Bursitis is a painful swelling of the bursae, the fluid-filled sacs that support the joints and reduce friction between tendons, muscles, and bones near the joints. Bursitis occurs when these sacs become inflamed, usually because of repetitive movements that put stress on the joints.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b10e1870-841f-4d0d-9e71-0b2e2f671d93 Bursitis most commonly affects the shoulders, elbows, and hips. It can also occur in your knees, ankles, and big toes. With proper treatment, bursitis often goes away within a few weeks, but it can flare up from time to time.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762918a1bb61-aedb-42be-a9e8-9c1ebc3593b5
Types of Bursitis Types Bursitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term with repeated flare-ups).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ddb2fd31-ddd6-44dc-8e21-99ff0bae0477 There are over 150 bursae in your body. Bursitis can develop in any of them. As mentioned, it’s most common in joints that you put a lot of strain on, either from pressure or repetitive movements. The most common types of bursitis include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297ec99f7b-508c-45ca-a47c-26399e575c8a Ischial bursitis: Occurs in your buttocks Olecranon bursitis: Occurs in your elbows Prepatellar bursitis: Occurs in your knees Subacromial bursitis: Occurs in your shoulders Trochanteric bursitis: Occurs in your hips It’s also very common for bursitis to develop in the feet, especially near the big toes, balls of the feet, or heels.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297ec99f7b-508c-45ca-a47c-26399e575c8a One example is anterior (front) or posterior (back) Achilles tendon bursitis, which develops near the Achilles tendon, which is located on the back of the lower leg, above the heel bone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e83d6c54-074a-4fa7-bf72-a9e849fd5d75 Bursitis is also classified by cause:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ddb2fd31-ddd6-44dc-8e21-99ff0bae0477 Septic bursitis: Caused by an infection. The most common cause of septic bursitis is Staphylococcus aureus (a staph infection ). Aseptic bursitis (also known as traumatic bursitis): Caused by trauma, such as repetitive motion or pressuree60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e83d6c54-074a-4fa7-bf72-a9e849fd5d75
Symptoms of Bursitis Symptoms If you have bursitis, your affected joint may:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762957e93298-d918-45f7-84de-b8e5aed5c54f Feel stiff and achy Have increased pain when you move it or press on it Look red and swollen, especially if the inflamed bursae are close to the skine60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297c1d3e9d-1d94-4da9-8810-74ef685fe474 If your bursitis is caused by an infection, you may also have:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b591fcdf-15b5-406e-a4a8-e0e3524567f5 Warmth or heat coming from the affected joint Redness or discoloration of the skin Fever Chills Any of these symptoms warrant a doctor’s visit, but this is especially true if you: e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762957e93298-d918-45f7-84de-b8e5aed5c54f Have joint pain that feels disabling Feel suddenly unable to move a joint Have significant redness, swelling, or bruising in the affected area Feel sharp, shooting pain in the joint, especially during exertion or exercise Have a fever
Causes and Risk Factors of Bursitis Causes The most common causes of bursitis are repetitive movements or maintaining positions that put pressure on certain joints. Examples include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762937ba6193-1f92-4663-a72c-a09f5cddbd72e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295a95ea36-3231-4be7-bdf9-5bea6fc2d1df Lifting heavy boxes or other objects over your head repeatedly Leaning on your elbows for extended periods of time, such as resting them on a deske60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629250b5bdf-f829-4129-8250-22fc60819763 Kneeling for long periods without adequate padding, such as when scrubbing floors or laying carpete60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629250b5bdf-f829-4129-8250-22fc60819763 Playing sports like tennis, baseball, or golf Gardening, raking, or shoveling Playing an instrument Painting or carpentry Having an injury to the affected joint Having certain types of arthritis that cause inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis , psoriatic arthritis , or gout Having an infection, such as a staph infectione60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629250b5bdf-f829-4129-8250-22fc60819763 Having diabetes Having thyroid disease Having lupus e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629250b5bdf-f829-4129-8250-22fc60819763 Having scleroderma (an autoimmune disease causing chronic hardening of the skin)e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629250b5bdf-f829-4129-8250-22fc60819763 Having spondyloarthropathy (inflammatory diseases that mainly affect the spine and joints)e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629250b5bdf-f829-4129-8250-22fc60819763 Risk Factors for Bursitis Anyone can develop bursitis, but you are more likely to get bursitis if you:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762914d11d19-35cb-48d2-afd1-c2a4feae3709e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295a95ea36-3231-4be7-bdf9-5bea6fc2d1df Are an athlete Have a job involving physical labor Play an instrument Have certain health conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, or thyroid disease
How Is Bursitis Diagnosed? Diagnosis The first step in diagnosing bursitis is a physical exam performed by your healthcare provider. Your doctor will examine the affected joint and ask you questions about your symptoms. Be sure to tell them if your job or hobbies require repetitive movements like lifting boxes or pressure on your joints.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f0484bb2-b567-4bbf-9ea8-b4508fa6be96 Based on the findings of your physical exam, your provider may order certain tests to help diagnose bursitis. These tests may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f0484bb2-b567-4bbf-9ea8-b4508fa6be96e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629012990af-1dc9-4b60-9c22-e5c9768b7620 X-ray: An X-ray can help rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound: These tests can identify swollen bursae. Blood test: These tests can identify an infection. Aspiration: This involves obtaining a sample of the fluid if your doctor thinks your bursitis may be caused by an infection.
Treatment Options for Bursitis Treatment Most cases of bursitis go away on their own after a few weeks with nothing more than a little rest for the area.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e37d1fc8-380a-4b4e-b96a-168d9adcbed9 Be sure to avoid the repetitive movements and pressure that likely caused your bursitis, and let your body heal. Your doctor will let you know how long you need to rest the joint.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ba898917-2071-4b70-9720-de1dc7c16673 Your provider may recommend at-home treatments during your healing period to help ease the pain and swelling you feel. These may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ba898917-2071-4b70-9720-de1dc7c16673 Elevation of the affected joint Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for a short time, as recommended by your provider Ice on the bursae for 15 minutes at a time, a few times per day Heat, such as a heating pad, on the area A splint, sling, or brace to immobilize the area and allow for rest In some cases, your doctor may also recommend other treatment options, such as:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ba898917-2071-4b70-9720-de1dc7c16673e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295d09a333-9615-4e3f-a4eb-37032ec4a6d6 Physical therapy: This intervention can help increase your range of motion (how far you can move your joint). Occupational therapy: This intervention can teach you safe ways to move your joints to prevent further injury. Assistive device: It could help to temporarily use an assistive device like a walking cane to relieve pressure in the affected area. Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be necessary if you have septic bursitis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290856a4b0-679a-4d90-b65b-4940faaf5749 Corticosteroid injections: Corticosteroid injections can decrease inflammation and pain in the bursae. Repeated aspiration: If you have septic bursitis, repeated removal of infected fluid from the bursae with a needle may be necessary.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290856a4b0-679a-4d90-b65b-4940faaf5749 Surgery: Surgical drainage and removal of the bursae (known as a bursectomy) may be needed if they don’t heal with other therapies and if you’ve been experiencing symptoms for at least six months. This is most common with septic bursitis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290856a4b0-679a-4d90-b65b-4940faaf5749
Prevention of Bursitis Prevention The best way to prevent bursitis is to avoid overusing your joints. To prevent bursitis, it can help to:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296eab7361-2334-4053-8e90-ce252a1ea811e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299996af86-d8b3-4fe2-aca4-0084cd7b04ad Ensure you’re at a healthy weight. Use proper posture and techniques when performing work or hobby activities. Consider using a dolly or wheeled cart to move heavy loads rather than lifting them. Take breaks. Use cushions when you kneel or lean on your elbows. Exercise regularly to strengthen your muscles and protect the affected joint, but be sure to ease into any new exercise or activity to avoid injury. Stretch and warm up properly before exercise or other strenuous activities to reduce your risk of injury. Avoid sitting or kneeling for long periods, as this puts a lot of pressure on your joints. Take frequent breaks if you are performing a repetitive task.
How Long Does Bursitis Last? Prognosis and Outlook Bursitis usually doesn’t last long. Most people recover within a few weeks. That said, it’s not uncommon for bursitis to flare up from time to time. Make sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations and don’t resume activities until your bursitis is completely healed to avoid complications or further injury.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629aeb141bd-1d50-4925-b235-cb0b1f4fce74
Complications of Bursitis Complications Bursitis is usually short-lived, but complications can occur, especially if the area is not given enough time to heal. If you return to activities that put pressure and strain on your injured bursae, you may develop complications such as chronic bursitis. Recurrent flare-ups can damage your bursae, leading to reduced mobility in the affected joint.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290b58af31-963c-45b7-bd8c-b3afcfda109c
Research and Statistics: Who Has Bursitis Research and Statistics Bursitis is a common cause of chronic pain. In general, it happens equally among men and women. It can happen at any age, but it’s most common in older adults. That’s because older adults are more likely to be affected by conditions like osteoarthritis than younger adults. It’s also more common among people with obesity , who have manual labor jobs, or are athletes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629437afde7-0650-47e4-a286-6ab18f00c70f Septic bursitis in particular is more common in people who are immunocompromised, such as those with diabetes or rheumatic conditions.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629437afde7-0650-47e4-a286-6ab18f00c70f
Related Conditions of Bursitis Related Conditions Because bursitis involves inflammation, pain, and swelling near the joints, it shares some similarities with other conditions, such as arthritis and tendinitis. Arthritis Because arthritis and bursitis both affect the joints, the symptoms can sometimes look similar. But bursitis usually does not cause long-term damage to the joint unless you continue to put stress on the area. Symptoms are typically short-lived and heal within a few weeks. Arthritis, on the other hand, is a lifelong condition caused by the slow breakdown of cartilage in a joint over time.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c13a1982-682c-4321-be92-d74ab5971cd7 Tendonitis Tendonitis and bursitis both occur when tissues in your body become irritated, swollen, and inflamed. They’re also both caused by repetitive use and pressure. But there’s a difference in which tissues are affected. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae, and symptoms occur near the affected joint. Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons, which are connective tissues between muscle and bone, and symptoms occur at the area of the affected tendon. Tendonitis can be either a short-term or long-term condition.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c13a1982-682c-4321-be92-d74ab5971cd7
The Takeaway Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae (fluid-filled sacs that support the muscles, tendons, and bones near your joints). When these sacs become damaged, it can cause irritation, swelling, and pain near the joint. Repetitive pressure or movements are the leading cause of bursitis. Most cases of bursitis go away in a few weeks with rest and at-home treatments, unless your bursitis becomes chronic or is caused by an infection.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Bursitis Mayo Clinic: Bursitis: Symptoms and Causes Johns Hopkins Medicine: Bursitis MedlinePlus: Bursitis Penn Medicine: Bursitis
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