Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Bursitis
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts, such as muscles, tendons, or skin. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed. People get bursitis by overusing a joint. It can also be caused by an injury. It usually occurs at the knee or elbow. Kneeling or leaning your elbows on a hard surface for a long time can make bursitis start. Doing the same kinds of movements every day or putting stress on joints increases your risk.
Symptoms of bursitis include pain and swelling. Your doctor will diagnose bursitis with a physical exam and tests such as x-rays and MRIs. He or she may also take fluid from the swollen area to be sure the problem isn't an infection.
Treatment of bursitis includes rest, pain medicines, or ice. If there is no improvement, your doctor may inject a drug into the area around the swollen bursa. If the joint still does not improve after 6 to 12 months, you may need surgery to repair damage and relieve pressure on the bursa.
It sits within Bones, Joints and Muscles.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Bursitis
396 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Physiotherapy Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women With Frozen ShoulderIstanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Effect of Different Hyaluronic Acids in the Treatment of Subdeltoid BursitisShin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital
- Effects of Hyaluronic Acid for Subdeltoid BursitisShin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital
- Spinal Mobilization With Arm Movement and Kaltenborn Mobilization in Adhesive CapsulitisRiphah International University
- Comparative Effects of Gongs and Maitland Mobilization in Patients With Adhesive CapsulitisRiphah International University
- Cervical and Thoracic Mobility Training in Patients With Adhesive CapsulitisZonguldak Bulent Ecevit University
Research already completed
- Local Anesthesia While Awake Versus General Anesthesia for Frozen Shoulder ManipulationIzmir Katip Celebi University
- The Effectiveness of Using Interactive Devices for Home Exercise in Patients With Frozen Shoulder.Taipei Medical University
- Pericapsular vs Intra-Articular Injection in Adhesive CapsulitisIstanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- The Effect of Osteopathic Visceral Manipulation on Pain, Mobility and Functional Disability in Patients With Right Shoulder Adhesive CapsulitisIstanbul Medeniyet University
- Isolated Glenohumeral Corticosteroid Injection Versus Concomitant Capsule Preserving HydrodilatationChuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital
- Axillary Phonophoresis Versus Post Isometric Facilitation in the Treatment of Shoulder Adhesive CapsulitisCairo University
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Beating Bursitis: Take Care of Your Joint CushionsNational Institutes of Health
- Tendinitis (Bursitis)American College of Rheumatology
Diagnosis and Tests
- Musculoskeletal UltrasoundRadiological Society of North America
Treatments and Therapies
- Joint Injections (Joint Aspirations)American College of Rheumatology
Related Issues
- Sports InjuriesNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Bursitis. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Bursitis, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.