If you’ve ever had shoulder or hip ultrasound its probable you’ve been told its bursitis, you might be wondering, “What on earth is a bursa and why do I have one ?” Don’t worry; we’re going to break it down so it’s easy to understand!
What is a Bursa?
A bursa (that’s the singular form—bursae is the plural) is a small, fluid-filled sac found in various places in our bodies. Think of it like a tiny pillow that helps reduce friction between different parts. These pillows are important because they protect our muscles, tendons, and bones from getting hurt when we move around.
Where Are Bursae Found?
Bursae are located near joints—places where bones meet, like your knees, elbows, and shoulders. They’re usually found between bones and soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and skin. For example, there’s a bursa in your knee that helps cushion the movement when you bend or straighten your leg.
Did you know there are about 150 bursae in the human body? They might be small, but they play a big role in keeping us moving smoothly!
Why Are Bursae Important?
Imagine running around playing your favourite sport. With all that movement, your muscles and joints are working hard! Without bursae, all that movement would create a lot of friction, leading to pain and discomfort. Bursae help to keep everything smooth and easy. They allow for fluid motion, so we can play, jump, and run without worrying about our joints hurting.
How Do Bursae Work?
Bursae are filled with synovial fluid, which is a slippery liquid that acts like oil in a machine. This fluid allows the bursa to cushion and protect. When you move, the bursa helps absorb some of the impact. It’s like having a little shock absorber right there in your body!
What’s Bursitis ?
Sometimes, if a bursa gets irritated or inflamed, it can lead to a condition called bursitis. This can happen from repetitive motions or too much pressure on a joint. For example, if you’re constantly kneeling on hard ground, the bursa in your knees might become inflamed. When this happens, you might feel pain, swelling, or stiffness in the area.
Common Sites of Bursitis
The following are probably the most common types of bursitis that present in physiotherapy :
Shoulder bursitis
The subacromial bursa lies between the acromion and the rotator cuff. This bursa protrudes laterally from below the acromion when the arm is at rest and moves medially below the bone when the person lifts their arm away from the center of the body.
Elbow bursitis
There are 2 olecranon bursae, with the first bursa lying between the tricep tendons, the posterior elbow ligament, and the olecranon. In contrast, the second bursa lies more superficially between where the triceps attach to the olecranon and the skin. This often becomes inflamed due to direct blow or sometimes an infection.
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Hip bursitis
The trochanteric bursa extends superficially between the tensor fascia latae and the skin while also lying deeply between the tensor fasciae latae and the greater trochanter. Read more here
Ankle Bursitis
The retrocalcaneal bursa is at the back of the heel and lies deep into the Achilles tendon and above the calcaneus bone.
How Do We Treat Bursitis?
If someone has bursitis, the good news is that it can usually be treated quite effectively. It is also normally the case that the bursa is the result of a build up of various factors such as:
- posture , especially in hip bursitis
- lack of strength of the muscles around the joint
- altered movement patterns.
Physio is great at identifying why the bursa has got inflamed then sorting out short term solutions to reduce the pain and longer term solutions to reduce the risk of recurrence. The approach will involve the following:
- Rest / reduce the aggravating activity: Giving your body a break is important. If you’ve been overusing a joint, taking time off can help reduce inflammation. Hip bursitis often responds well to stopping cossing legs or changing standing posture
- Ice and or Anti-inflammatories: Applying ice to the affected area can help reduce swelling and pain. Just remember to wrap the ice in a cloth to protect your skin! Over-the-counter medications can help ease the pain and inflammation. But it’s always a good idea to check with a doctor before taking anything.
- Manual therapy : Can help reduce pain and restore movement. Can be a combination of joint mobilisation and soft tissue work.
- Exercise based rehab : To restore strength and mobility to the affected joint.
- Injections: In more severe cases, doctors might inject medication directly into the bursa to relieve inflammation. You can read more about injection therapy here
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Bursae might be tiny, but they’re mighty important for our movement and overall comfort. They keep our joints healthy and help us enjoy all the activities we love, from playing sports to just hanging out with friends. Next time you’re running around or playing your favourite game, remember to thank those little bursae for keeping things smooth!
If you have any questions or want to see a physiotherapist regarding bursitis related issues feel free to book in here
