Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Pes anserinebursitisoccurs when the pes anserinebursabecomes painful and inflamed. This bursa is found on the inside of thekneejoint. It lies between yourshin boneand threetendonsthat connect thehamstring musclesto the shin bone.
When this bursa is harmed due to overuse, damage, or disease, it makes too much fluid. This causes swelling, which puts pressure on other parts of your knee. Pain that worsens with certain movements results.
This article describes pes anserine bursitis symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Predrag Popovski / Getty Images
Types of Bursitis
Pes anserine bursitis is a type of bursitis. Bursitis is asoft tissuecondition that causesinflammationof a bursa, a small, flat fluid-filled sac ofsynovial fluid, the lubricant that cushions the friction between a bone and muscle or skin and tendon. It also acts as a shock absorber to soften the impact on yourjoints.
Bursitis can be classified based on its location. There are about 160 bursae in your body. Bursitis most often affects the bursae in the knee, shoulder, elbow, hip, buttocks, and calf.The pes anserine bursa is one of 13 bursae that surround your knee.
When a bursa becomes inflamed, it can be categorized as:
An Overview of Bursitis
Pes Anserine Bursitis Symptoms
Pes anserine bursitis symptoms typically involve pain. The pain may be worse in the morning when the joint has remained in a fixed position for a while. The degree of pain you experience depends on the extent of your condition.
Common symptoms of pes anserine bursitis include the following:
Causes of Knee Pain and Treatment Options
Pes anserine bursitis can affect anyone, though it most often affects athletes who engage in activities that involve running. It is also common in overweight, middle-aged females. Being overweight increases the load that your knee joints have to carry, causing more than a normal amount of stress on the pes anserine bursa.
The following risk factors are associated with the development of pes anserine bursitis:
The Anatomy of the Bursa
Your healthcare provider may also use the following imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out abone fracture,medial meniscus tear, or other conditions that may be causing your symptoms:
What Is The Difference Between Arthritis and Bursitis?
Treatment for pes anserine bursitis usually begins with conservative measures. The goals of treatment are to reduce physical strain on the pes anserine bursa; decrease inflammation, stiffness, and pain; and provide time for the bursa to recover. If necessary, the treatment also involves therapy for an underlying cause.
The most common treatment of pes anserine bursitis involves the following therapies:
The prognosis of most cases of pes anserine bursitis is a long-term resolution of symptoms after appropriate treatment.
Pes anserine bursitis is considered a self-limiting condition. The length of time it takes to resolve the condition varies. Six to eight weeks of stretching and strengthening for most patients can help reduce symptoms.
Having underlying conditions such as obesity or osteoarthritis can make it more difficult to achieve relief until these problems are treated. Without treatment, pain and inflammation can increase, weakening the muscles and tendons surrounding the knee joint.
What Aggravates Pes Anserine Bursitis?
If you are at risk of pes anserine bursitis or want to avoid a recurrence of the problem, follow these strategies:
Summary
Pes anserine bursitis is a problem that causes pain and swelling of the pes anserine bursa.
This problem results from overuse, damage, or disease. Athletes, older people, and those whose jobs require redundant movements are most at risk for this problem. It is also common in women of middle age who are higher than their healthy weight.
Most people can recover and return to normal life after proper treatment. If you have a high risk of the problem, you may have to alter or avoid certain sports or movements to remain safe.
A Word From Verywell
Early diagnosis and proper treatment can give you the best chances of healing from pes anserine bursitis. While this condition can be easily treated, it’s important to work to avoid recurrence. The pain of pes anserine bursitis can interfere with your ability to move normally and maintain your quality of life.
Pes anserine bursitis is usually a temporary condition. However, repeated flares that involve pain, swelling, and tenderness are signs of chronic bursitis. This can lead to a limited range of motion and eventual weakening of the muscles around the affected joint. Taking proper precautions can help you decrease your chances of having this problem.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.Johns Hopkins.Bursitis.OrthoInfo.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.Bringham and Women’s Hospital.Standard of care: pes anserine bursitis.American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to pes anserine bursitis.American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises for pes anserine bursitis.Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.Johns Hopkins.Bursitis.OrthoInfo.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.Bringham and Women’s Hospital.Standard of care: pes anserine bursitis.American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to pes anserine bursitis.American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises for pes anserine bursitis.Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.Johns Hopkins.Bursitis.OrthoInfo.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.Bringham and Women’s Hospital.Standard of care: pes anserine bursitis.American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to pes anserine bursitis.American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises for pes anserine bursitis.Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005
Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.
Johns Hopkins.Bursitis.
OrthoInfo.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Pes anserine (knee tendon) bursitis.
Bringham and Women’s Hospital.Standard of care: pes anserine bursitis.
American Physical Therapy Association.Physical therapy guide to pes anserine bursitis.
American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises for pes anserine bursitis.
Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005
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