Bursitis

What is Bursitis?

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. 

What is a Bursa?

A bursa is a fluid filled sack that sits between bones, tendons or ligaments and acts as a gliding surface toreduce friction between moving tissues of the body. You have more than 150 bursae in your body, without the bursa between these surfaces; movements would be painful due to friction. However certain joints are more subject to increased pressure and repetitive use and are more likely to develop bursitis. These joints include the shoulders, elbows, knees, and feet. Bursa near the hip joint, particularly those on the outer side of the hip and those in the lower buttocks (which are subjected to pressure from sitting for long periods), are also prone to bursitis

What Causes Bursitis?

When your bursa becomes inflamed, the bursa loses its gliding capabilities, and becomes irritated, swollen and painful when it is moved. The added bulk of the swollen bursa causes more friction within an already confined space.

There are several common causes of bursitis. They include the following:

• Prolonged pressure on a bursa
• Repetitive movements that cause irritation
• Physical conditions that increase stress on the joints, such as having legs of unequal length
• Injury, such as that resulting from a fall, or the wearing of ill-fitting shoes
• Medical conditions such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or pseudogout 
• Arthritis of a nearby joint

Diagnosis of bursitis requires a full medical history and performing a full orthopaedic and musculoskeletal examination. As common as bursitis seems, symptoms present, The chiropractors at In Good Hands Chiropractic are highly trained to provide the proper diagnosis and management of bursitis.

Treatment they will then look at the area to see if there are any muscles, ligaments, tendons or joints that are irritating the bursa. Treatment involves relieving the pressure on these joints and on the bursa by using hands-on manual techniques. This will often start the healing process and the inflammation can reduce. If your chiropractor notes any related muscle imbalance or weakness, they will give you exercises to address this issue.

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