At Cynergy we use various treatments to help reduce the inflammation in the bursae. Because it is so common, let’s get into bursitis in this month’s blog.
What Is Bursitis?
Bursitis is the pain that results when bursae become inflamed. Bursitis is more common in joints we load the most. These are the shoulders, elbows, and hips. But bursitis can develop in any of the 150+ bursae. Repetitive motion often leads to bursitis.
What Are the Symptoms of Bursitis?
Bursitis often causes pain. It usually builds slowly, unless there are other issues in the joint, such as bone spurs. You’ll feel the pain when you extend the joint.
Your joint with bursitis may have these signs:
- Range of motion is limited
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Swelling
What Causes Bursitis?
Overuse of a joint or placing repeated pressure on a joint cause the bursae to become inflamed. These activities are often associated with bursitis: tennis, golf, skiing, painting, gardening, raking, carpentry, painting, carpet laying, shoveling, scrubbing, and throwing. You’ve probably heard of professional pitchers going on the IR due to bursitis in their throwing shoulder.
You can also develop bursitis by sitting or standing in poor positions for long periods or from not stretching and warming up properly before you exercise.
Improper mechanics, such as when a person’s legs aren’t the same length, can lead to the stress on the bursa and subsequent bursitis.
Treatment
Our physical therapists can help patients with bursitis with mobility exercises, strengthening exercises for weak muscles, and with measures to improve the patient’s biomechanics when moving. We also educate patients on protective measures for the bursae.
If you’re feeling the pain of bursitis, please give us a call at Cynergy. Make an appointment at Midtown West, (212) 974-7252; Chelsea, (212) 255-8080; Midtown East, (212) 980-2963; ADPT by Cynergy, (212) 292-7145; or Cobble Hill, (718) 795-2744.