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Bursitis
Bursitisisinflammationofabursa.Bursaearesmallsacslocatedbetweentwoadjoining structures,usuallymuscles,tendonsandbones.Bursaedecreasefrictionandassistmovementof thetendonoverthebonysurface.Bursitisdoesnotcausejointdeformitybutcancausesignificant painandrestrictmovement. Bursaearelocatedoutsidethejointitself.Sincebothtendonsandbursaearelocatednearjoints, inflammationinthesesofttissuesmaybemistakenasarthritis.However,arthritisinvolves inflammationwithinjoints,whereasbursitisinvolvesinflammationoutsidethejoint. Bursitis is most common in the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee Thebodycontainsmanybursaebuttheshoulder,elbow,hip,kneeandheelarethemostcommon sitesofbursitis.Commoncausesincludeinjury,repeatedpressureandoveruse.Certaindisorders (suchasrheumatoidarthritis,goutanddiabetes)canalsocontributetothedevelopmentof bursitis. Theinflammationandswellingstrikesuddenlyoverafewhoursordays.Ifcausedbyinjury, bursitiswillresolveafterafewdaysorweeks.However,ifbursitisiscausedbyoveruse,the inflammationwillcontinueunlesstheparticularactivityormovementisstopped. Symptoms Thesymptomsofbursitismayinclude: Localisedpain Swelling Awarmfeelinginoraroundtheaffectedarea Increasedpainatnight Painworsenedbymovement Stiffness Reddeningoftheskin.

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Overuse injury Acommoncauseofbursitisisoveruseoftheparticularbodypart,especiallyifthatactivityis performedawkwardlyorwithconsiderablepressure.Examplesofwork-relatedactivitiesthatmay triggerbursitisincludeproductionlinepackingandtyping.Sportsthatcancausebursitisinclude jogging,tennisandsquash. Othersofttissueinjuriesthatcanbeclassifiedasoveruseinjuriesinclude: Carpal tunnel syndromeapainfuldisorderofthehandleadingtoincreasedpressure onthemainnervethatrunsthroughthewrist. Ganglionacystonatendonorjointcapsule. Tennis elbowinflammationoftendonssurroundingtheelbowjoint. Tenosynovitisinflammationofthetendons(thetoughconnectivetissuethatanchors muscletobone).

Diagnosis Bursitisisgenerallydetectedasatender,warmswellingatthesiteofabursa.Adiagnosismay alsoincludeinvestigatingandrulingoutanyotherpossiblecauses.Testsmayinclude: Physicalexamination Medicalhistory X-rays,toruleoutthepossibilityofanyothercondition Ultrasound

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Drawingofffluidfromthebursatoruleoutthepossibilityofinfection.

Treatment Treatmentwilldependonthecauseofthebursitis.Treatmentaimstoalleviatethesymptomsas muchaspossiblewhilethehealingprocesstakesplace.Optionsmayincludepain-killingdrugs, coldpacks,gentlemobilisingexercisesandrest.Anti-inflammatorymedicationsorinjectionsof corticosteroidsmaybeusedincasesofseverepain. Ifinfectionispresent,thereisusuallywarmth,redness,painandswellingintheaffectedareas. Treatmentwithanappropriateantibioticisnecessary.Ifthebursitiswastriggeredbyoveruse,itis importanttoavoidtheparticularactivity. Correctpostureandjointprotectionareusefulandbracesorsplintscandecreasethestressonthe areasandsupportgoodalignment.Afteranacuteattack,itisimportanttoconsiderhow recurrencescanbeprevented. Long-term management Yourdoctororphysiotherapistcanoffersuggestionsandstrategiestoreduceyourriskof developingbursitisagain.Generalsuggestionsinclude: Work-related bursitisuseergonomicallydesignedfurnitureandequipment,take frequentbreaks,dosimplestretchingexercisesfor10minuteseveryhourandkeep benchesatwaistheightsothattheshoulderscanrelax. Sport-related bursitiswarmupthoroughlybystretchingandgentlygoingthroughthe motionsofyourchosensport.Makesureyouusegoodformandregularlypractice strengtheningandconditioningexercisesthatcomplimentyourparticularsport.Cooldown thoroughlywithgentle,sustainedstretches.Makesurefootwearandequipmentare appropriateforyou.

Where to get help Yourdoctor Physiotherapist ArthritisVictoriaTel.(03)85318000 AustralianPhysiotherapyAssociationTel.(03)90920888

Things to remember

Bursitisisinflammationofabursa. Bursaearesmallsacsthatcontainfluidtolubricatemovingparts,suchasjoints,muscles andtendons. Commoncausesofbursitisincludeinjuryandoveruse. Treatmentincludesrest,icepacks,gentlemobilisationexercisesandavoidingthe particularactivitythatpromptedthecondition.

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ArthritisVictoriaincorporatingOsteoporosisVictoria

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