Bursitis risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2]

Overview

Common risk factors in the development of bursitis include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, pseudogout, cellulitis, diabetes mellitus, use of systemic glucocorticoids, alcoholism, malignancy, and leukopenia. Additionally, having a hobby or job that involves repetitive motions such as bicycling, playing baseball, gardening, or setting tiles may lead to bursitis.^[1]

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of aseptic bursitis include:^[1]

Middle age
Diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Gout
Pseudogout
Having a hobby or job that involves repetitive motions (e.g., bicycling, playing baseball, gardening, setting tiles)

Common risk factors in the development of septic bursitis include:^[1]

Based on anatomic location, common risk factors in the development of bursitis include:


Type of Bursitis	Risk Factores
Subacromial bursitis	Repetitive activities involving reaching overhead with the arm lifting Falling on the shoulder (can irritate the bursa near the rotator cuff)
Olecranon bursitis	Repetitively bending and extending the elbow Vacuuming Playing tennis or baseball
Trochanteric bursitis	Prolonged standing or sitting (especially on a bicycle seat)
Prepatellar bursitis	Kneeling, such as for gardening or installing floor tile Arthritis Being overweight
Retrocalcaneal bursitis	Improper footwear (e.g., high heel shoes) Overuse in sports like ice-skating Prolonged walking

References

Overview