Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Shoulderbursitisis inflammation of abursa, a fluid-filled sac, in the shoulder joint.Bursaeprovide padding between bones,tendons, andligamentsto reduce friction and improve joint movement throughout the body. There are multiple bursae in the shoulder, but this condition most commonly affects one called thesubacromial bursa.

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of shoulder bursitis.

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woman wearing a blue shirt and holding her shoulder

Bursae are located throughout the body and provide padding between bones and other structures in your joints. There are about 150 bursae in the body.

Types of Shoulder Bursitis

The three general types of shoulder bursitis are:

Shoulder Bursitis Symptoms

The primary symptom of shoulder bursitis is pain, which can feel like:

Other symptoms of shoulder bursitis include:

Causes of Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis commonly develops over time from repetitive shoulder motion or overuse. It is common in people who perform manual labor requiring frequent reaching overhead or lifting, as well as athletes who participate in sports that require throwing a ball or using a racquet.

Other causes of bursitis include:

Bursae can also become inflamed as a side effect of other medical conditions, such as:

Vaccines and Shoulder BursitisWhile temporary shoulder pain is common after getting a vaccine, a rare condition calledshoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)can also lead to bursitis. It occurs when a vaccine needle is inserted into the bursa instead of the deltoid muscle. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications (oral or injected), and symptoms can last for weeks to months. However, this condition usually doesn’t require surgery.

Vaccines and Shoulder Bursitis

While temporary shoulder pain is common after getting a vaccine, a rare condition calledshoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)can also lead to bursitis. It occurs when a vaccine needle is inserted into the bursa instead of the deltoid muscle. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications (oral or injected), and symptoms can last for weeks to months. However, this condition usually doesn’t require surgery.

How Is Shoulder Bursitis Diagnosed?

In some cases, additional imaging might be required to help rule out broken bones or tendon tears that can occur with bursitis. These tests can include:

Treatment Options for Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis usually improves with conservative (nonsurgical) treatment, and symptoms often go away independently.

Initial treatment focuses on reducing pain and inflammation, such as:

See your healthcare provider if your symptoms are not improving within a few days or getting worse. You might need prescriptionmedicationor acortisone injection.

Physical therapyis a standard treatment for shoulder bursitis. Interventions can include:

Although rarely used,subacromial decompression surgerycan treat shoulder bursitis. This procedure is performedarthroscopically, using several tiny incisions and tools to remove the damaged bursa.Bone spurs, or growths that contribute to bursitis, can also be shaved down during this surgery. Physical therapy can help restore function after this procedure.

What Is Shoulder Bursitis?

Prognosis for Shoulder BursitisShoulder bursitis usually improves with conservative treatment, especially with early recognition and treatment. However, chronic inflammation in the shoulder joint can lead to additional problems, such as arotator cuff tearoradhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder).

Prognosis for Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis usually improves with conservative treatment, especially with early recognition and treatment. However, chronic inflammation in the shoulder joint can lead to additional problems, such as arotator cuff tearoradhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder).

Summary

Shoulder bursitis is diagnosed with a physical exam, including special orthopedic tests to help your healthcare provider identify the source of your shoulder pain. Sometimes, additional imaging tests (such as X-rays or MRI) are required. Treatment includes home remedies, medications, physical therapy, and in severe cases, surgery. Sometimes, shoulder bursitis improves on its own.

6 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.Klatte-Schulz F, Thiele K, Scheibel M, Duda GN, Wildemann B.Subacromial bursa: a neglected tissue is gaining more and more attention in clinical and experimental research.Cells. 2022;11(4):663. doi:10.3390%2Fcells11040663Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.Bancsi A, Houle SKD, Grindrod KA.Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and other injection site events.Can Fam Physician. 2019;65(1):40-42.American Academy of Family Physicians.Common superficial bursitis.Zhu P, Liao B, Wang Z, Sun Z, Yang W, Cai Y.Resistance band training after triamcinolone acetonide injection for subacromial bursitis: a randomized clinical trial.J Rehabil Med. 2020;53(1):2714. doi:10.2340%2F16501977-2752

6 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.Klatte-Schulz F, Thiele K, Scheibel M, Duda GN, Wildemann B.Subacromial bursa: a neglected tissue is gaining more and more attention in clinical and experimental research.Cells. 2022;11(4):663. doi:10.3390%2Fcells11040663Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.Bancsi A, Houle SKD, Grindrod KA.Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and other injection site events.Can Fam Physician. 2019;65(1):40-42.American Academy of Family Physicians.Common superficial bursitis.Zhu P, Liao B, Wang Z, Sun Z, Yang W, Cai Y.Resistance band training after triamcinolone acetonide injection for subacromial bursitis: a randomized clinical trial.J Rehabil Med. 2020;53(1):2714. doi:10.2340%2F16501977-2752

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.

Klatte-Schulz F, Thiele K, Scheibel M, Duda GN, Wildemann B.Subacromial bursa: a neglected tissue is gaining more and more attention in clinical and experimental research.Cells. 2022;11(4):663. doi:10.3390%2Fcells11040663Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.Bancsi A, Houle SKD, Grindrod KA.Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and other injection site events.Can Fam Physician. 2019;65(1):40-42.American Academy of Family Physicians.Common superficial bursitis.Zhu P, Liao B, Wang Z, Sun Z, Yang W, Cai Y.Resistance band training after triamcinolone acetonide injection for subacromial bursitis: a randomized clinical trial.J Rehabil Med. 2020;53(1):2714. doi:10.2340%2F16501977-2752

Klatte-Schulz F, Thiele K, Scheibel M, Duda GN, Wildemann B.Subacromial bursa: a neglected tissue is gaining more and more attention in clinical and experimental research.Cells. 2022;11(4):663. doi:10.3390%2Fcells11040663

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.

Bancsi A, Houle SKD, Grindrod KA.Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and other injection site events.Can Fam Physician. 2019;65(1):40-42.

American Academy of Family Physicians.Common superficial bursitis.

Zhu P, Liao B, Wang Z, Sun Z, Yang W, Cai Y.Resistance band training after triamcinolone acetonide injection for subacromial bursitis: a randomized clinical trial.J Rehabil Med. 2020;53(1):2714. doi:10.2340%2F16501977-2752

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