Physical Therapy for Bursitis

Bursitis is a painful condition that affects the bursae sacs that provide a cushion for your joints. The bursae are vital in offering support to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones surrounding your joints. Sometimes these bursae can experience inflammation when they are subject to excessive use. Treatments for bursitis often include physical therapy, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). United Rehab Physical Therapy offers physica for bursitis and can give you the treatment you need. If you’re looking for a physical therapist near Shirley, United Rehab Physical Therapy can help you today.

What Causes Bursitis?

Bursitis is usually caused from repetitive, excessive movements that stress and irritate the bursae within the affected joint. If you have recently engaged in any of the following activities, you could be at risk for bursitis:

Persistent kneeling, which irritates the bursae in the knees.
Putting excessive weight on a joint such as the elbow.
Repeated lifting, throwing, or kicking.

Bursitis can negatively impact your day-to-day activities, ultimately lowering your quality of life. For a physical therapist in Shirley that provides treatment for this condition, United Rehab Physical Therapy will be able to help you.

What Are The Symptoms Associated With Bursitis?

When the bursae become inflamed, various painful and irritating symptoms can result. Some of the following are the result of irritated bursae:

Pain upon moving the joint
Redness at the affected location
Swelling
Stiffness
Dull ache

How Can Physical Therapy Treat Bursitis?

Depending on your specific needs, our physical therapist will determine a plan of action for your treatment. Typically heat and ice therapies are utilized for pain and swelling. Specific exercises may also be implemented to strengthen the muscles in order to prevent future injury. Our physical therapist can also teach you how to reduce stress on the joints.

Are There Any Risk Factors To Be Aware of?

There are certain factors that predispose you to bursitis, including some of the following:

Job functions
If your job requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting as well as repetitive movements, you are at an increased risk for irritating your bursae.
Age
As you get older, your risk for bursitis increases.
Being overweight
If you are overweight, you are at a higher risk for developing bursitis of the hips and knees.