Bursitis
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Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursa, or small sacks of oil, in the body. The bursa rest at the points where internal functionaries, like muscles and tendons, slide across bone. In the bursa’s proper state, they create a smooth and almost frictionless surface over which to glide. With hundreds of them throughout the body they provide this surface for all human motion, making movement ideally painless. When Bursitis takes hold, however, those movements that rely on a specific sac become rough and painful. Movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa only causes it to become more inflamed, perpetuating the problem.
Bursitis is commonly caused by repetition of movement or excessive pressure. The elbow and the knee are the most common because they are rested upon more than many parts of the body with bursas and they also get the most repetitive use. Bursitis can also occur because of other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, which can inflame a bursa.
The other main cause of bursitis is traumatic injury, which can cause swelling of the bursa. The swelling itself causes irritation because the sac will no longer fit in the small area between the two objects and so the bone begins to pressure it and bursitis ensues.
External links
- MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000419.htm)
- About.com's General Bursitis Information (http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sportsmedicine/a/blbursitis.htm)