Bursitis - housemaid's knee
There are a number of commonsense precautions you can take to prevent getting bursitis.
If your job involves a lot of kneeling, such as carpet fitting, wearing a pair of knee pads will help protect your knees.
If you run or walk regularly, make sure your walking or running shoes fit properly.
You should go to a specialist running shop if you are buying running shoes for the first time. A trained member of staff will be able to carry out a number of tests, including a gait analysis, and give you advice about the type of shoes that are best for you.
If you continue having problems with your shoes, a podiatrist (a foot specialist) will be able to provide a more expert opinion and look at your overall lower limb biomechanics.
Find a podiatrist in your area.
Take regular breaks while carrying out tasks that involve repetitive movements. This will help avoid placing excess strain on one particular area of your body.
You can also vary your patterns of physical activity by carrying out different tasks or exercises that do not all involve using the same part of your body.
Make sure you warm up for at least six minutes before exercising. Do some light aerobic exercise, such as walking or easy jogging, before starting to exercise more vigorously.
However, only try to strengthen the muscles after your bursitis symptoms have cleared up.
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Bursitis is where a bursa becomes swollen and inflamed. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms under the skin, usually over the joints and between tendons and bones.
Bursitis causes pain, inflammation and tenderness in the affected body part.
Bursitis can be caused by an injury, an infection, or it can be the result of a pre-existing health condition that causes the bursa to become inflamed.
Your GP will usually be able to make a confident diagnosis of bursitis by carrying out a physical examination of the affected body part.
Most cases of bursitis can be successfully treated using a combination of self-care techniques and over-the-counter painkillers.
There are a number of commonsense precautions you can take to prevent getting bursitis.