One very common condition that makes movement difficult and painful is bursitis – swelling of the small fluid-filled pockets that cushion the joints. Most usually seen in the elbows, knees, shoulders, or hips, bursitis can not only be painful, it can also severely reduce range of motion, cause the joint to appear distorted, and create uncomfortable sensations such as feeling too warm. All of these symptoms can interfere with work, recreation, athletics, and day-to-day tasks, but physical therapy is considered an effective and minimally invasive way to speed up bursitis recovery and reduce the chance of recurrence.
At JAG Physical Therapy, the leading PT name throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, treating bursitis is one of our top specialties. We work to quickly reduce symptoms and help you take care of your joints over time using varied modalities combined to fit your unique lifestyle and needs. Book an appointment now to get started or see more below on how PT care can reverse the painful symptoms of bursitis.
What Is Bursitis and Why Does It Happen?
Our joints enable us to move through the use of complex yet elegant anatomical structures. The major joints of the limbs, hands, feet, and head are all called “synovial”, meaning they are lubricated by a specialized protein-based fluid. This synovial fluid is contained in sacs called bursae, and repetitive motion, physical trauma, or illness can cause them to become inflamed. This is what is referred to as bursitis.
While damage to joints over time from vigorous motion, as in exercise, sports, or certain job tasks, is the most common cause, other factors can lead to bursitis as well. These include accidents in which the joint was struck hard or yanked, chronic poor posture, and even underlying conditions such as certain forms of arthritis or autoimmune disorders. The joints of the limbs and extremities are usually affected, and because most joints have multiple bursae, the swelling may be seen above, below, or to the side of the main part of the joint.
What Are the Symptoms and Challenges of Living with Bursitis?
Bursitis usually presents itself as a visible, tender swelling around the affected joint – this recognizable symptom contributes to the other challenges posed by the condition. Pain within the joint as well as the surrounding area, tenderness to the touch, and stiffness that limits the mobility of the joint are often seen. Pain tends to worsen with motion, meaning bursitis can lead to frustrating slowdowns in daily life. Bursitis of the elbow, for example, can interfere with writing, cooking, and even driving, while hip bursitis may cause aches and hesitant movement when walking.
How Does Physical Therapy Speed Up Bursitis Recovery?
Physical therapy seeks to treat bursitis proactively, addressing symptoms like pain and joint immobility in the short term while educating patients on how to avoid the root causes such as overuse. For acute bursitis, managing pain is key, while those who suffer from chronic bursitis will want to reduce their odds of a flareup.
Manual therapy is important in cases of bursitis, using modalities such as heat therapy and mobilization to achieve immediate pain and inflammation relief. Exercises that may be used include stretching in multiple planes of motion to restore function and combat stiffness and strengthening for the surrounding muscle groups to provide support, thus bearing weight and force better and lessening the chance of recurrence. Depending on the parts affected and the cause of the bursitis, posture and movement training may also be relevant, helping the patient become conscious of the strain placed on their joints. For example, if a patient has olecranon bursitis caused by leaning on their elbows all day at work, the therapist would instruct them on how to comfortably shift their weight elsewhere.
What Can I Do at Home to Support My Bursitis Recovery?
Physical therapy in a clinic setting is well-suited to treat all forms of bursitis and make it less likely to occur again. However, even when you’re not at a PT appointment, there are many steps you can take to make healing from bursitis easier. The biggest of these is to rest the joint as much as possible while avoiding complete inactivity, which can lead to other issues. Your physical therapist will inform you on how often to use ice and/or hot compresses on your affected joint for pain and inflammation relief. They will also help you understand how to maintain proper posture during work or exercise so that you don’t put too much weight or strain on a single body part and risk recurrence. Finally, you should closely follow the home exercise program you’ve been recommended and increase your activity level when your therapist advises you to. Although bursitis is inconvenient, painful, and even quite disruptive to one’s daily routine, most people make a full recovery within several weeks as long as they are patient and consistent.
JAG Physical Therapy Helps You Heal and Prevent Recurrence
If you are bothered day-to-day by bursitis, the skilled and empathetic therapists at JAG PT are ready to help you recover. Our 160-plus convenient locations around the NY-NJ-PA region offer the latest and most effective in physical therapy care. All of our therapists have a great deal of experience in joint and soft tissue rehabilitation and will work with you to develop an individualized PT plan that works for your activity level and lifestyle needs. Schedule an appointment with JAG PT right now to begin recovering from your bursitis and get back to your daily routine pain-free.
