Bursitis is the irritation or inflammation of a bursa sac. These sacs are present all over the body and are filled with fluids. These fluids ease the friction and rubbing between the tissues like bones, tendons, muscles, and skin. Bursitis is commonly found around joints like the elbow, shoulder, knee, or hip. Adults over the age of forty usually suffer from bursitis. There are more than 150 bursae in the human body and they are lined with synovial cells, that produce lubricants to cut down friction between tissues to allow the joints to move with ease.
When you have bursitis, moving the joints can become painful. Visiting a rheumatology clinic in your locality will help you find out the type of bursitis that you are suffering from. You may search online “rheumatologist near me” to find the list of rheumatologists in your area.
Types Of Bursitis
Even though bursitis can occur in any part of the body where bursa sacs are located, there are some specific types of bursitis. These are discussed below.
Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis is also called trochanteric bursitis and is usually caused as a result of injury, arthritis, overuse, abnormalities in the spine, or surgery. It is commonly seen in women and elderly people.
Anterior Achilles Tendon Bursitis
Famed by the name Albert’s disease, Anterior Achilles tendon bursitis is mainly caused due to continuous use of shoes that have a rigid back. Here, the bursa in front of the Achilles tendon gets inflamed.
Posterior Achilles Tendon Bursitis
Haglund’s deformity is another name for this bursitis. This type of bursitis can be worsened by a style of walking in which the soft tissue of the heel is pressed to the back support of a shoe. Usually, this type of bursitis is seen in young women.
Knee Bursitis
This type of bursitis is popular by the name of Pes Anserine bursitis. This bursitis affects the Pes Anserine bursa and hence the name. This bursa is situated between the three tendons of the hamstring muscle and the shin bone. Knee bursitis is caused by exercising without proper stretching, being overweight, out turning of the lower leg, tight hamstring muscles, or arthritis.
Elbow Bursitis
The inflammation of the olecranon bursa leads to this type of bursitis. This bursa is situated between the bones and skin of the elbow. This bursitis is usually caused by the constant pressure on the elbow joints.
Although the types of bursitis mentioned above are observed commonly, their respective treatment plan depends on how serious the symptoms are.