Bursitis and tendinitis are both common conditions that cause swelling/inflammation around muscles and bones. When this soft tissue swelling is left unmanaged, these tissues harden (fibrose) and irritate the surrounding tissue mimicking nerve pain.
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving body parts such as muscles, tendons, or skin. Bursae are found throughout the body. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes swollen.
A tendon is a flexible band of tissue that connects muscles to bones. Tendons can be small, like those found in the hand or ankle, or large, like the Achilles tendon in the heel. Tendons help create movement by allowing muscles to generate the movement of bones in certain directions. Tendinitis is the severe swelling of a tendon.
People get bursitis by overusing a compromised joint. This can be due to a malposition of the joint space or an arthritic condition minimizing the joint space irritating the bursa sac. Bursitis can also be caused by direct trauma. Kneeling or leaning on joints on a hard surface for a long time can initiate bursitis. Tendinitis usually occurs after repeated injury or repetitive motion aggravating tendons associated with the movement of a joint. Tendons become less flexible with age and become more susceptible to damage.
Repeating the same types of movements every day or putting repetitive stresses on joints increases the risk for both bursitis and tendonitis. People like carpenters, gardeners, musicians, and athletes often develop these conditions due to the repetitive nature of their profession/hobbies.
Common Sites of injury:
- Elbow (tennis/golfer’s elbow)
- Wrist (possible carpal tunnel symptoms)
- Knee (Jumper’s knee)
- Shoulder (bursitis/biceps tendonitis)
- Heel/Foot (Plantar fasciitis/Achilles tendonitis)
- Hip (snapping hip syndrome)
Chiropractic care is very effective/efficient in the treatment of bursitis and tendonitis of joints throughout the body. The doctor will evaluate the extent of inflammation in the joint and decide whether a manipulation and/or therapeutic modalities will be most beneficial for the patient’s condition. The chiropractic manipulation will be utilized to restore motion in the fixated joint due to the swelling. Swelling will also be reduced by using heat/ice therapy in combination with electrical stimulation and ultrasound if necessary. Therapeutic taping may be used in order to retrain proper joint position and further reduce edema/swelling and promote proper vascular supply to the injured area.
If there are further concerns or questions regarding these inflammatory conditions, please contact the office at 732-920-8188 or email dryanchus@brickfamilychiropractic.com.
