Noises such as popping or cracking are common when moving the joints in your body, but pain during the popping is not, explains the Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic Surgery website. Most of the time, popping noises when you stretch are not a cause for medical concern and require no treatment or preventive measures. However, in some cases, the popping results from a medical condition that requires evaluation by a doctor.
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You might notice that your chest hurts or pops if you have not worked out or stretched in a while. If your pain is anything worse than mild or lasts longer than a few minutes or if you notice any swelling in or around your chest, seek medical evaluation, as it could be related to a serious condition such as a heart attack or collapsed lung. In addition, if you experience any difficulty with finishing your stretches or exercises, difficulty with breathing or feel like your chest is locked up or stiff, stop your workout and seek medical care.
Causes
Popping in your joints usually results from bubbles of gas that develop in the synovial fluid between your joints, such as in the sternum or ribs in your chest. A sudden pulling or stretching when you use your abdominal and pectoral muscles can release the gas bubble, resulting in the popping sound that you hear. Even a slight displacement of a tendon, ligament or muscle in your chest, resulting from twisting your chest suddenly during a stretch could cause a popping noise when you stretch, explains the Everyday Mysteries website. A dislocation or fracture of a rib or could also cause a popping sound and pain in your chest while stretching and could result from pulling too hard during a stretch.
Misconceptions
According to the Everyday Mysteries website, studies are mixed in whether purposely popping or cracking your joints can cause harm. If you crack or pop your joints many times daily over a long period of time, you might experience some swelling or weakness, reports the website. The Johns Hopkins Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery website explains that popping or cracking your joints when you stretch does not cause arthritis and there is no supplement or medication that can prevent the cracking and popping.
Treatments
Most cases of popping joints do not require any home or medical treatment. However, if you have difficulty finishing your workout or notice lingering pain, your doctor should conduct an exam to determine the cause of your pain. Your doctor might recommend an anti-inflammatory medication to treat popping resulting from arthritis, sprains or strains. MayoClinic.com suggests applying an ice pack to the area causing pain to help reduce any swelling in the area. If the popping resulted from a dislocation or fractured rib, you might need to wear a sling, brace or cast over the affected bone to support it until it fully heals, and your doctor might recommend pain relievers to reduce your symptoms.
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