Located throughout the body are small, jelly- like sacs known as bursae. These sacs are around the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and heel. Bursae act as a cushion to help reduce friction that is positioned between bones and soft tissues.
An inflammation of the bursa located between the tibia (shinbone) and three tendons of the hamstring muscles at the inside of the knee is known as pes anserine bursitis. An inflamma-tion occurs when the bursa becomes irritated and produces too much fluid as a response, which causes it to swell and put pressure on the tendons.
An athlete typically will experience pain and tenderness 2 to 3 inches below the knee joint.
The result of overuse or constant friction and stress on the bursa usually results in bursitis. Pes anserine bursitis is particularly common in runners and athletes. Several factors can con-tribute to the development of knee tendon bur-sitis, including:
The symptoms of pes anserine bursitis include:
The physician will examine your knee and talk to you about your symptoms. The symptoms may mimic those of other problems, so an x-ray may be needed.
Athletes with pes anserine bursitis should take steps to modify their workout program so that the inflammation does not recur. Other treatments in-clude: Rest, Ice, Anti-inflammatory medication, Injection, Physical Therapy, or a patella strap.
Discontinue the activity or substitute a different activity until the bursitis clears up or becomes tolerable.
Taking anti-inflammatory medicine or NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Motrin, Advil, Naproxen or Aleve as directed by your doctor can be effective. This medication should be taken for 10 to 14 days to allow the medicine to build to therapeutic levels in the body. Taking the medication infrequently allows the medicine levels to drop, which decreases effectiveness.
Physical Therapy may be recommended for spe-cific stretching exercises, ice and ultrasound treatments.
A knee strap may be ordered by the doctor to help take tension off of the hamstring tendon and decrease symptoms.
The doctor diagnoses pes anserine bursitis based on your symptoms, clinical examina-tion, and x-rays. X-rays may be ordered by your doctor to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out other problems.
The physician may inject a solution of anesthetic and steroid into the bursa. Often times this will provide prompt relief.
No. There is not a 100% guaranteed method to prevent an active athlete from developing pes anserine bursitis. It may be a recurring problem for some, but the majority of cases can be managed by using the treatment measures described and athletic participation does not need to be significantly limited.
