WHAT IS IT?
A bursa is a flexible fluid-filled sac which serves
as a cushion between musculoskeletal structures, such as between bone and a muscle or a tendon, or between a tendon and skin.
A bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. The shoulder is the joint most frequently affected by a bursitis.
The joints of the elbow, knee, hip and the base of the big toe are among the other joints that may develop a bursitis.
The main symptoms of a bursitis are pain, redness and swelling in the region of the joint where the bursa lies. In addition, the pain of a bursitis is usually aggravated by moving the joint.
MAIN CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS:
- A trauma or direct blow on the bursa
- Continued pressure on the bursa itself (for example, kneeling for a long period of time can lead to a bursitis at the knee)
- Overuse of a joint
- An inflammatory arthritic condition
- An infection of the bursa
WHAT DO PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENTS CONSIST OF?
Firstly, physiotherapy treatments will aim to reduce the pain and inflammation present with the use of electrotherapy modalities (such as ultrasound, TENS or ICF current), ice and proper education regarding the activities that may worsen your condition and thus that should be avoided for the time being. Then, your therapist will use a wide array of manual therapy and muscle relaxation techniques, and will prescribe effective therapeutic exercises specific to the condition to correct any muscular or postural imbalances.
A bursitis which is not treated quickly can lead to chronic pain and can greatly limit the mobility of the joint, which will take more time to recover.
Therefore, please consult a Forcemedic physiotherapist as soon as possible for a quick recovery!
