Knee bursitis is inflammation of a small fluid-filled sac (bursa) near and around the knee joint. Bursae help to reduce friction and cushion pressure points between your bones, tendons, muscles and skin near your joints.
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Symptoms of knee bursitis
Knee bursitis symptoms vary, depending on which bursa is affected and what’s causing the inflammation. Quite often, the affected knee may feel warm, tender and swollen. If you put pressure on the area, you often feel pain. The affected part can also be irritating and painful when you move or even throb at rest.
Bursitis is often a GP diagnosed condition. Bursitis can be secondary to osteoarthritis, gout or an inflammatory disease. Overuse or increased workload or activity and quite often a knock to the knee can bring on bursitis.
Bursitis the risk factors
Knee bursitis risk factors may be:
- Prolonged kneeling. People who work on their knees for long periods — plumbers, gardeners and carpet fitters are at increased risk due to day to day irritation and lack of rest.
- Participation in sports. Sports that results in direct blows/ knocks or frequent falls onto the knee. Activities such as judo, football and rugby can increase your risk of knee bursitis and pain.
- Carrying excess weight and osteoarthritis. Bursitis often occurs in overweight men and women with osteoarthritis. Being overweight stresses knees, low back and muscles.
Avoiding knee bursitis
How to prevent knee bursitis?
- Wear kneepads. If you are working on your knees all day or participating in contact sports, you may aggravate the knee. Maybe use padding to protect your knees from bursitis.
- Have a break? On your knees for long periods? Have a break, stretch your legs and rest ice/ your knees. Topical anti-inflammatory rubs can help.
- Avoid repetitive squatting. Repetitive bending of your knees increases load and will inflame the bursae around knee joints.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Not always easy to do. Weight loss clubs like Slimmers world can help. Losing a few pounds can help take the pressure off your knee and spinal joints.
Treatment options
Often once aggravating factors are reduced or removed. Bursitis symptoms tend to settle quickly. Bursitis does respond very well to:
- Physiotherapy- Will aim to reduce the inflammation caused by bursitis and strengthen the knee with specific exercises. Ultrasound and laser can also help.
- Acupuncture – Endorphins produced by the Acupuncture reduce inflammation and swelling.
- Osteopathy- works well to improve knee function through massage and standard mobilising techniques.
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