Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis is an inflamed shoulder bursa. Your bursa is a fluid-filled sac that helps to reduce friction in your shoulder spaces. You have several bursae within your shoulder. Your sub-acromial bursa is the most commonly inflamed of the shoulder bursa.

Pain along the front and side of the shoulder is the most common symptom and may cause weakness and stiffness. If the pain resolves and weakness persists other causes should be evaluated such as a tear of the rotator cuff or a neurological problem arising from the neck or entrapment of the suprascapular nerve. The onset of pain may be sudden or gradual and may or may not be related to trauma. Night time pain, especially sleeping on the affected shoulder, is often reported. Localized redness or swelling are less common and suggest an infected sub-acromial bursa. Individuals affected by subacromial bursitis commonly present with concomitant shoulder problems such as arthritis, rotator cuff tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, and cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in neck).

Initial management of any suspected bursitis like condition should include:

• Avoiding activities that aggravate the problem
• Resting the injured area

If the condition doesn’t improve over a week or two it’s worth getting it checked by one of our chiropractors. They can assess the injury and make sure your on the right track to a fast recovery.

Here at Duncraig Chiropractic we were the first practice Perth to begin using Bioflex Laser therapy to treat such injuries with Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). We are always on the search for new therapies to help our patients. The painless application is a great option for those with bursitis injuries and great for those who don’t want cortisone injections which are often recommended to treat such problems. Give us a call if you would like to find out more on 92469558.