About
Areas that are most commonly affected by Bursitis include the shoulder, elbow or hip joint areas. Other areas that may be affected include the knee, heel and the base of the big toe.
Cause
Injury or overuse; infection within the bursa; diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, thyroid disease and diabetes.
Prevention
- Warm up/stretch before physical activity.
- Strengthen the muscles to help protect the joint.
- Don't exercise a joint if it is painful or inflamed.
- Take regular breaks from repetitive tasks.
- Cushion the joint using cushioned chairs, foam or joint pads (e.g. elbow pads).
- Don't rest your elbows on hard surfaces.
- Make sure that your shoes fit properly and do not have worn-down heels.
- Don't sit still for long periods - take regular breaks, get up out of your chair, walk around and stretch.
Signs and symptoms
- Pain and stiffness that is made worse by movement.
- Often the pain is worse at night.
- The affected area may feel swollen or warm/hot when touched.
- Sometimes there may be skin redness in the area of the inflamed bursa.
Health care
Always consult your Doctor for diagnosis and advice. In no way is this information intended to replace the advice of a registered medical practitioner.
Your Doctor will conduct a medical examination and take a medical history. Your Doctor may order an x-ray to rule out other conditions such as arthritis. Your Doctor may take a sample of fluid from the bursa to rule out infection or gout or blood sample to confirm conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes .
Treatment of Bursitis will depend on the cause and may include reduction or avoidance of a particular activity, correct positioning during particular activities, adequate warm up and correct posture during exercise, splinting the affected area, applying moist heat/ice, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, antibiotics and possibly surgery if infection is present. Preventive measures should be taken to avoid recurrence of the Bursitis. See the Prevention section for more information.
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