Shoulder Bursitis Treatment
What is Shoulder Bursitis?
Shoulder bursitis is when the bursa in your shoulder becomes inflamed and painful. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones and soft tissues, reducing friction during movement. Your shoulder has several of these bursae, with the subacromial bursa (sitting just above the rotator cuff tendons) being the most affected. If you’re experiencing persistent shoulder pain, don’t wait for it to worsen – book an assessment with our expert physiotherapists today and start your recovery journey.
When the bursa becomes irritated through repetitive movement or direct trauma, it swells and becomes inflamed. This leads to pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion in the shoulder. The discomfort is often worse when lifting your arm overhead, reaching behind your back, or lying on the affected side at night. You might experience a dull ache that gradually builds, or in more acute cases, sharp pain with certain movements. Some people also notice weakness in the shoulder and occasional swelling or warmth around the joint.
While the pain centres on the shoulder joint itself, the underlying causes can be varied and interconnected:
- Repetitive Overhead Movements: Activities like painting, swimming, tennis, or jobs requiring frequent overhead reaching can gradually irritate the bursa through constant friction. This is a commonsports injury we treat regularly.
- Muscle Weakness or Imbalance: When the rotator cuff muscles or shoulder stabilisers aren’t working properly, it can alter shoulder mechanics and increase pressure on the bursa.
- Poor Posture: Rounded shoulders and forward head posture compress the space in the shoulder joint, making the bursa more vulnerable to irritation. Postural neck painand shoulder problems often go hand-in-hand.
- Direct Trauma: A fall onto the shoulder or a direct blow can cause immediate inflammation of the bursa.
- Age-Related Changes: As we get older, our bursae can become less resilient and more prone to inflammation from everyday activities.
It’s important to distinguish shoulder bursitis from other shoulder conditions. While it shares some similarities with shoulder impingement and rotator cuff issues, an accurate diagnosis from a qualified physiotherapist ensures you receive the most appropriate treatment.
Understanding the Underlying Problem
Shoulder bursitis responds exceptionally well to focused, conservative treatment. Most patients see significant improvement without the need for invasive procedures. At True Physio, we take a comprehensive approach that addresses both your immediate pain and the mechanical issues that caused it in the first place.
- Activity Modification and Rest: We’ll guide you on how to adapt your daily activities to allow the bursa to settle down, without putting your life completely on hold.
- Personalised Physiotherapy Programme: Our expert physiotherapists will design a rehabilitation plan specifically for you. This includes progressive exercises to strengthen your rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, improving stability and reducing strain on the bursa.
- Manual Therapy Techniques: We use hands-on treatments including joint mobilisation and soft tissue work to restore normal shoulder movement, reduce muscle tension, and promote healing. Sports massage can also be highly effective in complementing your treatment plan.
- Postural Assessment and Correction: We’ll evaluate your posture and workspace setup, providing practical strategies to reduce shoulder strain throughout your day.
- Pain Management Strategies: Alongside therapy, we’ll advise on appropriate pain relief methods and may use techniques like shockwave therapy or acupuncture to manage inflammation. In some cases, steroid injection therapy may be recommended for persistent symptoms.
- Patient Education: Understanding your condition is key to recovery. We’ll explain what’s happening in your shoulder and teach you self-management techniques to prevent recurrence.
Begin Your Recovery Journey with True Physio
When shoulder pain is affecting your work, sport, or sleep, you need specialist care that gets results.
At True Physio, our physiotherapists are HCPC registered and CSP members with extensive experience in treating shoulder conditions. We don’t just focus on relieving your pain, we identify and correct the root causes to give you lasting results. From your first assessment through to full recovery, we’ll support you with expert guidance and a clear treatment pathway.
If shoulder bursitis is holding you back, don’t let it become chronic. Contact your nearest True Physio clinic today and our team will help you regain full, pain-free movement. We’re accredited with Aviva, Bupa, Vitality, and most major healthcare providers, so you can often use your health insurance to access expert treatment quickly and conveniently.
Ready to take the first step? Book your appointment online or call your local clinic to speak with our friendly team about how we can help you overcome shoulder bursitis and get back to doing what you love.
