Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae, the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion your joints, and it most commonly affects the shoulder, hip, and knee. Effective treatment calms the irritation and addresses the movement problems behind it, often combining soft tissue work, corrective exercise, and, when appropriate, shockwave or laser therapy. At Indian Trail Chiropractic & Rehab, Dr. Gentile treats bursitis with the goal of lasting relief rather than temporary symptom control. A bursa that’s red, hot, and swollen, especially with a fever, needs prompt medical care first.
What Is Bursitis?
Your joints contain small fluid-filled sacs called bursae that reduce friction between bones, tendons, and muscles. When a bursa becomes inflamed, it’s called bursitis.
That inflammation causes pain, swelling, and restricted movement in the affected joint. Bursitis can develop from repetitive motion, prolonged pressure, injury, or underlying movement problems.
While bursitis can affect any joint with a bursa, it most commonly shows up in the shoulder, hip, and knee.
Common Types of Bursitis We Treat
Shoulder Bursitis
Subacromial bursitis is a common cause of shoulder pain. The bursa in the shoulder becomes inflamed, often alongside rotator cuff problems or impingement. It causes pain with overhead reaching, trouble sleeping on that side, and sometimes pain that spreads down the arm. For related rotator cuff problems, see our post on shockwave therapy for rotator cuff and calcific tendinitis.
Hip Bursitis
Trochanteric bursitis affects the outside of the hip, causing hip pain that worsens with walking, climbing stairs, or lying on that side. Research has shown that outer hip pain often involves the gluteal tendons as much as, or more than, the bursa itself, which is why strengthening the hip muscles is central to treatment. Learn more in our post on hip pain treatment.
Knee Bursitis
Several bursae around the knee can become inflamed. Prepatellar bursitis affects the front of the kneecap and often comes from kneeling, while pes anserine bursitis affects the inner knee. Both cause pain and swelling that limit knee function. Read more in our post on knee pain treatment.
Symptoms of Bursitis
Bursitis tends to show similar symptoms whichever joint is affected:
- Pain that worsens with movement or pressure
- Swelling around the affected joint
- Tenderness when you touch the area
- Stiffness and reduced range of motion
- Pain that often worsens at night or when lying on that side
Symptoms can develop gradually from repetitive stress or come on more suddenly after an injury or overuse.
When Bursitis Needs Medical Care First
A bursa can become infected, especially over the kneecap or the point of the elbow. See a doctor promptly if the area is red, hot, and swollen, if you have a fever or feel unwell, or if there’s a cut or scrape over the swollen area. Infected bursitis needs medical treatment, not shockwave or laser therapy. Also get checked for swelling after a significant fall or injury, or sudden severe pain with loss of motion.
What Causes Bursitis?
Repetitive Motion
Repeated movements that stress a joint can irritate the bursa over time, which is common in athletes and people whose work involves repetitive motions.
Movement and Mechanical Problems
This is the factor many treatments miss. Poor movement mechanics, muscle imbalances, and stiff joints place extra stress on the bursa, and until they’re addressed, bursitis tends to return.
Prolonged Pressure
Sustained pressure on a joint, like kneeling for long periods or leaning on your elbows, can inflame the bursa.
Injury
Direct trauma to a joint can trigger bursitis.
Why Bursitis Keeps Coming Back
Many people treat bursitis with rest and anti-inflammatories. The inflammation calms down, but the bursitis returns because the underlying cause was never addressed.
Bursitis is often a sign of a deeper movement problem. If poor mechanics or muscle imbalances keep stressing the bursa, calming the inflammation only brings temporary relief. Lasting results come from addressing both.
How We Treat Bursitis
At Indian Trail Chiropractic, we combine complementary therapies, and the right mix depends on your situation, which is why we start with a thorough evaluation.
Corrective Exercise
Addressing the muscle imbalances and movement problems behind bursitis is what helps keep it from returning. Our corrective exercise programs rebuild strength and control around the affected joint, which is especially important for outer hip pain.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Tight muscles around the affected joint add to bursitis. Active Release Technique releases that tension and reduces stress on the bursa.
Joint Adjustments
When joint stiffness contributes to bursitis, extremity adjustments help restore better mechanics. As a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner, I treat the shoulder, hip, and knee joints directly.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy may help chronic bursitis and related tendon problems that haven’t responded to other care, and it has research support for outer hip pain in particular. It’s designed to stimulate healing and improve blood flow to the area.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy may help calm inflammation and ease pain without medication while the tissue recovers.
Why a Combined Approach Works Best
Bursitis tends to respond best when it’s addressed from more than one angle. Exercise and hands-on care address the mechanical factors, while shockwave or laser may help calm stubborn irritation. Together, they aim for lasting relief rather than just quieter symptoms, and the evaluation determines the right combination for you.
Bursitis vs. Other Joint Conditions
Bursitis shares symptoms with other joint problems, which is why an accurate diagnosis matters. Tendinitis, arthritis, and rotator cuff problems can all cause similar pain, and sometimes several occur together. A thorough evaluation identifies what’s causing your pain so treatment targets the actual problem.
Preventing Bursitis From Returning
- Correct the movement problems that caused it, which is the most important step.
- Keep the muscles around the joint strong and moving well.
- Modify activities that contributed, like long periods of kneeling or repetitive overhead work.
- Address posture and ergonomics when they play a role.
We give you specific guidance based on what caused your bursitis in the first place.
When to Seek Treatment for Bursitis
Don’t wait for bursitis to become severe, since earlier treatment tends to work better and helps keep it from becoming chronic. Consider an evaluation if you have joint pain that worsens with movement, swelling around a joint, pain that interferes with sleep or daily activities, or joint pain that keeps coming back.
Why Choose Indian Trail Chiropractic for Bursitis
Resolving bursitis means addressing both the irritation and the underlying cause. My background in extremity care and biomechanics helps me identify why your bursitis developed and build a plan around it.
We combine therapies like shockwave and laser with hands-on treatment and corrective exercise, aiming for lasting relief rather than temporary symptom control. With more than 20 years of experience treating joint conditions, we help patients throughout Union County get past bursitis.
Get Lasting Relief From Bursitis
If shoulder, hip, or knee pain from bursitis is limiting your life, the right treatment can help. At Indian Trail Chiropractic & Rehab, we treat bursitis with a complete approach aimed at lasting relief.
Ready to address your bursitis? Call us at (704) 821-3222 or schedule your appointment online.