Bursitis is common human ailment; it is characterized by an inflammation of the bursa. When bursa become inflamed, it loses its gliding capabilities and becomes more and more irritated when it is moved. A bursa or bursal sac, is a lined sac containing a small amount of fluid surrounded by a loose fibrous network. Normally there are 52 bursas in the human body, located at friction points; they act as cushions to decrease friction between two surfaces that move in different direction.

Bursas that are commonly affected: shoulders (subdeltoid), elbow (olecranon), hip (trochanteric), knee (prepatellar), and heel (plantar).

Causes:

• Repetitive movement example those people who bike for more than 1hour everyday may develop knee (prepatellar) bursitis.
• Prolong excessive pressure example if you always rest using your elbow
• Injuries like dislocation of bones during sports or accident
• Infection or various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or tuberculosis.

Symptoms: The symptoms of bursitis vary according to the location of the affected bursa and the severity of the inflammation. The common symptoms includes; pain, limitation of motion, tenderness, and disability

Prevention: Avoid pressure and injury to the joint by wearing a protective pad. Don't overuse your joints.

How to relieve symptoms of Bursitis:

• Rest the painful area and wear compression wrap around the affected area.
• Do gentle exercise to help keep the joint from getting stiff.
• Wait 3 to 6 weeks before returning to the task that has caused the pain.

Treatment to any form of bursitis depends on its cause, treatment includes;

• General treatment of bursitis includes the application of heat.
• Oral administration of anti-inflammatory drugs
• Injection of cortisone or cortisonelike drugs directly into the bursa is also used to treat noninfectious bursitis.
• Infectious bursitis requires antibiotic therapy.
• If infected, the bursa may be drained surgically and under certain circumstances it may have to be removed.
• Bursitis that is cause by injury or underlying rheumatic disease can be treated with ice compresses, rest, and anti-inflammatory and pain medications.