Shoulder bursitis is a common diagnosis but what does it mean?
WHAT IS SHOULDER BURSITIS?
We have fluid filled sacs called bursae (plural) all over our bodies which is designed to reduce friction and provide a cushion between tendons and bone.
When a bursa swells up the medical term for a swollen bursa is bursitis. Any time you see the suffix “itis” at the end of a word, it means that the tissue is inflamed.
It is one of the most common causes of non-traumatic shoulder pain in adults over the age of 40.
HOW DOES A SHOULDER BURSITIS FEEL?
If you’ve ever had a dull, aching pain in your shoulder that gets worse when lifting your arm overhead, sleeping on your side or even putting your hand behind your back, there is a good chance that you will be diagnosed with subacromial bursitis.
Common symptoms include:
- dull or sharp pain on the tip of the shoulder
- pain lifting your arm above shoulder height
- pain when lying on the affected side
- pinching or catching during overhead movement
The severity can vary depending on many factors and most commonly affects one shoulder at a time.
WHAT CAUSES SHOULDER BURSITIS?
Think of the bursa like a shock absorber. Over time, if you are overusing the shoulder it can irritate the structures in the shoulder and become inflamed.
The most common causes of shoulder bursitis are:
- repetitive overhead activities (e.g. painting, swimming, tennis)
- poor posture and shoulder mechanics
- always sleeping on the same side each night
- rotator cuff dysfunction
- congenital shoulder abnormalities (e.g. beaked acromion)
In many cases, shoulder bursitis does not occur in isolation and is often secondary to an underlying biomechanical imbalance in the neck, shoulder and upper back.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER?
Like any injury, early intervention is the key to a speedy recovery.
With early physiotherapy treatment most people feel relief within 2-6 weeks. But chronic or recurring shoulder bursitis may take a few months to fully resolve especially if it’s linked to long standing postural issues and muscle imbalances.
The longer you leave it, the longer it takes to recover due to changes in rotator cuff strength, muscle guarding, pain sensitivity and biomechanical compensations.
Example: overactive upper trapezius when using your shoulder and arm, can cause symptoms to spread further up into the neck region.
HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY CAN HELP BURSITIS
You don’t need cortisone injections or surgery to recover from shoulder bursitis. Physiotherapy is recommended as the first and most effective method of treatment especially during the early stages of onset.
There are four steps to treating shoulder bursitis properly:
Reduce inflammation and pain
Modify activity to prevent flare ups and use therapy techniques to promote healing and blood flow
Restore shoulder mobility
Guided range of motion exercises to encourage normal shoulder mobility and boost nutrient delivery to the area
Correct posture and biomechanics
Address posture issues and retrain optimal shoulder mechanics
Strengthen supporting muscles
Build rotator cuff strength with specific resistance exercises to prevent future issues
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A PHYSIO?
If your shoulder pain hasn’t improved after a few days rest or if it’s affecting your sleep, work, training, sport or leisure, it time to get it checked.
Find out what is causing your shoulder bursitis and fix it properly by addressing the source of the problem.
Band-aid treatments like steroid injections, painkillers and anti-inflammatories might help settle the pain, but it doesn’t actually “treat” the real cause.
