Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 5/9/2009

Question
Dear Dr. Newhart,
About a month ago after jogging I noticed that a loud clicking in my left knee occurred when walking up stairs and it has persisted. Although I am reasonably fit and not over weight I am new to this form of exercise. There is no pain in the knee, but the sound is rather disturbing, otherwise the knee feels ever so slightly weak but not enough to be problematic. Is this something that I should see a doctor about and is there anything I can do in the mean time to help recovery?
Many thanks in anticipation.

Answer
Your knee can click for many reasons; without a hands on exam it is difficult to diagnose.  However, the impact of running could have caused some inflammation, leading to the clicking.  From a mechanical standpoint, a misalignment of the knee joint could lead to the clicking, and on the worse end of the spectrum, a tear of the meniscus can click.  I would suggest you see a chiropractor to evaluate this.  They can decide if further testing is required, do appropriate therapies to reduce swelling, and refer to a specialist if necessary.