Shoulder Bursitis

What is shoulder bursitis?

A bursa is a fluid-filled sac which helps specific areas of your body to move without friction and rubbing. Bursitis is a condition where a bursa becomes irritated and inflamed most often due to overuse or a sudden increase in loading you are not accustomed to. Shoulder bursitis is where the sub-acromial bursa becomes inflamed, which can cause pain at the top of the shoulder when reaching up overhead. 

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How is shoulder bursitis treated? 

Shoulder bursitis can occur due to an injury to the shoulder joint or by overuse of the joint in a position that puts excessive pressure on the bursa. Regardless of the mechanism, the goal of treatment is to reduce pain sensitivity and restore mobility in the shoulder. This can be done by performing specific exercises aimed at restoring shoulder strength and mobility without irritating the bursa in the process. Occasionally a corticosteroid injection may be a used if the bursa is significantly inflamed. This will help reduce sensitivity and allow for engaging in an exercise program.

How can an Exercise Physiologist help? 

An Exercise Physiologists is trained to help identify and address what may be causing your shoulder bursitis as well as guide you through the most effective way of managing the condition with exercise. We do this by instructing appropriate mobility and strength exercises for you, which help to reduce your pain and regain the function that allows you to perform all your normal activities again.  

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