my knee a sign of osteoarthritis?
- Do I need an X-ray?
- Which exercises would strengthen my knees?
- What can I do at home to reduce the pain?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if your knee becomes hot, red and very swollen, or you cannot bear weight.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if the knee locks or gives way.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine appointment if the pain lasts more than a few weeks or makes daily activities hard.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Osteoarthritis NHS
- Osteoarthritis MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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