Treatment And Prevention Of Bursitis

Treatment And Prevention Of Bursitis: Bursitis is swelling or irritation of a bursa sac. A body has more than 140 bursae (bur-SEE). Each one is like a miniature water balloon with only a few drops of fluid in it that eases rubbing and friction between tissues like bones, muscles, tendons, and skin. If a bursa becomes irritated and inflamed, it is called bursitis.

Bursitis is a painful condition that affects the bursae that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints.

The most common locations for bursitis are in the shoulder, elbow, and hip. But you can also have bursitis by your knee, heel, and the base of your big toe.

Bursitis is common in adults, especially after age 40.

It’s usually caused by repeated pressure on an area or by using a joint too much. High-risk activities include gardening, raking, carpentry, shoveling, painting, scrubbing, tennis, golf, skiing, and throwing. You can also get bursitis by sitting or standing the wrong way for a long time at work or home, or by not stretching enough before you exercise. Sudden injury can sometimes cause bursitis.

An infection, especially with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, can sometimes cause bursitis.

As you age, your tendons aren’t able to handle stress as well. They’re less elastic and easier to tear.

Treatment typically involves resting the affected joint and protecting it from further trauma. In most cases, bursitis pain goes away within few weeks with proper treatment, but recurrent flare-ups of bursitis are common.

What Are the Symptoms of Bursitis?

Pain is the most common symptom of bursitis. It might build up slowly or be sudden and severe, especially if you have calcium deposits in the area. You’ll probably feel it when you stretch or extend the joint, and you may have limited range of motion even without pain.

If you have bursitis, the affected joint might:

• Feel achy or stiff
• Hurt more when you move it or press on it
• Look swollen and red

Call your doctor if you have:

• Fever (over 102 F)
• General illness or more than one area that hurts
• Pain that lasts longer than 2 weeks
• Disabling joint pain
• Sudden inability to move a joint
• Excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash in the affected area
• Sharp or shooting pain, especially when you exercise or exert yourself

These could be signs of an infection or another problem that needs medical care right away.

Tips to Prevent Bursitis?

You can’t always prevent bursitis, but some steps can lower your risk.

• Use cushions or pads when you’re resting a joint on a hard surface, like if you’re kneeling or sitting.
• If you play sports, mix things up so you don’t make the same motions all the time.
• Warm up and stretch before you play, and always use proper form.
• Start slowly and easily when you’re trying a new exercise or sport. As you build strength, you can use more force and do the motion more often.
• Don’t sit still for a long time.
• Take breaks often when you’re making the same motions over and over again.
• Use good posture all day.
• Hip bursitis can come from having one leg longer than the other. An orthotic shoe insert can help.
• Keep a healthy body weight.
• If something hurts, stop doing it and check with your doctor.

Treating Bursitis

Take these steps to treat bursitis:

• Avoid activities that make it worse.
• Rest and raise the affected area.
• Use crutches or a cane if needed.
• Put a brace, band, or splint on the joint.
• Ice the area.
• Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium.

Physical therapy. We at Effective Physiotherapy & Fitness Clinic can through our Body Servicing Therapy, help you strengthen muscles and give you more range of motion in the joint.

You can request to see a Physiotherapist here by calling +234 811 885 6060 or +234 909 860 4470.