According to a new study, if your knees make a cracking sound when you are standing, it could be an early sign of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions that affects the joints. About 27 million Americans are affected by the condition. The Arthritis Foundation also said that anyone can develop the condition, but it is more common in those aged 65 and above. It can affect any joint, but the hips, lower back, neck, bases of the thumb and big toe, small joints of the fingers, as well as knees are the joints usually affected.

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According to a new study published in Arthritis Care & Research, more than 75 percent of the people with osteoarthritis have no reported signs of knee pain. Instead of pain, they usually hear a grated, cracked, or popping sound from their knees when they move or stand. Based on this finding, researchers believe that noisy knees should be considered as an early warning of osteoarthritis.

Dr. Grace Lo, the lead author of the study, says that people with noisy knees may likely to experience joint pain compared to those who do not have the condition.

Some of the factors that increase the risks of osteoarthritis include obesity, older age, weak thigh muscles, previous joint injury, genes, and overuse of the joint.

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured although the pain can be relieved. In a 2013 study, researchers found that methotrexate - chemotherapy drug for rheumatoid arthritis - is effective for patients with osteoarthritis. The drug could relieve joint inflammation by decreasing the action of the immune system.