INTRODUCTION​

• Shoulder subacromial bursitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of one of the shoulder bursae between the shoulder acromion bone and rotator cuff tendons

• A bursa is a fluid filled sac that serves as a lubricant between muscles/tendons to allow for smooth frictionless motion

• When irritated, the bursa gets inflamed and becomes filled with fluid, thereby causing pain 

CAUSES

• There are many potential causes for shoulder subacromial bursitis. Most commonly, it is due muscle weakness and imbalance leading to rubbing of the rotator cuff tendons on the acromion bone

• Other causes include repetitive shoulder motion, direct trauma or fall on the shoulder, tendinopathy of surrounding tendons, or idiopathic with no known cause

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Patients with shoulder subacromial bursitis have pain in the front or side of the shoulder

• They often report tenderness to palpation over the side of the shoulder and pain with repetitive shoulder motion

• TREATMENT​​

• The mainstay of treatment for shoulder subacromial bursitis is a course of physical therapy or home exercise program involving shoulder stabilization and strengthening of the rotator cuff muscles 

• Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories may also help with shoulder subacromial bursitis

• Surgery is only considered in patients with failure of extensive conservative management

PREVENTION​

• Maintaining a strong and stable shoulder girdle can help decrease the chance of developing shoulder subacromial bursitis