What is a bursa inflammation?
An inflamed bursa is called a bursa inflammation. The medical term is bursitis. A bursa is a bag filled with moisture. It forms a kind of cushion between muscles, tendons and bones and protects the bone. Bursaries are located in places where friction and / or pressure occurs due to movements, especially on unprotected or protruding parts of the body. Bursaries ensure that your joints can move smoothly, without the tendons scraping over the bone joint. Bursa inflammation occurs mainly in and on the knee, elbow, shoulder and hip. Inflammation can occur very acutely or gradually. It hurts when you move the joint and the area is often red, swollen and feels warm.
Causes
Training overload Overload is often a cause of a bursa inflammation. Even if you have not moved (much) for a while, underloading can cause inflammation. For example, when training new, unnatural, movements that your body is no longer used to. It also occurs with a sudden, large increase in training intensity or size with more pressure on a bursa. Changes in training technique can also cause bursa inflammation.
Unlocking your hip flexors can be a big help to this pain area.
Recurring pressure or friction on the bursa
This is in most cases the cause of inflammation. For example, a bursa inflammation on the knee is more common in people who work a lot on their knees, such as pavers or gardeners.
People who rely heavily on their elbows, for example wheelchair users, often get a bursa inflammation at the elbow.
Higher age Older people have a greater risk of bursa inflammation. That is certainly the case if they also suffer from joint disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism or gout.
A fall or an accident
Infection Sometimes a bursa inflammation occurs because bacteria have entered the bursa through the skin. For example, after a wound due to a fall or a bite.
Acute or gradual
With this form, the bursa quickly fills itself with moisture. Sometimes bacteria get into the bursa, then you get a bacterial infection, this is also called an acute bursa inflammation.
Inflammation can also occur gradually. Especially athletes or people who have to repeat many of the same movements while working, such as painters and wallpaperers, are susceptible to bursa inflammation. Athletes who press too much on their joints when exercising on hard surfaces can also suffer. The same applies to athletes who exercise on shoes that have too little shock absorption.
Static load
Static load can also lead to ignition. If you put a static load on your body, you remain in the same position for too long, for example at the computer.
Chronic infection
If you put pressure on your joint for a long time, during exercise or because of a daily wrong posture at work, the pressure on the bursa increases slowly. Then you can develop a chronic bursa inflammation.
Symptoms
pain when moving the joint
sometimes the pain radiates
the joint moves harder
the bursa is swollen, feels warm and hurts when you press it
a sensitive lump is created by moisture accumulation
the complaints develop slowly
you sleep worse due to the joint pain
with an infection with bacteria, the symptoms develop quickly, the bursa is red and warm and you can get a fever
Continue training or take a rest?
To properly recover, it is good to give the inflamed joint a rest. Avoid stressful postures. After a rest period you can resume your training. You may need to adjust your training to prevent overburdening yourself. For example, a change in technology to reduce the pressure on the bursa. Make sure you unlock your hip flexors before starting. A lot of people over look this.
Alternative training
There are various other training forms that you do not need to use the affected joint. For example, it is possible to cycle with a bursa inflammation in the shoulder joint. This keeps your overall fitness level and allows you to pick up the original sport faster at the old level after recovery.
Cooling
Cooling can have an analgesic effect. Massage the painful area with an ice cube or hold a cold pack on it. Do this for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time. Place a cloth between the cold pack and the skin to prevent the skin from freezing.
Prevention
The following prevention tips can reduce the risk of developing bursa inflammation.
Protectors: Elbow pads or knee pads can help to reduce pressure.
Training: Good technology is important in preventing excessive pressure and stress on the bursa. Also ensure a good training structure. Gradually increase the intensity and scope of training. So, especially after an injury or illness, build up the training again very gradually to the old level and alternate different training forms.
Sports equipment: Provide well-protective sports equipment that is suitable for the sport and the weather.
Environment: Train as much as possible on a soft but level surface (forest, grass). If you have no physical complaints, it is advisable to vary the surface as much as possible during training. This variation ensures that muscles and tendons develop well and can better adapt to the circumstances. Avoid slippery surfaces.
Tips
Take a rest: avoid pressure on the bursa and give the joint with inflammation a rest
Adjust your training schedule when you start training again so that you don't get bothered again
Do not do exercises that (over) strain the joint
Fever, feeling sick or feeling flu? Take a rest and do not exercise
Do you have a fever? Then check your temperature and possibly take an aspirin or acetaminophen
You can continue training without raising the temperature; it is then wise to train more slowly and not too intensively because the body is cleaning up the inflammation and thereby consuming a lot of energy
If you have not exercised for a while, start slowly and do not force anything
Make sure that you do not sit in the same position behind the computer for too long
Bursa inflammation at elbow or knee? Do not lean too much on the elbows or knees!
Make sure you have good athletic shoes and do not train on hard surfaces
Go to the physiotherapist or sports doctor for treatment and advice
Another great tactic is to unlock your hip flexors.
Rest, rest, rest ...
A bursa inflammation usually heals itself by taking a rest. That takes a few weeks to months. If you continue to suffer from moisture, a doctor can suck out the fluid in the bursa cavity. If the doctor thinks you have a bacterial infection, he can have your blood tested. A doctor can inject an anti-inflammatory drug in the event of very severe pain and pain. If the inflammation is chronic, it is very rare to operate.