What is bursitis?
Around your Shoulder you have a number of small fluid filled sacs called bursae. Their role is primarily to act as cushions, reducing friction between bony surfaces and the tendons and ligaments that pass over them. There are three main Bursae present in the shoulder that are at most risk of injury. They are called the Subacromial bursa, Subcoracoid Bursa and Subdeltoid Bursa. When one of these bursae is inflamed, usually through over use wear and tear, it is called Bursitis. If left untreated if can cause further damage to the cartilage and bone in the shoulder causing pain if moved. This kind of chronic shoulder pain from Bursitis is often referred to as frozen shoulder .
What causes bursitis?
There are several causes for Shoulder bursitis. Most often it occurs as a result of repetitive or prolonged activities that stress the various shoulder bursae present.
Above: Shoulder burtitis can cause the surrounding muscles of the rotator cuff to become inflammed and painful when moving.The most common cause of shoulder bursitis is impingement of the Subacromial bursa that rests between the head of the humerus and the Acromion ridge of the Scapula. This Bursa help reduce friction of the ligament and muscles in the shoulder as the arm moves. The bursa can however get trapped between the bony surfaces at the extremes of movement range, especially if the bursa is already inflamed. Repetitive over use of the shoulder increases the risk of this occurring.
Other causes include Rheumatoid Arthritis, certain types of Gout and infection from nearby wounds. All these triggers result in damage to the Bursa or surrounding tissues, which in turn sets off an inflammatory reaction in the bursa. This makes the Bursa painful if compressed, as often happens when the joint is moving.
What are the symptoms of bursitis?
The pain and discomfort associated with Bursitis can build gradually or come on suddenly, depending on the underlying cause. If you have bursitis you may be experiencing;
- Pain or ache in your shoulder.
- Pain that increases when arm is lifted above you head.
- Pain may refer down the arm to elbow or wrist.
- Swelling in and around the shoulder.
- Stiffness in the shoulder joint.
- Weakness in shoulder movement, particularly when lifting it
- A visible lump or bulge over the surface of your shoulder.
- Tenderness over the surface of your shoulder.
Your symptoms are likely to increase with activity.
How is bursitis Diagnosed?
A thorough assessment by a doctor or one of our experienced physiotherapists at Liverpool Physio can carry out a comprehensive assessment to identify if you have Shoulder bursitis.
Above: A patient suffering from pain and discomfort from the symptoms of shoulder burtitis.For more information on how Physiotherapy can help treat bursitis, or to book yourself an appointment, please contact us via email at office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or call us on 0151 558 0077 .
What would a physiotherapy assessment for bursitis involve?
If you book in for an appointment, the first session would be spent doing a comprehensive assessment before deciding on an appropriate treatment plan. Our physiotherapists at Liverpool Physio will divide this into two parts:
Subjective
A discussion between you and our physiotherapist to find out where in your shoulder the pain is, how long it has been there, what activities aggravate and ease your symptoms and how your injury is affecting you and your lifestyle.
Objective
An assessment of your pain, range of movement, muscle strength and a series of special tests to rule out other possible conditions.
What would physiotherapy treatment for bursitis involve?
At Liverpool Physio, we believe it is important to tailor all our patient’s treatment sessions to their interests and personal goals. Some of the treatments you may receive as part of your treatment are listed below:
- Ice treatment
- Heat treatment
- Light massage
- Compression bandaging
- Exercises for muscle strength and flexibility
- Advice on activity modification
- Stretches
- electrotherapy
How can I arrange a physiotherapy assessment for bursitis?
If you are experiencing pain, aching swelling or stiffness around your shoulder, and feel unable to continue your daily activity, you would benefit from an assessment at Liverpool Physio.
You can contact us directly to arrange an assessment and we can advise you if further treatment is recommended, or give you details on self-management for minor cases. To arrange an appointment please email office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or call 0151 558007I .
Summary
Bursitis is a condition which may cause a visible deformity over the site of your shoulder, and can cause pain and stiffness upon moving your arm. It can inhibit normal activity and playing sports, or may be severe enough to limit all arm mobility.
At Liverpool Physio we want to ensure you get the best treatment for your injury and we will use pain relief techniques, strengthening exercises and activity specific treatments to help you achieve the best possible recovery.
For more information on how Physiotherapy can help treat bursitis, or to book yourself an appointment, please contact us via email at office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or call us on 0151 558 0077 .
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