Bursitis
Bursitis is the painful inflammation or irritation of the bursa. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion areas of friction between tendon and bone or skin. The bursa reduce friction between moving parts of the body eg in the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. A bursa tends to be at points where muscles and tendons glide over bones. Without the bursa movements would be painful. Bursae are lined with special cells called synovial cells, which secrete a fluid rich in collagen and proteins. This synovial fluid acts as a lubricant when parts of the body move. When this fluid becomes infected by bacteria or irritated because of too much movement, the painful condition known as bursitis results.
There are more than 150 bursae in the body. Bursitis usually occurs under the shoulder muscles, at the elbows (called epitrochlear bursitis or tennis elbow), the hip sockets (called trochanteric bursitis), heel bones (called retrocalcaneal bursitis) or the kneecaps (called infrapatellar bursitis, or housemaid's knee). It can also occur in the buttocks (called ischiogluteal bursitis) or the thigh (called trochanteric bursitis). It occurs most frequently in areas that are exposed to overuse or repetitive stress, and you can even have bursitis in the base of the big toe.
Bursitis can be acute (a sudden, sharp pain following an injury) or chronic (a recurrent inflammation in the same area). When a joint is overused or when it stays under pressure or tension for extended periods of time, a nearby bursa can become inflamed. The bursa fulls with excess fluid, causing pressure on the surrounding tissue and resulting in bursitis.
Specific factors causing bursitis:
- Overuse or injury to the joint areas
- Incorrect posture at work or rest, or poor conditioning before exercise or playing sport
- An abnormal or poorly positioned joint or bone (such as leg length differences or arthritis in a particular joint)
- It can occur in association with other diseases or conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tuberculosis or psoriatic arthritis
- Staphylococcal or other (bacterial) infection.
Symptoms of bursitis may include pain that increases with movement of the joint, tenderness of the joint, limited movement in the affected areas, or swelling and redness in the affected areas. Bursitis pain usually goes away within a week or so with proper treatment, but recurrent flare-ups are common and can be frustrating.
People can protect themselves from bursitis by:
- Avoiding overuse of joints in sport or heavy labour
- Doing appropriate warm-up and cool-down exercises
- Strengthening the muscles
- Keeping in good shape
- Taking breaks when doing physical labour or exercise
- Cushioning the joints and not leaning on elbows, kneeling or sitting on hard surfaces for long periods of time.
The anti-inflammatory effects of glyconutrients are extremely beneficial to people suffering bursitis. Glyconutrients support the body to heal, repair, protect, regulate, and cleanse our bodies. For people suffering from bursitis, glyconutrients will support the body in its healing function.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this medical condition section is strictly educational and not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders, consult your health care professional.
Copyright 2005 Glyconutrients Reference - Last Updated May 2005
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