What is shoulder bursitis?
Shoulder bursitis is inflammation to the bursa in the shoulder structure. A bursa is a small smooth sac of fluid that provides cushioning and aims to reduce friction between bones and soft tissue. Shoulder bursitis can be caused by excessive load to the shoulder. This can involve heavy lifting or trauma to the shoulder. However, bursitis can also occur in non-traumatic circumstances that may include work related repetitive shoulder tasks. There are many muscles that wrap around the shoulder joint to provide stability during shoulder movements. These shoulder muscles are referred to as the rotator cuff muscles. When one of these rotator cuffs muscles do not function efficiently then it can lead to inflammation to the bursa. Shoulder bursitis can be diagnosed using medical imaging that include either ultrasound or MRI.
Signs and symptoms:
- Sharp pinching sensation during overhead movement
- Unable to reach behind the back
- Pain when sleeping on the affected shoulder
- Limited range of motion due to pain when the shoulder moves upwards and sideways
- Pain that spreads down to the arm or wrist
- Difficulties in overhead movement e.g. washing hair, picking up objects on a high shelf
Treatment:
Did you know that shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal issue seen by General Practitioners? The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the human body. Think about how you’re able to move your shoulders in all sorts of directions to grab a high object off the pantry, do the laundry or throw a ball. All this freedom of movement leads to a high chance of placing the shoulder in an uncomfortable position and irritating the structures around it.
Medication that includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) can often help with decreasing shoulder pain. However, this treatment only masks the pain and does not solve the problem. A physiotherapist will be able to identify the cause of the shoulder pain. Although load is the cause of for shoulder bursitis, physiotherapy rehabilitation is about finding the optimal load so we can elicit beneficial adaptive changes to the injured tissue. It is important to note that subacromial bursitis is often the secondary cause of pain. The primary cause could be a rotator cuff tendon dysfunction. This impaired function could irritate the structures around it which can lead to an inflammation of the bursa. Our physiotherapist will be able to perform a thorough assessment to identify the injured muscles then guide you through the appropriate rehabilitation exercises to make a recovery. If you’re experiencing shoulder problems, we are here to help! Contact us today to booking an appointment with one of our friendly physiotherapists. We also have an Instagram page where you can stay updated on the latest physiotherapy exercises.