Bursitis is the condition where a bursa, which is a thin fluid-filled sac around areas that have a lot of friction in them, becomes swollen. This is usually caused by another overuse condition, making this a secondary condition or a side effect of the original condition. The causes can be from tendinitis, postural dysfunctions like scoliosis, acute trauma, infection and pathologies like gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
Bursae can be found in different areas of the body, including in the shoulder, elbow, pelvic area, including the hips, pubic bone, and the sits bones which are near your tailbone, the knee, back of the ankle and near the toes. When any of these bursae become inflamed, they cause local pain, and restricted movement, also due to the pain. If there is another condition present, you will also have the same symptoms as those conditions as well.
Bursitis can be treated a few different ways, including ultrasound, surgically removed, steroid injections, treating the primary condition through several different forms of treatment, and rest. Sometimes, depending on the severity of the bursitis, it has been known that if it is left to rest, it can resolve itself within 2 years, however, if surgery is used to remove the bursa, sometimes the bursa will grow back within 6-24 months. If the bursa grows back and so does the bursitis, it may take up to 5 years to resolve on its own.
When it comes to massage, during the acute stages of the condition the therapist works on the primary cause that is present, as long as it does not put direct pressure on the bursa itself. However elevating the affected area, and icing the bursa may be used during the treatment. Once the condition becomes chronic, some movements may be done during the massage, as long as they don’t cause a flare-up in the bursa, but still, the primary condition is treated more so then the bursa itself.
If it appears that there is an infection in the bursa, massage is not done and you will be referred to your family doctor, so you will be able to get antibiotics. Until the infection has been cleared, you won’t be receiving massage therapy.