Possible reasons: Osteoarthritic (OA) changes OA is the wear and tear overtime of cartilage (bony surfaces in joints). OA has been shown to be responsible for 65% of noisy joints in people aged 40 and above. However, these clicks and pops are seen in athletic individuals as well, often complaining of shoulder, elbow or wrist pain. OA changes happen throughout all joints of the body and at different rates, most commonly seen first in mobile load bearing joints such as the knee