Bursitis - housemaid's knee
Bursitis is inflammation and swelling of a bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac which forms under the skin, usually over the joints, andacts as a cushion between the tendons and bones.
The main symptoms of bursitis are pain, swelling and tenderness in the affected area.
Any bursa can become inflamed, butbursitis most commonly occurs in the:
Other areas affected can include the ankle, foot and Achilles tendon (the large tendon that attaches the heel bone to the calf muscle).
A bursa can become inflamed through injury or repetitive movement.
Your risk of developing bursitis is increased if you regularly take part in physical activities that involve a lot of repetitive movement, for example running (bursitis in the ankle) or playing darts (bursitis in the elbow).
People who spend a lot of time kneeling, such as carpet fitters and gardeners, also have an increased risk of developing bursitis in their knee.
Less commonly, bursitis candevelop as a result of an infection or as a complication of certain conditions, such as Gout or rheumatoid arthritis .
Bursitis is where a bursa becomes swollen and inflamed. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms under the skin, usually over the joints and between tendons and bones.
Bursitis causes pain, inflammation and tenderness in the affected body part.
Bursitis can be caused by an injury, an infection, or it can be the result of a pre-existing health condition that causes the bursa to become inflamed.
Your GP will usually be able to make a confident diagnosis of bursitis by carrying out a physical examination of the affected body part.
Most cases of bursitis can be successfully treated using a combination of self-care techniques and over-the-counter painkillers.
There are a number of commonsense precautions you can take to prevent getting bursitis.