What Is Bursitis?

What Causes Bursitis?

Factors Affecting Severity

Symptomatic Relief

Prevention of Bursitis

Prevention of Bursitis

You now know that the cause of bursitis is a joint misalignment placing excessive stress on the bursae of a joint. You also know that muscle damage causing the muscle to shorten due to scar tissue is what creates the joint misalignment. Knowing this, you should have an idea about how bursitis can be prevented. It is actually quite simple. Any time you have muscle damage from a trauma, the torn muscle must be treated correctly so very little, if any, scar tissue will form. (For treatment guidelines see treatment for acute tendinitis.)

You must also learn how to do repetitive activities in such a way that you will not over-stress your muscles and gradually accumulate scar tissue over a long period of time. You should also learn how to avoid poor postural and body usage habits that can cause muscle damage to slowly accumulate. Learning something known as the Alexander technique (developed by F. M. Alexander) from a book or qualified teacher is one of the best ways to learn how to use your body without over-stressing your muscles. This is very important because many problems are created by the slow accumulation of muscle damage rather than from a trauma of some kind.

Another way to prevent muscle damage is to warm up properly before sports participation or other physical stress. Also, cycling your work, recreational activities or physical training allows your body time to properly heal any areas that have been stressed. For example, if you are training for baseball, don't run three or four days in a row and then throw three or four days in a row. Doing this could easily cause some muscle damage and scar tissue buildup. Instead, alternate running and throwing every other day. This way the muscles around your knees and shoulders will have time to recuperate properly after each training session.

Everyone will benefit from a regular strength-building exercise program for their entire body. This will make all of their muscles more resistant to muscle damage and help prevent not only bursitis, but also tendinitis, arthritis and neuritis. When done efficiently it only takes a few hours each week. If you are a weekend athlete it is especially important to do a regular exercise program during the week. This way you will be less likely to strain a muscle on the weekend while doing a sport you enjoy. Keeping in shape will also make you better at your activity or sport and provide many other health benefits.