Expert: Dr. Brendon J. O`Brien, D.C. - 11/20/2005

Question
I jog on the beach (dry sand) because my knees are old and I want to save them.  I hear, almost with every step a crack sound in my skull Sometimes it's as often as one a second.  I asked my Doctor and he said it's a loose ligament and not to worry. It seems to be coming from my right temporal lobe & I'm worried about such things as a detached retnia or can this be normal 52 year old suture movement. I fell on my head when trying to learn how to snowboard 20 years ago and since then have sounds just when turning my head when it's quiet.

Answer
Hello Pamela,


    Most likely the sounds you are hearing are from tight muscles, tendons, or ligaments.  Often with injuries you will have scar tissue, this will impair the elasticity of the soft tissues and can cause snapping over other structures ie. joints, bone, other tendons or ligaments.  You may want to visit a doctor of chiropractic to determine exactly where the sounds are coming from and see if treatment will help.

Have a great day,
Dr. Brendon O'Brien D.C.