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Bursitis is the painful inflammation of any of the 150 to 160 fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the movement between the bones, muscles, and tendons near the body’s joints. In addition to cushioning pressure points, the bursae are lined with synovial cells that secrete a fluid rich in collagen and proteins. The synovial fluid acts as a lubricant when body parts move. When this fluid becomes infected with bacteria or when the bursa becomes irritated because of excessive pressure or unusual movement, bursitis results. Bursitis also occurs as part of systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
The shoulder is most susceptible to bursitis, but the condition may also occur in the hips, knees, pelvis, elbows, toes, and heels. Bursitis may be acute or chronic and infectious or non-infectious.
The cause of bursitis is often unknown (idiopathic). Risk factors for bursitis include having a hobby or a profession that requires repetitive movement, staphylococcal infection, and advancing age. Crystal mineral deposits due to gout or pseudogout may also cause bursitis. Rarely, tuberculosis may result in bursitis. Use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, can increase risk of infection in the bursae.
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Source: Medical Disability Advisor