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5 Causes For Clicking In The Head While Running (Prevention)
Running is a great workout to keep yourself in shape. But do you feel any spontaneous ringing in your middle ears and head while running which badly impacts your performance? If yes, it might be tinnitus. These auditory anomalies disrupt the flow of running and raise more concerns.
Tinnitus, Sinus Congestion or Neuroma, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), Eustachian Tube Malfunctioning, Muscle Tension, and Jaw Closing are common causes of clicking noises in the head while running. To avoid it, keep good posture while running, stretch, do high-impact exercises, and warm up before exercising.
This blog will walk you through the causes of clicking in the head while running and some useful prevention tips. We will cover exercises, proper warm-up routines, and vitamin considerations, to help runners enjoy running without clicks and pops. Let’s explore to get an enjoyable and worry-free running experience.
5 Major Causes of Clicking in Head while Running
Do you feel a mysterious noise in your head while running on your favorite track? It can cause severe disturbance and also affects your performance.
However, understanding the reasons behind this will help in better and more timely treatment of this sound. Let’s deep dive into the main causes of clicking in the head while running:
1. Tinnitus
Tinnitus is one of the major causes of clicking sounds in your head and ear. It can cause persistent ringing and buzzing without any external noise source. According to experts, tinnitus is not a disease. However, various disorders are the cause of it.
The major reason behind this irritation is ear wax blockage and exposure to loud sounds. High blood pressure in blood vessels is a major cause of tinnitus.
Some infections can also cause severe Tinnitus. It might lead to clicking noises when you move your head. If you are a professional runner facing this issue, immediately seek your doctor’s advice for a cure.
2. Sinus Congestion or Neuroma
Sinus congestion is the result of changes in air pressure in the sinuses. It leads to a propping sensation and ticking noises. It is a common cause of clicking in the head while running because it originates from activities like running and walking.
Moreover, increased blood pressure and allergies can also cause sinus inflammation.
Another unpopular reason for this clicking noise in the head is brain tumor. It is not a common cause for buzzing and only occasionally appears.
3. TMJ Issues
The temporomandibular joint connects the skull to your body. Dysfunction and inflammation at this joint are also a reason for annoying voices in the head. This mostly appears as a sound striking in the head while repetitive activities like running or walking.
Besides buzzing and ringing, it leads to jaw pain and tinnitus in one or both ears. The Temporomandibular joint issues are the results of arthritis or muscle tiredness. If severe arthritis affects the blood vessels, it leads to vasculitis.
Sometimes, a slight movement of mouth or teeth compression causes severe pain and buzzing sounds. Appropriate therapy can help cure it.
4. Muscle Tension and Jaw Closing
The jaw muscles directly connect to the ear. Sometimes, even food chewing pulls out these ligaments.
A minor dysfunction can cause pain and irritation which leads to tinnitus. Aside from clicking noise in the head, it leads to hearing disorders such as hearing loss.
Tight muscles in the neck or jaw contribute to buzzing in the ear during slight movements. So activities like running increase this tension, resulting in imbalance tightness around the head, leading to clicking noise
5. Eustachian Tube Malfunctioning (ETM)
These tubes join the backside of the throat to the middle ear. They work by providing passage to air during squeezing and yawing and maintaining pressure in the ear. Eustachian tube dysfunction is the biggest cause of clicking in the head during running.
Sinus congestion affects these tubes and causes inflammation. Whenever mucus infects these tubes, it blocks the passage. This leads to a change in air pressure and ultimately becomes a source of ringing and buzzing. Any activity that disturbs this air pressure causes popping in the head.
Tips to Prevent Clicking in the Head While Running
- Maintain good running posture to alleviate the stress from shoulders.
- Stretch your muscles and do some flexible exercises. These are high-impact workouts for the upper back, neck, and shoulder to prevent you from head clicking.
- Build a warm-up routine before running. It prepares your head for heavy physical activities by reducing the risk of headaches and brain tension.
Conclusion
This article explored the main causes of clicking in the head while running and its prevention. Factors such as tinnitus, sinus congestion, TMJ issues, muscle tension, and Eustachian tube dysfunction can cause it.
You can cure it by addressing vitamin deficiencies, practicing proper running form, and appropriate exercises. If you want more tips to secure your head, buy Life Skills: An Essential Book To Unlock Secret Superpowers today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Vitamin deficiency, muscle tightness, joint misalignment, or cartilage issues can cause the clicking sound in your head when running.
You hear a popping noise when running due to joint movement, muscle contractions, or tendon snapping. Stretching, proper warm-up, and strengthening exercises can prevent you from this problem.
The popping sound in your head can be a joint movement, such as the jaw’s temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It may also result from muscle or tendon activity.
Ensure your proper running form practice, and focus on stretching and strengthening. After the first round of running take a deep breath and relax before the next session. If you don’t notice any changes, consult a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation and medical advice.
It is alarming if you feel any clicking voice in your skull or head. Its causes are stiffness, arthritis, poor posture, or tightness.
