Maggi Barnard

Many people experience a painless cracking, grating or popping sensation when bending the knee. The medical term for this is crepitus. A study by McCoy et al looked at 250 normal knees and found that 99% had patellofemoral crepitus. One must then ask: “What causes joint crepitus and does it really matter?”

Whilst knee crepitus is often a symptom of patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis, no research to date has shown a causal link between the crepitation noise and actual joint pathology. Most people experience one of four types of crepitus. The first occurs when a tendon snaps over a bone. It can be palpated and is often described as a hollow clunk.

The second occurs inside the joint when the two joint surfaces separate. A vacuum is created forming gas bubbles in the joint fluid. When these pop a loud “crack” is often heard. One study showed no signs of joint arthritis after years of habitual knuckle cracking.

The third cause is when patellofemoral movement is not smooth. This can cause a fine crunching noise and can be measured with vibration arthrography. Vibrations are decreased or lost in joints with osteoarthritis probably due to decreased joint lubrication. The fourth occurs when joint fluid is pushed behind a slightly rough patella surface as the knee bends.

It is good to distinguish what type of cracking your knee makes. If it is not painful and falls into one of the above categories we should see crepitus not as a sign of joint pathology, but as a sign that our joints are mobile and well lubricated.

For the fitness of you,
Linda Reilly

The kindness and goodwill of our community was once again on display this week when the Parkes Antique Motor Club handed over a donation to Currajong Disability Services (CDS).

CDS CEO Jeff Evans received a cheque of $675 from President Tony Horsington following the club’s extremely successful Autumn Run earlier this month. “We had 135 pre-1931 vehicles all the way from Melbourne and up to Brisbane, which has been described as the biggest collection of this age car in the memory of participants,” said Tony. At the event’s dinner, attended by 260 people at the Parkes Services Club, patrons were very generous in
buying raffle tickets with all proceeds going to the Club’s chosen charity, CDS.

Tony said the successful event received many positive reviews and participants said it was excellent. For CDS the support from the motor club is also very valuable. “It is amazing how local community clubs support each other in Parkes,” said Jeff Evans on accepting the cheque. CDS is a leading provider of NDIS services in the Parkes Shire and surrounding areas, and provides a diverse range of disability services including, centre-based and in-home support services.

A talented musician from Parkes High School scored a rare opportunity to work under an internationally renowned composer to reimagine the great love story of Romeo and Juliet. Gordon Richter’s love of music takes him to Sydney two to three times per month as a member of the Sydney Youth Orchestra, but his most recent trip, lasting for five days, was a completely new experience working under Paul Rissmann to help reinvent the great orchestral work of Sergei Prokofiev.

“It was really, really good and a different challenge,” said Gordon. “Paul Rissmann worked really well with us kids to get 22 minutes’ worth of music.” Paul has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and many of the world’s great orchestras. The Central West’s representation was complemented by three dancers from Cowra. “That was our biggest challenge in composing the music – we had to think if it could be danced to.” The dance students choreographed a routine to the new score, and the combined work was performed at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The conservatorium is where the Year 12 student hopes to return to next year to do a performance degree on the clarinet, his main instrument. While his second instrument the uncommon bassoon, which kids often mistake for a didgeridoo, has provided him with plenty of opportunities and experiences, like being offered a position in the Sydney Youth Orchestra, his love of the clarinet started very young.

“I went to a concert when I was small and heard the clarinet for the first time and really liked it.” As his mum Melinda is a piano teacher it was decided he would do a different instrument and he started lessons in Year 2. It was his teacher Justin Screen of the Mitchell Conservatorium who asked him to take up the bassoon.

While there are hardly any other clarinet players in Parkes, there are loads of them elsewhere which makes it harder to get positions in orchestras. Playing the bassoon has provided Gordon with lots of opportunities  to grow his ensemble playing experience and exposure. He feels confident about getting into the Sydney Conservatorium, and ultimately the Paris Conservatorium – one of the best for clarinet in the world – as a post-graduation option.

Gordon has his future plans mapped out and would love to play in orchestras once he has completed his studies. “Getting a position in the New York Philharmonic would be amazing.” Bringing him back to earth is Mum who
reminds him that for now he has to focus on his HSE, as his points would be taken into consideration on top of an audition for acceptance at the Sydney Conservatorium.

“The Romeo and Juliet experience in Sydney opened up a whole new experience for Gordon in terms of composing,”
said Melinda. This was very valuable as he has to compose a two-minute piece in contemporary classical music for his HSE Music Extension syllabus. “It is fantastic to see your child discover what makes them excited about the world. Gordon loves what he is doing,” said Melinda.

By Maggi Barnard