A bursa is a filmy-colored sac that protects and cushions your joints. Bursitis means inflammation of one of your bursa sacs. The inflammation may result from arthritis in the joint or injury or infection of a bursa. Bursitis produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of nearby joints.
You can get bursitis in your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, heels and big toe. Injuries, overuse and repetitive stress are common causes of bursitis. Certain diseases, such as arthritis and gout, might also cause it. It sometimes occurs with tendinitis.
You can usually treat bursitis with rest, ice, and medicines to ease pain and reduce swelling. Other treatments include ultrasound, physical therapy, steroid injections and, in rare cases, surgery. Stretching before you exercise, strengthening your muscles and resting when you do repetitive tasks might help prevent bursitis.
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Questions and Answers about Bursitis and Tendinitis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bursitis/default.asp
- Bursitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bursitis/DS00032/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Tendonitis/Bursitis(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/tendonitis.asp?aud=pat
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Glossary of Orthopaedic Diagnostic Tests(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00272
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00492
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Ultrasound - Musculoskeletal(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=musculous
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=musculous
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Joint and Soft Tissue Injections(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/physical/injuries/774.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/physical/injuries/774.printerview.html
- Elbow (Olecranon) Bursitis(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00028
- Goosefoot (Pes Anserine) Bursitis of the Knee(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00335
- Hip Bursitis(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00409
- Impingement of the Shoulder(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00032
- Kneecap (Prepatellar) Bursitis(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00338
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Questions and Answers about Shoulder Problems(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Shoulder_Problems/default.asp
- Article: Hip bursitis. Exercise the pain away. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18688980&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Factor structure of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18637165&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Risk factors for idiopathic frozen shoulder. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18605360&tool=MedlinePlus
- Bursitis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=bursitis[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
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Arthritis Foundation - http://www.arthritis.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.arthritis.org/espanol/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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Bursitis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/bursitis.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/bursitis_esp.html
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/elbowinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Hip Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hipinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Knee Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kneeinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Tendinitis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tendinitis.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Bursitis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/