How much can physiotherapy help? | Subacromial bursitis

How much can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapeutic treatment is an important area in the conservative therapy of subacromial bursitis. Before resorting to surgery if drug therapy is not sufficiently successful, physiotherapy should first be considered. Within the scope of this, for example, pain relief can be achieved by so-called TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and inflammation inhibition can be pursued by shock wave therapy.

However, the focus is on cold and heat therapy, massages and, above all, movement and strengthening exercises for the shoulder/trunk area in order to maintain and improve mobility and function in the shoulder joint. It is important that any exercises are only carried out if they are relatively painless, otherwise they may be performed incorrectly. Often, a good result can be achieved by consistent physiotherapeutic training, in combination with anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing medication and injections, without the need for surgery.

When is an operation necessary?

Surgery is often performed at an early stage in cases of bursitis of the shoulder. However, since the bursa plays an important role in protecting the joint and tendons, all conservative therapeutic measures should be exhausted before surgery is performed. In addition to drug therapy and immobilization, these include physical therapy, manual therapy and physiotherapy. However, surgery should be performed if there is an acute and extremely severe inflammation of the bursa, which can spread and lead to further damage to the joint. However, surgery is excluded in cases of inflammation that is not physical but infectious.

Forecast

If subacromial bursitis is not detected and treated in time, it can change from an acute to a chronic form. In such patients it is difficult to treat the disease without permanent damage. If, on the other hand, this bursitis is treated appropriately at an early stage, the most important thing here being the consistent protection of the shoulder joint and the intake of anti-inflammatory painkillers, it can usually be brought under control.