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The people most commonly affected by bursitis are athletes, like tennis players and runners, who put a lot of repeated strain on their joints. However, this inflammatory condition is not a condition reserved for those playing sports, and can afflict many different types of people, including manual laborers, older adults and obese people. It’s something worth knowing how to handle if it affects, or could affect you.
What Is Bursitis?
Bursitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion joints, causing significant pain, swelling and restricted movement. It occurs when bursae become inflamed due to repetitive movements, prolonged pressure, or trauma. Commonly affected areas include the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees.
Symptoms range from localized pain and swelling to reduced joint mobility and stiffness. Without proper intervention, bursitis can become chronic, impacting daily activities and your quality of life.
While rest and medication may alleviate symptoms temporarily, physical therapy for bursitis offers a long-term solution by addressing the root cause, restoring mobility and preventing future flare-ups.
Why Choose Physical Therapy for Bursitis?
Physical therapy offers a targeted, evidence-based approach to managing bursitis by reducing pain, improving mobility, and strengthening surrounding muscles to prevent recurrence. A personalized treatment plan developed by a physiotherapist can accelerate recovery while minimizing the need for invasive procedures by tackling the root causes rather than covering up symptoms with only temporary relief.
An important benefit of a physical therapy plan for bursitis is that it is comprehensive and holistic, addressing multiple issues through a range of different methods. Here are some issues that a holistic plan can address:
1. Pain Relief and Inflammation Reduction
The first step in bursitis treatment is managing pain and reducing inflammation. This involves a combination of targeted therapies designed to alleviate discomfort and promote healing.
Manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue mobilization, deep tissue massage, and myofascial release relieve muscle tension, break up adhesions, and reduce mechanical stress on inflamed bursae.
Advanced modalities like INDIBA® Activ, Shockwave Therapy, and EMTT enhance treatment effectiveness, offering pain relief and aiding natural healing. INDIBA® Activ stimulates cellular repair by boosting tissue metabolism and accelerating collagen production, aiding long-term recovery. Shockwave Therapy generates acoustic waves that increase blood flow, break down scar tissue, and stimulate the body’s natural healing response. EMTT uses electromagnetic pulses to reduce chronic inflammation, improve tissue oxygenation, and promote faster recovery. Each of these can help with bursitis, as part of a holistic strategy for intervention.
2. Restoring Joint Mobility
Bursitis often restricts joint movement, limiting your range of motion. A physiotherapist can offer stretching routines that target stiff muscles and connective tissues around the affected joint, helping to ease tightness and restore natural movement.
3. Strengthening Surrounding Muscles
Weak muscles can exacerbate joint stress, leading to recurrent bursitis. Strengthening exercises are important in long-term recovery as they enhance muscular support and reduce joint pressure. Resistance training involving resistance bands, weights, or bodyweight exercises builds strength in the muscles surrounding the affected joint.
First, your physiotherapist may monitor you while you do these rehabilitation exercises, but they may also offer you functional movement exercises to do on your own. Functional movement training focuses on real-life activities like squatting, reaching, or lifting, helping to restore everyday functionality while improving stability and reducing the risk of future injury.
4. Correcting Posture and Body Mechanics
Poor posture and improper movement patterns can worsen bursitis, placing unnecessary stress on affected joints. Your physiotherapist will assess posture by evaluating body alignment during various movements to identify imbalances or compensatory patterns. Through movement re-education, they will provide feedback and prescribe corrective exercises aimed at optimizing movement mechanics, reducing joint strain, and preventing further irritation or injury.
Prevention Strategies for Long-Term Relief
Incorporating preventive measures into daily life can go a long way towards preventing bursitis and maintaining good joint health. Making workplace or home adjustments can minimize prolonged joint pressure while maintaining a well-balanced fitness routine that includes strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercises to support overall joint health. Additionally, being mindful of your body’s signals and avoiding repetitive activities or extended sitting periods can help reduce the risk of bursitis flare-ups.
Specialized Physical Therapy for Bursitis at HelloPhysio
HelloPhysio offers customized bursitis physical therapy programs that provide precise, evidence-driven care for lasting relief. Our experienced physiotherapists leverage cutting-edge technologies tailored to each patient’s unique needs, such as INDIBA® Activ, Shockwave Therapy, or EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction therapy).
Each treatment plan is designed based on an in-depth assessment of the patient’s condition, ensuring a comprehensive and personalized approach for optimal healing and long-term joint health.
Bursitis doesn’t have to limit your daily activities or affect your quality of life. With personalized physical therapy for bursitis, you can reduce pain, regain mobility, and prevent future occurrences. Contact HelloPhysio today to schedule a consultation.
