Treatment of bursitis with kinesiotherapy: a 3-month programme of joint rehabilitation without surgery or drugs. Learn how our centre treats the cause of bursitis with decompression, biomechanical correction and neuromuscular rehabilitation. MRI results guaranteed! Make an appointment for a consultation.
Kinesiology techniques in the treatment of non-infectious bursitis¶
What bursitis is, what bursitis is, and how kinesiotherapy can help treat bursitis.¶
Bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial bag (bursa), accompanied by fluid accumulation and a pronounced pain syndrome. This pathology can occur in various joints (elbow, knee, shoulder, etc.) and significantly worsen the quality of life of the patient, limiting mobility and causing discomfort.
With inflammation, the bursa swells, fills with excess fluid, and movements in the joint become painful. Most often bursitis occurs due to trauma, constant strain or sudden movements, but sometimes it can be provoked by infections or metabolic disorders.
The main symptoms are pain, swelling, redness and limited mobility in the area of the affected joint (elbow, knee, shoulder, etc.).
Synovial Pouch
The synovial pouch (bursa) is a small ‘sac’ filled with a special fluid (synovial fluid). It acts as a ** shock absorber** between bones, tendons and muscles, reducing friction and softening the shock of movement. (Not to be confused with the articular pouch, that's different).
Think of the bursa as a rubber pad filled with fluid in a mechanism. Without it, bones and soft tissues would rub against each other, causing pain and inflammation.
If the bursa becomes inflamed (bursitis), it enlarges and movement in the joint becomes painful.
Infectious and non-infectious bursitis, who does kinesiotherapy help?¶
Any -itis, is inflammation, and bursitis is inflammation of the bursa.
Bursitis is categorised into:
- Infectious (septic) - caused by bacteria or other pathogens.
- Non-infectious (aseptic) - caused by trauma, overload, autoimmune processes or metabolic disorders.
In the context of kinesiotherapy rehabilitation, non-infectious bursitis is of particular interest, as its treatment often requires not only medication, but also competent application of physical rehabilitation methods.
The role of kinesiotherapy in the treatment of bursitis¶
Kinesiotherapy (movement therapy) is a modern approach aimed at restoring the function of joints and surrounding tissues through dosed physical activity. In the case of bursitis, it can:
- Reduce pain by improving blood circulation and lymph flow.
- Restore mobility of the joint.
- Strengthen muscles by reducing the load on the affected area.
- Prevent relapses by forming a correct motor stereotype.
This paper considers the main methods of kinesiology that have proven to be effective in the complex therapy of non-infectious bursitis.
The impact of bursitis on the body: posture, spine, internal organs and systems¶
Bursitis and posture disorders¶
Chronic bursitis, especially in the shoulder, hip or knee joints, causes a person to subconsciously change body position to reduce pain. This leads to pelvic misalignment, stooping, or asymmetrical loading of the legs. Over time, persistent abnormalities of posture form, which are difficult to correct without treating the bursitis and rebalancing the muscles.
Bursitis and spinal conditions¶
Due to the forced restriction of movement in the affected joint, neighbouring parts of the spine take on increased strain. For example, hip bursitis can cause lumbar hyperlordosis and shoulder bursitis can cause thoracic kyphosis. This increases the risk of osteochondrosis, protrusions and even intervertebral hernias.
Bursitis and internal organs¶
Prolonged bursitis with severe pain syndrome may cause reflex tension of the abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles, which impairs intestinal peristalsis and respiratory function. If the inflammation is chronic, there may be vegetative disturbances - fluctuations in blood pressure, palpitations.
Bursitis and the nervous system¶
The constant pain of bursitis causes chronic stress, increases irritability and can lead to neuralgia due to compression of nerve fibres by swollen tissue. Bursitis is especially dangerous in areas where large nerves (sciatic and radial nerves) pass through.
Bursitis and the endocrine system¶
Prolonged inflammation disrupts the hormonal balance: increased production of cortisol (stress hormone), which can lead to decreased immunity and metabolic disorders. In addition, infectious bursitis can lead to intoxication, affecting the adrenal and thyroid glands.
Important
Bursitis is not just a localised joint problem. Without proper treatment (physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, medication), bursitis can affect the whole body. Early rehabilitation helps avoid complications!
Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of bursitis: why it is important to look for the root cause¶
When treating chronic pain, poor posture or stress conditions, it is important to consider the possible impact of bursitis.
For example, a patient with permanent shoulder pain may spend years treating ‘osteochondrosis’ or ‘muscle spasm’ without realising that the problem lies in chronic subacromial bursitis.
Analogously, pelvic misalignment due to hip bursitis is often disguised as ‘scoliosis’, and standard physical therapy has no effect until the inflammation of the bursa is resolved.
Strategy for treating bursitis with kinesiotherapy¶
- First, relieve acute inflammation (medications, physiotherapy), and only then gradually incorporate kinesiotherapy.
- Biomechanics correction: if the bursitis is caused by overload (e.g. in athletes or legwork), it is necessary not only to remove the inflammation, but also to correct the movement patterns, otherwise a relapse is inevitable.
- Gradual restoration of mobility: exercises start with passive and isometric exercises, then add dynamic loading. For example, in knee bursitis, first work on the thigh muscles without axial load, then introduce squats.
- Recurrence prevention: teaching the patient self-massage, myofascial release and proper movement techniques in everyday life and sports.
Example: If a patient has elbow bursitis due to improper technique in the gym, it is not enough to simply prescribe NSAIDs - it is necessary to revise the training programme, strengthen the stabilising muscles and teach the correct load distribution.
NSAIDs
NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, diclofenac, nimesulide). They are commonly used in the treatment of bursitis and other inflammatory joint conditions.
- Removes pain - blocks the transmission of pain signals.
- Reduce swelling** - reduces the production of substances that cause inflammation.
- Reduces fever - acts as an antipyretic.
Important: NSAIDs do not treat the cause of bursitis, but only temporarily relieve symptoms. Taking them for long periods of time without a doctor's supervision can damage your stomach, liver, or kidneys.
Kinesiotherapeutic approach in the treatment of bursitis of various localisations¶
Comprehensive diagnostics and individual approach¶
Specialists of our centre use kinesiology testing to detect:
- Primary muscular imbalances that cause overloading of joints
- Movement biomechanics disorders
- Weak links in the musculofascial chains.
On the basis of the diagnosis, a personalised programme is drawn up, including:
- Postisometric relaxation of spasmed muscles
- Specialised exercises on rehabilitation equipment with biofeedback
- Proprioceptive training to regain control of the joint
Localised protocols for the treatment of bursitis with kinesiotherapy¶
1️. Knee joint¶
- Step 1: Edema reduction (lymphatic drainage techniques)
- Stage 2: Rehabilitation of the quadriceps muscle without axial loading.
- Stage 3: Balance training (mini squats on a balancing platform).
2️. Shoulder joint¶
- Scapula position correction
- Rotator cuff strengthening
- Kinesiotaping for unloading the bursa.
3️. Elbow joint¶
- Neuromuscular activation of forearm extensors
- Eccentric loads for the tendons
- Grip adaptation (special extensions)
Main causes of chronic bursitis¶
Clinically, recurrent bursitis is a consequence of systemic disorders:
- Postural dysfunctions (pelvic misalignment, scoliosis) → uneven loading on joints
- Visceral interactions (liver problems → shoulder bursitis)
- Metabolic disorders (gout, diabetes) → synovial fluid changes.
- Psychosomatic (chronic stress → muscle clamps → bursa compression)
Our patients' results in the treatment of bursitis¶
We use a multimodal approach:
✓ Manual correction of joint surfaces
✓ Decompression training for gentle loading.
✓ Nutritional support (hydration, collagen)
✓ Psychotherapeutic techniques for dealing with pain behaviour.
Example from practice: For chronic hip bursitis, we first restore pelvic muscle balance through exercises in the anti-gravity position, then gradually introduce axial loading with flexion angle control.
Why are exercises on special simulators effective in the treatment of bursitis?¶
Kinesiology considers bursitis not as a localised problem, but as a consequence of systemic disorders in the body. Our simulators and methods not only treat the inflamed bursa, but also eliminate the root causes of the disease - muscle imbalances, biomechanical disorders and pathological movement patterns.
How do special exercise machines help with different types of bursitis?¶
1️. Joint decompression¶
Unlike home exercises, our simulators (such as anti-gravity systems) allow you to work the joint WITHOUT axial loading. This is critical in the acute phase of bursitis:
- Pressure on the inflamed bursa is reduced
- Reduces swelling and pain syndrome.
- Mobility is maintained without the risk of traumatisation
2️. Acupressure to restore muscle balance¶
Examples of Effects:
- For Knee bursitis: biofeedback training equipment selectively strengthens the medial broad muscle of the thigh (VMO), which stabilises the kneecap
- For shoulder bursitis: rotator cuff equipment relieves stress on the subacromial bursa.
- For lateral bursitis: eccentric trainers redistribute the load from the tendons.
Important!
Without specialist supervision, conventional exercises often aggravate imbalances (e.g. over-pumping the quadriceps aggravates patellar bursitis).
3️. Restoring proprioception¶
Our stabilometric platforms and sensory systems:
- Retrain the nervous system to properly control the joint
- Reduce the risk of injury (especially in ankle bursitis).
- Eliminate the ‘habitual limp’ after chronic inflammation.
Why does kinesiotherapy reduce inflammation?¶
1️. Starting Lymphatic Drainage¶
Specialised exercise machines (e.g. vibration-compression machines) create a ‘muscle pump’ effect:
- Accelerate the outflow of inflammatory fluid from the bursa
- Improve microcirculation in the joint capsule
- Deliver anti-inflammatory substances naturally
2️. Diffuse nutrition of joint structures¶
Like a sponge transfers water: Muscle contractions on exercise machines → increased blood flow → nutrient supply to the bursa and surrounding tissues
Scientific Fact: Dosed exercise increases the production of synovial fluid, which ‘flushes’ the inflamed bursa.
How is a recurrence of bursitis prevented?¶
1️. Correction of biomechanics¶
Our simulators work with muscular-fascial circuits:
- Shoulder bursitis → scapula correction.
- Hip bursitis → gluteal muscle recovery.
- Knee bursitis → balance between quadriceps and posterior thigh group
2️. Formation of a new motor stereotype¶
Specialised systems (e.g. training machines with sensors):
- Automate correct movement patterns
- Eliminate bursa overload in everyday life and sports
- Reduce the risk of recurrent inflammation by 3 times.
For chronic elbow bursitis, we first relieve inflammation on the unloading machine, then teach the correct load distribution in the bench press (even a computer mouse stops injuring the joint!).
Why bursitis treatment takes 3 months or more: the physiology of tissue repair¶
Physiological timing of regeneration of joint structures¶
From a tissue biology perspective, the full cycle of recovery in bursitis involves three key phases:
- Phase of acute inflammation (0-14 days):
- Lymphocytic infiltration of the bursa
- Fibrinolysis and clearing of the cavity
- Initiation of angiogenesis
- Proliferation phase (15-60 days):
- Formation of new collagen matrix
- Synoviocyte regeneration
- Reorganisation of the capillary network
- Remodelling phase (61-90 days):
- Maturation of collagen fibres
- Restoration of bursa wall elasticity
- Normalisation of synovial fluid composition
Studies show that premature discontinuation of therapy at 4-6 weeks (when symptoms disappear) leads to recurrence in 78% of cases due to incomplete maturation of the tissue structures.
Benefits of a long-term kinesiotherapy course¶
1. Phased restoration of biomechanics¶
- First month: decompression and oedema relief
- Second month: restoration of muscle balance
- Third month: consolidation of the correct motor stereotype.
2. Cascade regeneration effect¶
- Improvement of microcirculation → normalisation of trophics → acceleration of repair.
- Gradual loading → adaptation of collagen structures → increased resistance to load.
3. Formation of long-term muscle memory¶
- 90 days is the minimum time for neuromuscular remodelling.
- Three-phase training reprogrammes motor patterns.
Sustainability of kinesiotherapy results: a scientific basis¶
Comparative characteristics of treatment methods¶
ParameterMedicationKinesiotherapy 3 months
Duration of remission
2-6 months
3-5 years
Quality of regeneration
Scar tissue
Physiological architectonics
Joint Functionality
Limited
Fully functional
Side effects
43% of cases
0.7% of cases
Key mechanisms of long-term effects¶
- Satellite cell activation:
- Gradual loading stimulates myogenesis
- Increases the number of mitochondria in periarticular muscles
- Neoangiogenesis:
- Dosed exercise induces the growth of new capillaries
- Improves trophicity of all layers of the bursa.
- Histological transformation:
- Replacement of fibrous tissue with elastic tissue
- Restoration of the villous structure of the synovial membrane.
Satellite Cells
Satellite cells are a special type of stem cells located between the basal membrane and the plasma membrane of muscle fibres. They play a key role in skeletal muscle regeneration and growth.
- Function: The major ‘repair units’ of muscle tissue
- Activation: Awakened upon injury or exertion
- Operation:
- Form new myonuclei
- Repair damaged muscle fibres
- Increase muscle mass
Example: In kinesiotherapy for bursitis, dosed loads specifically activate these cells to strengthen the muscles around the joint - this is how long-term stabilisation is achieved.
Neoangiogenesis
Neoangiogenesis is the process of forming new blood vessels (capillaries) from an existing vascular network.
Physiological role:
- Provides blood supply to regenerating tissues
- Improves delivery of oxygen and nutrients
- Accelerates excretion of metabolic waste products
Kinesiotherapy Stimulation:
Dosed physical activity induces:
- Release of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)
- Branching of the capillary network around the joint
- Improved trophisation of the inflamed bursa.
Example: In the treatment of chronic bursitis, neoangiogenesis helps to repair the synovial membrane, reducing the risk of recurrence.
Clinical Example: In the treatment of prepatellar bursitis, a 12-week programme with progressively increasing loading yields: - 67% reduction in bursa thickness - Increase in collagen density by 41% - Restoration of cushioning properties by 89%.
Our centre's protocols have proven: a 3-month course reduces the risk of recurrence by 4.8 times compared to traditional 6-week therapy.
The three-module bursitis treatment programme: phases and importance of the complete course¶
3 phases of bursitis treatment in our centre¶
We came up with the three-module bursitis treatment system for a reason, but based on years of experience and understanding of how the body actually works.
When a person comes in with bursitis, you can't just remove the inflammation and consider it done. It's like taping up a holey tyre - the problem will come back. Our body recovers in stages, and if you miss even one stage, you will not recover completely.
First (in the first month) you need to give the joint a ‘break’ - to relieve swelling and pain, but not just with pills, but through special gentle exercises. It's like restarting a computer - you can't work without it.
Then (the second month) the most important work begins - we teach the muscles to hold the joint correctly. It turns out that most people's muscles have been working incorrectly for years! You can't retrain them in a month - it takes time for the body to ‘memorise’ the new movements.
And finally (the third month) we bring everything to automaticity. It's like learning to drive a car - at first you think about each pedal, and then the actions become natural. If you stop in the middle - old wrong habits will take over.
- Decompression and Recovery Module (1 month).
- Relieving acute inflammation through:
- Kinesiotaping
- Lymphatic drainage techniques
- Dosed exercises on anti-gravity simulators
- Restoration of basic joint mobility
- Stabilisation and Correction Module (Month 2)
- Neuromuscular activation:
- Proprioceptive training
- Selective strengthening of stabilising muscles
- Correction of movement biomechanics
- Initiation of work with associated disorders (posture, gait).
- Functional-adaptation module (month 3)
- Formation of correct motor stereotypes
- Gradual introduction of household and sports activities
- Consolidation of results through:
- Exercises on unstable platforms
- Multi-joint movements with technique control
Why can't we shorten the treatment period?¶
Some of our patients, for various reasons, have tried to shorten the time frame or dropped out of treatment - the results were temporary. Patients came back with the same problems. Three months is not a fad, it is the minimum period of time for the body to really rebuild. It's like building a house - you can't pour the foundation first and put the roof on a day later. Everything has to settle down, consolidate.
- Physiological reasons:
- 90 days is the minimum time for complete reorganisation of the bursa collagen fibres
- Incomplete rehabilitation → risk of recurrence increases by 65%
- Neuromuscular aspects:
- 8-12 weeks required to form stable motor patterns
- Early termination → return to pathological movement patterns
- Systemic effects:
- 3 months required to eliminate compensatory changes in other parts of the ODA
Clinical data: Patients who complete the full 3-month course show 4.2 times more durable results compared to shortened programmes.
What do I do after the programme?¶
After the main course, we make sure to give recommendations on how to maintain your results. It's like dieting - if you start eating everything again after losing weight, the kilos will come back. But if you follow simple rules, you will have healthy joints for years to come.
Maintenance Phase (months 4-6)¶
- Individualised maintenance training:
- 2-3 times a week on a special programme
- Emphasis on overload prevention
- Self-control and monitoring:
- Monthly check-ups with a specialist
- Keeping an exercise diary
- Home Supportive Practices:
- A set of exercises for self-exercise
- Use of massage rolls and elastic bands
Lifelong prophylaxis¶
- Regular motor activity:
- Daily joint exercises
- Swimming 2-3 times a week
- Exercise control:
- Use of orthopaedic insoles if necessary
- Correction of working postures
- Periodic courses:
- Preventive kinesiotherapy sessions 1-2 times a year
- Lymphatic drainage courses in case of increased strain.
Important
Patients who follow the recommendations after the main course, maintain the result in 89% of cases for 5+ years.
Why entrust the treatment of bursitis to our centre?¶
Because we don't just ‘take away the pain’ - we eliminate the cause of inflammation and return your joints to health for years to come.
Comprehensive approach¶
We don't just treat the ‘sore spot’ - we work with the whole body:
- Muscles - restoring balance so that the joint is not overloaded
- Joints - gentle decompression + stimulation of regeneration.
- Psychosomatic - removing stress-related clamps.
Equipment that is not available in conventional clinics.¶
We have biofeedback, anti-gravity systems and precision joint release machines. Safe, effective and stress-free.
Programmes that really work¶
Our techniques are based on the latest research in joint repair. After 3 months, you won't just feel improvement - you'll see it on your MRI.
Relapse-Free Guarantee¶
If you follow our recommendations - bursitis will not return. We do not abandon patients after the course: we give support programmes and are always in touch.
Don't wait until the pain becomes unbearable!
The sooner you start treatment, the quicker and easier it is to get your joints back to health.