Bursitis
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Bursitis

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Published: July 22, 2026 | Last Reviewed: July 22, 2026 | Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, Geriatrics | Reading Time: 5 min




Key Takeaways

  • Understanding bursitis seniors treatment exercises is important for seniors and their caregivers.
  • Symptoms of bursitis may include any of the following:
  • Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam.
  • Your provider will talk to you about a treatment plan to help you resume your normal activities, including some of the following tips.
  • Most people do well with treatment.

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What Are the Common Causes and Risk Factors?

Understanding bursitis seniors treatment exercises is important for seniors and their caregivers. bursitis is often a result of overuse. It can also be caused by a change in activity level, such as training for a marathon, or by being

overweight

.

Other causes include trauma,

rheumatoid arthritis

,

gout

, or infection. Sometimes, the cause can’t be found.

Bursitis commonly occurs in the shoulder, knee, elbow, and hip. Other areas that may be affected include the area around the Achilles tendon and the foot.

What Are the Symptoms and Warning Signs?

Symptoms of bursitis may include any of the following:

  • Joint pain

    and tenderness when you press around the joint

  • Stiffness and aching when you move the affected joint

  • Swelling

    , warmth or redness over the joint

  • Pain during movement and rest
  • Pain may spread to the nearby areas
📖 What Are Exams and Tests?

What Are Exams and Tests?

Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam.

Tests that may be ordered include:

  • Lab tests to check for infection

  • Ultrasound

  • MRI

  • Removing fluid from the bursa

    – rarely performed

  • Analysis including

    culture of the fluid

📖 How Is It Treated?

How Is It Treated?

Your provider will talk to you about a treatment plan to help you resume your normal activities, including some of the following tips.

Tips to relieve bursitis pain:

  • Use ice 3 to 4 times a day for the first 2 or 3 days.
  • Cover the painful area with a towel, and place the ice on it for 15 minutes. Do not fall asleep while applying the ice. You can get frostbite if you leave it on too long.
  • Rest the joint.
  • When sleeping, do not lie on the side that has bursitis.

For bursitis around the hips, knees, or ankle:

  • Try not to stand for long periods.
  • Stand on a soft, cushioned surface, with equal weight on each leg.
  • Placing a pillow between your knees when lying on your side can help decrease pain.
  • Flat shoes that are cushioned and comfortable often help.
  • If you are overweight, losing weight may also be helpful.

You should avoid activities that involve repetitive movements of any body part when possible.

Other treatments include:

  • Medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), (ibuprofen, naproxen)
  • Physical therapy
  • Wearing a brace or splint to support the joint and help reduce inflammation
  • Exercises you do at home to build strength and keep the joint mobile as pain goes away
  • Removing fluid from the bursa and getting a corticosteroid shot

As the pain goes away, your provider may suggest exercises to build strength and keep mobility of movement in the painful area.

In rare cases, surgery is done.

📖 What Is Outlook (Prognosis)?

What Is Outlook (Prognosis)?

Most people do well with treatment. When the cause cannot be corrected, you may have long-term pain.

📖 What Are Possible Complications?

What Are Possible Complications?

If the bursa is infected, it becomes more inflamed and painful. This often requires antibiotics or surgery.

📖 When to Contact a Medical Professional?

When to Contact a Medical Professional?

Contact your provider if symptoms recur or do not improve after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment, or if the pain is getting worse.

📖 How Is It Prevented?

How Is It Prevented?

When possible, avoid activities that include repetitive movements of any body parts. Be aware of your posture when doing the activities. Strengthening your muscles and working on your balance may help decrease the risk of bursitis.

Student’s elbow; Olecranon bursitis; Housemaid’s knee; Prepatellar bursitis; Weaver’s bottom; Ischial gluteal bursitis; Baker’s cyst; Gastrocnemius – semimembranosus bursa

  • Bursa of the elbow

    Bursa of the elbow

  • Bursa of the knee

    Bursa of the knee

  • Bursitis of the shoulder

    Bursitis of the shoulder

Biundo JJ, Canoso JJ. Bursitis, tendinopathy, other periarticular disorders, and sports medicine. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds.

Goldman-Cecil Medicine

. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 242.

Hogrefe C, Jones EM. Tendinopathy and bursitis. In: Walls RM, ed.

Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice

. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 103.

Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.


  • Bursitis

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

Understanding bursitis seniors treatment exercises is important for seniors and their caregivers. Symptoms of bursitis may include any of the following:
Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam. Your provider will talk to you about a treatment plan to help you resume your normal activities, including some of the following tips.

What Are the Common Causes and Risk Factors?

Understanding bursitis seniors treatment exercises is important for seniors and their caregivers. bursitis is often a result of overuse. It can also be caused by a change in activity level, such as training for a marathon, or by being

overweight

.

What Are the Symptoms and Warning Signs?

Symptoms of bursitis may include any of the following:

Joint pain

and tenderness when you press around the joint

Stiffness and aching when you move the affected joint

Swelling

, warmth or redness over the joint

Pain during movement and rest

Pain may spread to the nearby areas

📖 What Are Exams and Tests?

What Are Exams and Tests?

Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam. Tests that may be ordered include:

Lab tests to check for infection

Ultrasound

MRI

Removing fluid from the bursa

– rarely performed

Analysis including

culture of the fluid

📖 How Is It Treated?

How Is It Treated?

Your provider will talk to you about a treatment plan to help you resume your normal activities, including some of the following tips. Tips to relieve bursitis pain:

Use ice 3 to 4 times a day for the first 2 or 3 days. Cover the painful area with a towel, and place the ice on it for 15 minutes.

About the Author: This article was researched and written by the SilverWell Hub editorial team. It was medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, Geriatrics.

Sources: This article is adapted from MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. See our full Medical Disclaimer.

Published: July 22, 2026 | Next review: January 2027