Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa, a fluid-filled sac located over tendons and joints in the body. A bursa acts as a cushion and helps the tendon and tissues glide over one another. The most common causes of bursitis are injury, overuse or repetitive force on a joint or excess pressure. At BioPed Footcare, we are a team of lower limb clinicians who assess and treat pain in the lower extremity. Our clinicians also aim to help prevent pain from occurring in the first place. Foot pain is not normal and should always be a reason for concern.
Understanding bursitis
The tissues and structures in our bodies are tough. Excessive repetitive force, unexpected acute injury or an abnormal amount of pressure and these tissues may start to break down. Like any other tissue, bursae can become inflamed and painful.
There are over 150 bursae in the body. Depending on where in the body they are located, the bursitis is named accordingly. There are several bursae located in the foot, the most common ones being at the back of the heel, on the side of the big toe and the ball of the foot.
Bursitis can be mistaken for Arthritis, Tendinitis, Gout or Cellulitis.
Bursitis is often red or swollen and warm to the touch. Before treatment measures are discussed, bursitis should be diagnosed. A BioPed clinician will take a history of your pain, activity level, footwear choices and what eases or aggravates the pain in the area. They will also conduct a biomechanical assessment and gait analysis to determine why your heel, big toe or ball of your foot may have an inflamed bursa.
A bursa can also become infected, known as Septic Bursitis. This infection is caused by bacteria entering the bursa through a cut or scrape, directly from the blood or from the surrounding tissues. In addition to pain, swelling and increased temperature in the area, one may experience fever, chills and a generalized unwell feeling with septic bursitis. Oral antibiotics are needed to treat the infection and prevent further complications.
Treatment
If the Bursitis is due to instability or hypermobility in the feet, your BioPed clinician will devise a plan to control this and add support. Custom foot orthotics will provide stability and control. Supportive footwear, suitable for the activity, will help to stabilize and protect your joints and structures from pressure and trauma. Inflammation is interchangeable with an increase in temperature. Therefore application of cold therapy is necessary. In addition, anti-inflammatory medication is taken orally or applied topically and directly to the site both helping ease inflammation.
Bursitis also responds well to rest. This is important as it gives the bursa a chance to heal. If the pain is worse at night, try changing your sleep position to reduce the amount of pressure on a particular area such as the back of your heel.
