What Is Bursitis?
Bursitis is swelling in one of your bursa.
What is a bursa?
A bursa is the flat sac between your bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons that helps keep them from rubbing against each other.
Tissue that lines the bursae produces fluid to lubricate these structures. This reduces friction and helps your bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons move smoothly.
Bursitis occurs when the bursa lining becomes thick and produces too much fluid. This causes swelling and pain.
Types of bursitis
Bursitis happens most often in the:
- Achilles tendon
- Elbow
- Hip
- Knee
- Shoulder
Bursitis causes and risk factors
The following risk factors can cause bursitis:
- Repetitive motion
- Sudden injury
- Overuse during certain activities — such as raking, carpentry, shoveling, painting, and climbing stairs
- Infections
- Past surgery
- Reactions to some drugs
- Age (most common in people older than 40)
Other health issues that may increase your risk of bursitis include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Gout
- Thyroid conditions
- Spinal problems — such as scoliosis, differences in leg length, and bone spurs
- Calcium deposits
Learn more about bursitis
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