Bursitis is an irritation and inflammation of the bursae- small jelly like sacs that are positioned between bones and soft tissue which act as cushions and help reduce friction by cushioning and lubricating points between bones, tendons, and muscles near joints. There are over 150 bursa pads in the human body but the main ones include the following:
| Technical name of Bursa | Location in the body |
| Subacromial | Shoulder |
| Subscapular | Upper back |
| Olecranon | Elbow |
| Ischiogluteal | Buttocks |
| Trochanteric | Outer hip |
| Medial collateral | Inside of knee |
| Pes anserine | Outer knee |
| Prepatellar | Directly on knee cap |
| Infrapatellar | Beneath knee |
| Retrocalcaneal | Heel/back of ankle |
Symptoms
- Pain over bursa pad
- Sharp and intense pain that then turns into more of an ache
- Visible swelling
Causes
- Irritation of the bursa from repetitive motions
- Direct fall or blow to the area
Risk factors
- Repetitive stress to an area or overuse of a certain body part
- Direct blow or injury to area
- Infection of bursa
- Limb length discrepancy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Previous surgery to area
- Bone spurs or calcium deposits in area
- Obesity or overweight
- More common in women and the middle age to elderly population
Prevention
- Avoid repetitive motions that put stress on a certain area
- Fix limb length discrepancies with orthotics
- Lose weight if necessary
- Maintain strength and flexibility of surrounding muscles
Diagnosis
- Physical examination done by physician
Treatment options
Most can be treated non-surgically
- Activity modification or rest
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen
- Assistive devices to make movement easier and less stressful to area
- Physical therapy and home exercise routine
- Corticosteroid injection
- Ice/ultrasound
Surgical treatment
- Draining of bursa fluid
Removal of bursa through open incision or arthroscopic incision
