Knee Crepitus Demystified: Evidence-Based Insights for Clinicians

Knee crepitus—those grinding, cracking, or clicking noises heard during walking, squatting, or stair climbing—is among the most common chief complaints in outpatient care. While often dismissed by clinicians, it remains a significant source of anxiety for patients, who readily interpret these sounds as evidence of a knee that is “wearing out” or “giving way.”