bursitis n : inflammation of a bursa; frequently in the shoulder

English

Noun

1. An inflammation of a bursa, most common in the shoulder, elbow or knee

Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursae, or small sacs of synovial fluid, in the body. Bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, like muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth and almost frictionless gliding surface. With hundreds of them throughout the body they provide this surface for all motion, making movement normally painless. When bursitis takes hold, however, movement that relies on the inflamed bursa becomes rough and painful. Movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa causes it to become more inflamed, perpetuating the problem.

Causes

Bursitis is commonly caused by repetition of movement or excessive pressure. Elbows and knees are the most commonly affected because they are rested upon more than many parts of the body with bursae and they also get the most repetitive use. Inflammation of bursae can also be caused by other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Scoliosis can also be a cause of bursitis of the shoulders although this is rare. Shoulder bursitis is more commonly due to overuse of the shoulder joint and muscles.

The other main cause of bursitis is traumatic injury, which can cause swelling of the bursae. The swelling itself causes irritation because the sac will no longer fit in the small area between the bone and the functionary. When the bone begins to increase pressure on the bursa, bursitis ensues.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary from an ache and stiffness in the local area of the joint, to a burning that surrounds the whole joint around the inflamed bursa. With this condition, the pain is usually worse during and after activity, and the bursa and surrounding joint area can become stiffer the following day.

Examples

The most common examples of this condition are

• Prepatellar bursitis, "housemaid's knee",
• Trochanteric bursitis giving hip pain,
• Olecranon bursitis characterised by pain and swelling in the elbow, and
• Subacromial bursitis, which gives shoulder pain.

References

External links

• American College of Rheumatology
• Bursitis information and treatment from NHS Direct
• General Bursitis Information at About.com
• Information from the Mayo Clinic
• Bursitis information and treatment options from Bursitis.ws