Are cracking joints a sign of arthritis?

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Ask the doctor: My knees have been cracking for a long time, but lately I've noticed my ankles and elbows sometimes crack and pop. Is this a sign of early arthritis?

This report focuses primarily on osteoarthritis — the most common type of arthritis — which affects 27 million Americans. Many people believe it’s a crippling and inevitable part of growing old. But things are changing. Treatments are better, and plenty of people age well without much arthritis. If you have osteoarthritis, you can take steps to protect your joints, reduce discomfort, and improve mobility — all of which are detailed in this Special Health Report, Living Well with Osteoarthritis: A guide to keeping your joints healthy. If you don't have osteoarthritis, the report offers strategies for preventing it.

Living Well with Osteoarthritis

Featured content:

•	When joints cause pain
•	What is osteoarthritis?
•	Diagnosing osteoarthritis
•	Treating osteoarthritis without surgery
•	Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis
•	... and more!