What is Bursitis?

Bursitis is a condition characterised by inflammation of a bursa, which is a small fluid-filled sac located near a joint. Bursae are present throughout the body and act as cushions between bones, tendons, and muscles, helping to reduce friction and facilitate movement.

When a bursa becomes inflamed, it can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the affected joint. Bursitis can occur in any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the shoulder, elbow, hip, or knee.

Bursitis can be caused by repetitive motion or overuse, injury, or infection. People who engage in activities that involve repetitive motions or put pressure on certain joints are more likely to develop bursitis.

Treatment for bursitis should include physical therapy including release work to take pressure off the bursa, rest, anti-inflammatories and in some cases, corticosteroid injections or surgery. It's important to see a healthcare provider if you suspect you have bursitis, as untreated bursitis can lead to chronic pain and disability.

There a bursae all throughout the body with them most common injuries being in the shoulder (subacromial bursitis), hip (glute med or trochanteric bursitis) and ankle (retrocalcaneal bursitis). Bursitis can also occur in the elbow from a fall, resulting in your elbow bursa swelling up to the size of a tennis ball. It can also affect the knee.

Bursae are there to protect tendons from rubbing on bones and damaging them, so they are there to protect. But over time, the bursae can actual become the problem as they become irritated.

These conditions are more common as we get older and in repetitive actions and sports. Realistically they can take time to recover, but the more work you do on releasing the tight muscles around the joint, stabilising the joint and strengthening the muscles.

We are experts at helping with these conditions, so if you are suffering from bursitis then please make an appointment. In our experience the sooner you get into treatment the better the results you will have. The longer you wait the more likely you will end up with an entrenched injury, pain syndrome and compensatory injuries in other areas of the body. At worst bursitis can take months to years to recover from. At best it can recover in weeks.

Treatment includes dry needling, deep tissue massage, Myofascial release, cupping, active release techniques, gentle joint mobilisation, PNF resistive stretching, stretching and strengthening advise.