

This is a field I study. Its more complicated than yes/no. OA is caused by inflammation. However, inflammation when introduced into a joint space raises the friction coefficient between surfaces within the joint. More friction leads to mechanical stress and deterioration.
The friction coefficient for synovial joints ranges from 0.0015 - 0.01 depending on the study. Essentially frictionless. That’s why when inflammation enters the synovial fluid, you hear crepitus or “creaking”. Friction goes up and tendons vibrate like strings on a violin. For reference, ice on a Teflon pan has a friction coefficient of 0.05 - 0.10. Roughly ×5 the conservative estimate for synovial joints.





Well, I guess it depends entirely on what you could do about it. If the crepitus was brought about by chronic malmechanics then yes. If it was hereditarily driven then there’s nothing you could do about it. Typically, I preach to my patients that popping, clicking, snapping, etc. are only notable if they induce pain or if they were brought about by a change in activity.
A secondary note on pain is that it’s part of the human condition. Pain is relative and inevitable. If you live your life in a bubble then a sprained ankle is going to feel like a gunshot wound. There will always be some form pain or soreness. The trick is to address it as it comes about and shift it to the next weakest link in the chain. If you have low back pain, strengthen your core to treat it. Then that pain may shift to your hips where you have overactive or weak abductors, then it may be your neck. Who knows. But there’s few things as debilitating as chronic pain in one location. The more painful it gets, the less you’ll want to use it and you end up building a positive feedback loop.