What is Knee bursitis?

The swelling of bursae at the knee joint is caused by inflammation of one or more tiny fluid-filled sacs, which is known as knee bursitis. Fluid-filled sacs called bursae act as a cushion and lessen friction between the skin, tendons, and muscles around joints and bones.

Painful swelling, also called inflammation, can cause the inflammation of any of the bursae in the knee. However, most bursitis cases of the knee occur either over the kneecap or on the inner side of the knee below the joint.

Knee bursitis causes pain and may limit movement. Treatment often involves a combination of self-care strategies and medical therapies to reduce pain and inflammation.

What are the signs of knee bursitis?

Knee bursitis symptoms vary. They rely on the bursa that is impacted and the underlying cause of the inflammation.

Your knee bursitis may cause swelling, tenderness, and warmth in the afflicted region. Pain may also be experienced when moving or resting.

Symptoms may appear quickly after a direct hit to the knee. Still, irritation and friction of the bursae are frequently the cause of knee bursitis. This can happen in situations where a lot of kneeling on hard surfaces is required. Thus, the symptoms may appear gradually at first and worsen with time.

What causes knee bursitis?

Knee bursitis can be caused by:

Repeated and prolonged pressure, such as from kneeling, especially on hard surfaces.
Overuse of the knee or heavy exercise.
A direct blow to the knee.
Bacteria that might enter the knee through a bruise or a cut can cause an infection of the bursa.
Medical conditions can accompany osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout in the knee.

What is the diagnosis of knee bursitis?

Your healthcare professional will ask you about your medical history to see if you have had a history of knee bursitis. Then, you will undergo a physical checkup. Your healthcare professional should likely:

Compare both knees, especially if one hurts only.
Gently press on areas of your knee to feel and check for warmth, swelling, and the origin of the pain.
Look at the skin over the sensitive area for areas of redness or other signs of infection.
Gently flex your legs and knees to assess how much movement is possible in your affected knee. This also assesses whether it hurts to bend or flex the knee.

Radiographic studies

Imaging tests are sometimes needed to establish whether another illness, rather than knee bursitis, is causing your symptoms. Your doctor may request some or all of the following tests:

X-ray: These can help identify a problem with a bone or arthritis.
MRI scans: They can produce precise pictures of the inside organs in your body by utilizing radio waves and a strong magnetic field. Bursae and other soft tissues can also be imaged using these scans.
Ultrasound: It uses sound waves to create visuals. Your healthcare provider can use ultrasound to detect bursa swelling.

Aspiration

Rarely, a fluid collection from the bursa might be sent for analysis. A needle is placed into the inflamed area to aspirate some fluid. Another term for this procedure is aspiration. It can be done if your healthcare professional thinks you have an infection or gout in the bursa. Aspiration also can be a therapeutic procedure.

How is knee bursitis treated?

Most attention is paid to your symptoms in the treatment because bursitis usually heals over time. However, depending on what causes the knee bursitis and which bursa is infected, your healthcare professional might recommend one or more.

Medications:

If a bacterial infection causes your knee bursitis, your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics. On rare occasions, surgical removal of the infected bursa may be performed if medicines do not prove effective.

Physical therapy:

Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist or a specialist in sports medicine. These specialists can teach you some exercises to make the muscles around your knee and leg more flexible and robust. Treatment may alleviate pain and decrease the likelihood of repeated episodes of knee bursitis. Protective knee braces may be helpful if you must kneel. Compressive knee sleeves may also help control swelling.

Surgery and other treatments:

Knee bursitis treatment offers a few therapeutic options: injections or surgery, as follows:

Corticosteroid injection: Your doctor will recommend steroid shots for people whose bursitis is not responding to these basic treatments. The medication is injected into a bursa that contains an affected area so that it can help reduce inflammation and provide relief from the pain.
Aspiration: It may be conducted if remedies via medicines and self-care seem inadequate. This will drain excess fluid in the bursa and address the inflammation. Your doctor will insert a needle into the affected bursa and withdraw fluid into the syringe. Aspiration may be painful for a short duration. You might be required to wear a brace that immobilizes your knee for some time after the aspiration. This helps your bursa heal and diminishes the possibility of recurrent swelling.
Surgery: It is uncommon to perform surgery involving removing an inflamed bursa. Nevertheless, you may be recommended for the procedure when other interventions have not worked or there is a recurrent infection. Most normal activities will likely be recovered several weeks after the surgery.

What is the risk for knee bursitis?

Risk factors that may predispose an individual to develop knee bursitis include:

Bursitis caused by prolonged kneeling occurs among individuals who work on their knees for long durations. These are usually carpet layers, plumbers, and gardeners.

Certain sports: Sports that involve direct blows or frequent falls on the knee increase the risk of developing knee bursitis. The friction created between the knee and a mat is also implicated. Examples of such sports include wrestling, football, basketball, and volleyball. Runners develop pain and inflammation in the bursa, which is found in the inner part of the knee below the joint. This is referred to as pes anserine bursitis.
Obesity and osteoarthritis: Pes anserine bursitis commonly affects obese females with osteoarthritis.

How to prevent knee bursitis?

The following can aid in preventing bursitis or even evade a recurrence:

Wear kneepads: This is useful if you work on your knees routinely or participate in sports that subject your knees to exposure. Use padding to cushion and support your knees.
Take breaks: If you sit on your knees for a considerable time, take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and rest your knees.
Reach and achieve a healthy weight: This might help alleviate pressure off of the knee joints.