Bursitis is a common yet often misunderstood condition that can cause significant discomfort and limit your daily activities. Whether it comes on suddenly after an injury or builds up slowly from overuse, bursitis can affect anyone. In this blog, we’ll explore what bursitis is, why it happens, the most common areas it occurs, standard treatment options, and how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can offer a holistic perspective.
What is bursitis?
Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa, which is a small, fluid-filled sac that cushions and reduces friction between bones, tendons, and muscles around your joints. These bursae help your joints move smoothly.
When a bursa becomes irritated and inflamed, it fills with excess fluid, causing pain, swelling, and reduced movement in the affected area. Bursitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (recurring or long-lasting).
Why do you get bursitis?
Bursitis usually happens because of repetitive stress or pressure on a joint. Here are the most common causes:
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Repetitive motion or overuse: Activities like gardening, painting, kneeling, throwing, or lifting can strain the bursae.
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Prolonged pressure: Leaning on your elbows, kneeling on hard surfaces, or sitting for long periods can irritate bursae in those areas.
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Injury: A direct blow to a joint can cause acute bursitis.
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Underlying conditions: Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or diabetes can increase your risk.
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Infection: In rare cases, a bursa can become infected (septic bursitis), which requires prompt medical care.
Age can also play a role — bursae tend to become more susceptible to inflammation as you get older.
What are common areas in the body to get bursitis?
Bursitis can happen in any joint that has a bursa, but it most often affects:
Shoulder (subacromial bursitis) — common in people who do overhead activities.
Elbow (olecranon bursitis) — often called “student’s elbow” or “miner’s elbow.”
Hip (trochanteric bursitis) — more common in women and middle-aged or older adults.
Knee (prepatellar or infrapatellar bursitis) — sometimes known as “housemaid’s knee.”
Heel (retrocalcaneal bursitis) — at the back of the ankle, near the Achilles tendon.
These areas are prone to friction and pressure, making them more vulnerable to irritation.
What is the standard treatment for bursitis?
Common, conservative treatments for bursitis include:
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Rest: Avoiding activities that aggravate the area.
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Ice: Applying ice packs to reduce swelling.
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Anti-inflammatory medications: NSAIDs like ibuprofen can help ease pain and inflammation.
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Physiotherapy: Exercises to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility.
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Corticosteroid injections: In some cases, doctors inject steroids into the bursa to reduce inflammation.
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Drainage or aspiration: If fluid buildup is severe, a doctor might remove it with a needle.
If bursitis is caused by an infection, antibiotics are necessary. Surgery is very rare and only used when other treatments fail.
How is bursitis viewed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
In TCM, bursitis isn’t viewed as an isolated mechanical problem but rather as a symptom of disharmony in the body’s energy system (qi) and blood and fluids circulation. The most common TCM patterns that attribute to are:
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Stagnation of Energy (Qi) and Blood: When circulation is impaired, energy and blood can “stagnate,” causing pain, swelling, and limited movement.
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Invasion of Wind, Cold, or Damp: External factors like dampness (often linked to weather or living conditions) can lodge in the joints, leading to inflammation and stiffness.
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Deficiency of Kidney or Spleen energy: In chronic cases, underlying weaknesses in these organ systems may contribute to poor recovery and persistent inflammation.
This perspective highlights both the local symptoms and the body’s overall imbalance, and to recover from bursitis we have to pay attention to both.
How can Acupuncture/TCM support you with bursitis?
TCM offers a range of options to address both the inflammation and its root causes:
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Acupuncture: Fine needles are inserted into specific points to target pain reduction, improve circulation, and resolve stagnation. Acupuncture also encourages the body’s self healing mechanism by regulating energy and blood flow.
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Herbal medicine: Customised formulas can help clear dampness, move blood, and strengthen the body to prevent recurrence. Herbs might also address underlying deficiencies.
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Cupping therapy: This technique helps move stagnant blood and fluids, reduce swelling, and improve mobility.
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Moxibustion: Applying gentle heat to the area to dispel cold and damp and improve energy flow.
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Diet and lifestyle advice: TCM often recommends avoiding damp-creating foods (like too much dairy, sugar, or greasy food), staying warm, and doing gentle exercises to keep energy flowing.
Unlike conventional treatment, which often only focuses on reducing symptoms, TCM aims to resolve the root imbalance, reduce pain to aim to prevent future episodes.
Acupuncture/TCM – the next step in your recovery
Bursitis can be frustrating, painful, and disruptive to your life — but it doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. Understanding why it happens and exploring both conventional and holistic treatments can empower you to recover fully and prevent it from coming back.
If you’re struggling with bursitis, consider incorporating Acupuncture and TCM into your treatment plan. It not only addresses the local pain and inflammation but also restores balance and vitality to your whole body.
If you’d like to find out if we can help you you can give us a call on 0414 067 874 or you can make an online booking here.