Bursitis - Causes, Symptoms

Every movement you make requires a muscle tendon to move over a bone. This would cause immeasurable friction and pain if not for tiny, fluid filled sacks called bursa. Bursa are scattered all over the body and are likened to small sandwich baggies filled with an oily fluid, devoid of any air. Placed between to surfaces rubbing together, the bursa facilitates the movement into slick, easy motions. Bursitis is the swelling and inflammation of the bursa.

Bursitis is sometimes caused by malposition of the joint. Corrective adjustments are beneficial, especially in chronic cases, In acute cases-specifically those caused by repetitive motions and the "overuse syndrome" typically seen in athletes-specific chiropractic adjustment (SCA) can be extremely effective. Chiropractic care may also include physical therapy, such as ultrasound and electromuscle stimulation. A chiropractor may recommend specific exercises to prevent bursitis in the shoulder from progressing to frozen shoulder syndrome, which sometimes happens in serious cases.

Cause

Bursitis of the shoulder is caused by recurring overhead activities or by placing to much strain on the shoulders. It may also be caused by a previous acute injury. Studies also show the condition may crop up on its own or coupled with shoulder tendinitis.

Overhead actions may trigger the compression of both the tendons and the bursa located just below the acromion (the edge of the shoulder blade). This compression causes inflammation of either the tendons or the bursa sac. As for the acromion, when this bone structure scuffs the surface of the rotator cuff, it gives rise to shoulder impingement syndrome, which is another probable cause of irritation leading to bursitis.

Symptoms

Imagine a carpet layer on his hands and knees all day, every day. He puts constant pressure in his knees and wrists. Eventually this will cause pain in the joints around his knees and wrists. Or think of a painter. Someone who constantly has her arm raised above her head, over and over all day, will begin to experience pain in the neck and shoulder. The most common symptoms of bursitis are joint pain and stiffness in the areas that you move most. The pain is most severe during the activity that engages the affected muscles most. The pain will linger as a sore ache even after the activity.

Like many shoulder injuries, the symptoms of bursitis include pain, swelling and restricted range of movements. In addition to these three, there have been cases where redness appears in the skin over the affected area. It is also worth mentioning that the signs pointing to shoulder tendinitis and bursitis are similar, though the latter is more likely to be tied in with inflammation.