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Our body responds to unexpected physical stress by releasing swelling. This is one of the normal Stages of healing. When swelling gets into different tissues it can cause different symptoms and will require different management. It is important to try and distinguish what are affected to determine the appropriate course if action. This blog is going to help you determine the difference between bursitis vs. tendonitis.
What is Bursitis? It is swelling of the bursae. Bursae are fluid filled sacks all over our body that are in high friction areas. They help the tendons glide and prevent them from being ruptured.
4 different types of bursitis:
Trauma/hemorrhaging
Chronic Micro Truma
Chronic Inflammatory
Septic
For the sake of this blog we will be referencing bursitis as traumatic and chronic micro trauma as they have similar causes and treatments.
Bursitis is usually caused by the tendons that run over the bursae rubbing it repetitively. This causes it to swell. This is an example of microtrauma. Repetitive kneeling is very common. A direct blow like a fall or being hit would be an example of traumatic/hemorrhaging.
What is Tendonitis? It is the swelling of the tendon. A tendon is the area the muscle transitions to the bone. It is more firm than muscle. its primary role is to help transmit force from the muscle to the bone so we can move. If that force is too much, then it becomes swollen.
Bursitis vs. Tendonitis: Similarities
As you can tell both deal with swelling and over use. This also means that initial treatment is going to be the same. Managing the inflammatory with gentle movement, compression medication if needed.
Ergonomics also play a role in managing the conditions to address the underlying cause.
Areas that are commonly Affected are the shoulders, elbow, knee and heels for both conditions.
Differences
Bursitis be visible if a superficial bursae is affected. It will look like there is a golfball size bump. In these cases the bursae will require drainage.
Areas affected by tendonitis will often also be swollen but it will be more diffuse and less concentrated.
Tendonitis best treatment is using eccentric exercise. This is lowering the load without actively contracting the muscle. This would not be an effective treatment for bursitis as it would agitate the bursae more.
Conclusion:
Both conditions both involve swelling into tissues in our body and will respond to conservative management well ( such as ice, compression and NSAID). Both conditions will have swelling but bursitis will be more defined.
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