Bursitis
Are there different types of bursitis? Information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this condition.
Symptoms and Causes
Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, which is the sac that contains synovial fluid in the joints and serves to cushion impacts and reduce friction between tendons, muscles, and bones.
Although it can occur in all joints, bursitis is more common in those that undergo repetitive movements.
With current treatments, bursitis typically disappears within a short period. However, it is common for this condition to recur, as there is no definitive cure.
Symptoms
The most characteristic symptoms of bursitis are:
- Pain in the joint, especially when it moves.
- Stiffness.
- Inflammation.
- Redness.
- Discomfort in the area surrounding the joint.
Causes
Bursitis typically occurs due to certain diseases (arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis), muscle weakness, trauma, or overloading of the joint due to repetitive and frequent movements. Depending on its location, the reasons for this overload vary:
- Shoulder bursitis: Often due to jobs or sports that involve throwing objects or lifting weights.
- Elbow bursitis: Caused by inflammation of the olecranon bursa due to trauma, overload, and sometimes infections.
- Hip bursitis:
- Trochanteric bursitis: Affects the outer area of the hip, at the top of the femur. Obesity, prolonged standing, running, cycling, or climbing stairs are some of its causes.
- Ischial bursitis: Occurs in the front of the hip, near the groin. It may be triggered by a joint imbalance or by participating in impact sports such as tennis, basketball, CrossFit, or running.
- Knee bursitis:
- Prepatellar bursitis: Affects the upper part of the patella, which lies just beneath the skin. It usually occurs in people who kneel frequently or run on uneven surfaces.
- Infrapatellar bursitis: Involves the inflammation of one of the bursae in the patellar tendon (superficial or deep). Impact sports and those that require continuous knee movement are the main causes.
- Goosefoot or anserine bursitis: Affects the bursa inside the joint. It can result from obesity, injury to the internal lateral ligament, running, or practicing sports that require constant lateral movement, such as soccer or tennis.
- Ankle bursitis: Usually develops due to wearing poorly fitting shoes, sports practiced on uneven terrain, prolonged walking, or running.
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis: Affects the back of the heel in people who run, walk, or jump excessively.
Risk Factors
The factors that increase the risk of developing bursitis include:
- Advanced age.
- Professions that involve repetitive joint movements or maintaining a position that puts pressure on a synovial bursa.
- Sports that place stress on the joints.
- Certain diseases such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, gout, or obesity.
Complications
Bursitis usually does not lead to complications. However, in cases where the synovial fluid contains bacteria (septic bursitis), it can result in infections of the joint or bones (osteomyelitis).
Prevention
Some tips to prevent bursitis include:
- Avoid lifting heavy loads.
- Use knee pads to minimize damage when kneeling for extended periods.
- Take breaks periodically if performing repetitive tasks.
- Lift weight with an ergonomic posture.
- Regularly practice physical exercise to strengthen muscles.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Warm up and stretch to enhance joint protection.
Which doctor treats bursitis?
Rheumatologists are specialists who diagnose and treat bursitis, though it can also be treated by orthopedic surgeons.
Diagnosis
The patient history and physical examination are usually sufficient to determine the presence of bursitis. In cases where other conditions need to be ruled out or if the diagnosis is complicated, the following tests may be performed:
- Imaging tests: X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound provide a detailed view of the joint and the surrounding tissues.
- Blood tests: Help determine the origin of the inflammation.
Treatment
In most cases, conservative treatment is enough for bursitis to resolve:
- Resting the joint.
- Applying ice to reduce inflammation.
- Pain relievers to alleviate the pain.
When symptoms do not resolve, other approaches may be used:
- Physiotherapy: Strengthens muscles and reduces pain.
- Infiltrations: Injections of anti-inflammatory medications (usually corticosteroids) help reduce pain and swelling, as well as promote faster recovery.
- Antibiotics: In cases where there is an infection.
- Surgery: It may be necessary to drain the synovial fluid or to completely remove the bursa.
