by Lorra Garrick

Created on: May 14, 2007   Last Updated: March 31, 2008

What is bursitis?

Bursa are the small sacs of fluid that help muscles slide easily over other muscles and bones. Bursitis is when the bursa become inflamed, as a result of either overuse during sports, workouts, or even tasks around the house, or a sudden, erratic motion against resistance, such as in a bench press. The pain often comes on within a few days of the offending activity. The pain of bursitis can feel like the pain of tendonitis. An orthopedic specialist can make the right diagnosis.

Risk factors for bursitis
"Any overuse activities that might cause tendonitis," says Michael A. Schwartz, MD, a medical specialist in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery at Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Greenwich, CT and NYC. "Also, any excessive leaning on certain body parts: most commonly on the knee or elbow."

Prolonged leaning motions are commonly seen in gardening (knees), and reading a newspaper (elbows on the table). Excessive elbow-leaning also occurs in some people who spend a lot of time at a computer.

What sports or types of exercises can cause bursitis?
Dr. Schwartz says that many can lead to bursitis, "especially those that involve repetitive motions, such as tennis, golf, throwing sports, etc."

Is bursitis curable? Or must the sufferer live with it permanently?
It's curable.

Can supplements help?
Dr. Schwartz says there is "no data on supplements or certain foods that can help this. It is usually treated with activity modification and anti-inflammatory medicine."

Home treatment
Avoid the activity that caused the problem. The pain may go away in a few days to a few weeks. But don't assume the problem is gone just because the pain is gone. Merely resuming activity after staying away from it, is not enough to regain pre-injury status. You must strengthen and stretch the muscles around the injured joint.
You may also need to change the way you perform a strength-training routine that caused the problem. For example, sometimes the entry and exit into a routine with dumbbells can add stress to the joints. Often, people quickly lower the weights and their arms just flop down with them, rather than a deliberate, controlled lowering. Sudden, abrupt movements can cause or prevent the healing of bursitis.
Another way of modifying the routine is to switch type of weights. For example, if using a barbell caused the injury, switch to dumbbells. If flat-bench dumbbell presses caused it, then use an incline bench, and lighten the weights accordingly.
Ice. When there

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