Movement stimulates the fluid and cushioning that protect your joints
A small sound from the body — a click, a pop — can carry an outsized weight of worry, yet most of the time it is simply the quiet mechanics of a joint doing what joints do. Dr. Amir Khan, speaking to listeners of his podcast, offered the kind of grounded reassurance that medicine at its best provides: that clicking knees are rarely a warning, and that the body's best ally against wear and tear is continued, deliberate movement. In a country where one in five adults over 45 lives with knee osteoarthritis, the message is both personal and collective — the path forward is not stillness, but motion.
- That familiar knee click carries enough anxiety to prompt a listener to write in to a doctor's podcast, reflecting how easily ordinary body sounds become sources of quiet dread.
- Osteoarthritis affects roughly one in five adults over 45 in England, making joint deterioration not an exception but a near-universal feature of ageing — a condition most of us will eventually navigate.
- Dr. Khan draws a clear line between harmless fluid movement and genuine concern, urging people to watch for pain and stiffness as the real signals that warrant medical attention.
- Rather than reaching for medication, Khan's prescription is movement itself — walking, exercise, and weight management as the primary tools for protecting joints and slowing progression.
- For those who do need clinical support, GPs can confirm diagnosis and offer a range of treatments, but the NHS frames an active life as both achievable and essential even with osteoarthritis.
There is something quietly unsettling about a body that makes unexpected sounds, and a clicking knee is enough to send a small current of worry through even the calmest person. Dr. Amir Khan, a GP and familiar face on ITV, took up exactly this concern on his podcast, offering a reassurance that most people with clicking knees quietly need: the sound is almost always harmless, the result of fluid shifting through the joint during normal movement.
Where clicking does point to something more significant, the condition is usually osteoarthritis — progressive joint damage that causes pain and stiffness over time. It is far from rare. In England, around one in five adults over 45 has it in their knees, and one in nine experiences it in their hips. Women are more affected than men, and the risk rises with age, obesity, previous injuries, and family history. Khan's framing, however, was not one of inevitability but of manageability.
His core recommendation was disarmingly simple: keep moving. Movement sustains the fluid and cushioning that joints depend on, and consistent exercise — whatever form suits the individual — is the most effective tool available. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the load on joints and can slow the condition's progression. Medication exists for those who need it, from paracetamol to anti-inflammatory drugs, but lifestyle remains the first and most powerful line of response. The NHS is clear that osteoarthritis need not define or diminish a life — provided the person living with it refuses to stop moving.
You're sitting down, and your knee makes a sound—a soft pop or click that catches your attention. It's the kind of noise that sends a small spike of worry through your mind. Is something wrong? Should you be concerned? On his podcast No Appointments Necessary, Dr. Amir Khan, a practicing GP who regularly appears on ITV programs including Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, addressed exactly this question from a listener worried about clicking knees.
The reassurance came quickly: in most cases, that sound is harmless. Khan explained that when your knee clicks without accompanying pain or stiffness, you're likely hearing nothing more than fluid shifting around the joint as you bend and move. It's a mechanical sound, not a warning signal. To demonstrate what's actually happening, he described a simple test—place your hand over your kneecap, straighten your leg, and feel the movement beneath your palm. What you're sensing is the normal operation of a joint doing its job.
That said, clicking can sometimes point to osteoarthritis, a condition the NHS defines as progressive joint damage that causes pain and stiffness. In England alone, roughly one in five adults over 45 has osteoarthritis in their knees. One in nine people experience it in their hips. It's common enough that Khan noted it happens to most of us eventually—a consequence of wear and tear that accumulates over time. The condition affects women more frequently than men, and your risk climbs with age. Obesity, previous joint injuries, and family history all increase the likelihood you'll develop it.
But here's what matters: osteoarthritis doesn't necessarily get worse, and it doesn't require medication as a first resort. Khan's primary recommendation was straightforward: keep moving. Movement stimulates the fluid and cushioning that protect your joints, he explained. Walking, running, whatever form of exercise suits you—the key is consistency. Beyond that, maintaining a healthy weight reduces the pressure bearing down on your joints, which can slow progression and ease symptoms.
If you suspect osteoarthritis is behind your clicking knees, a conversation with your GP is the logical next step. They can examine your joints and run tests to confirm whether osteoarthritis is the culprit or whether something else is causing your symptoms. If medication becomes necessary, doctors have options: paracetamol for short-term relief, topical creams, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling. The NHS emphasizes that with proper support and lifestyle adjustments, people with osteoarthritis can live active, healthy lives. The condition doesn't have to slow you down—but it does require you to keep moving.
Notable Quotes
If it's not painful or sore, chances are it's just fluid moving around your knee as you bend down or move— Dr. Amir Khan
Movement stimulates fluid and cushioning into that joint— Dr. Amir Khan
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the knee click in the first place? Is it always the same cause?
Usually it's just fluid moving around as you bend and straighten. But sometimes it signals osteoarthritis—wear and tear of the joint itself. The sound alone doesn't tell you which one it is. Pain or stiffness is what matters.
So if my knee clicks but doesn't hurt, I can ignore it?
Essentially, yes. But that's also the moment to pay attention to your habits. Movement and weight matter. If you stay active and keep pressure off the joint, you're doing the preventive work that stops it from becoming a real problem later.
How many people actually deal with this?
One in five adults over 45 in England has osteoarthritis in their knees. It's not rare. It's almost expected as you age. Women get it more than men, and your risk goes up if you're overweight or have a family history.
Is there a cure?
No. But that's not as bad as it sounds. The condition doesn't necessarily worsen over time. With the right approach—exercise, weight management, sometimes medication—you can live a full, active life with it.
What's the first thing someone should do if they're worried?
See your GP. They can examine your joints and run tests to figure out what's actually happening. Don't assume it's serious, but don't ignore it either. Get clarity.