Subacromial Bursitis

 

Low Level Laser Therapy Provides An Effective Drug-Free, Safe Resolution Option For Subacromial Bursitis

Experienced GP, Dr Shikha Parmar, has a special interest in providing a drug-free safe, effective treatment solution in Melbourne for acute injuries and chronic pain using Low Level Laser light Therapy also termed Photobiomodulation o PBM Therapy.

Subacromial Bursitis Treatment using Low Level Laser Therapy

shoulder-bursitisSubacromial Bursitis, Elbow, Hip (Greater trochanter), Knee. Achilles tendon and Heel can be successfully treated with LLLT to achieve resolution.

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)  is the application of red and near infrared light over injuries to stimulate cellular repair. LLLT has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect as well as a healing effect on inflamed bursae and surrounding inflamed soft tissues.  LLLT is completely safe and has no effect on normal tissues.

What Is Subacromial Bursitis?

Subacromial Bursitis is an inflammation or irritation of the Shoulder bursa.

A bursa is a thin bag filled with lubricating fluid which reduces rubbing and friction between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons, and skin.

What Causes Subacromial Bursitis

Subacromial Bursitis is most often caused by repetitive, minor impact on the area or excessive pressure. It can also occur after a sudden, more serious injury.

Movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed shoulder bursa aggravates its inflammation, perpetuating the problem.

Age also plays a role. As tendons age they are less able to tolerate stress, are less elastic, and are easier to tear. This can put stress on the bursa causing bursitis. An arthritic joint can similarly irritate a bursal sac.

Overuse or injury to the joint at work or play can also increase a person’s risk of Subacromial bursitis. Examples of high-risk activities include gardening, raking, carpentry, shovelling, painting, scrubbing, tennis, golf, skiing, and throwing. Incorrect posture at work or home can also lead to bursitis. Inflammation of, or injury to, related muscles and tendons irritate the bursa impinging on it and restricting its area.

Sometimes the reason is unknown. It can also be associated with some chronic systemic diseases.

Subacromial Bursitis is more common in adults, especially in those over 40 years of age.

What Parts of the Body Does Bursitis Affect?

  • Shoulder
  • Elbow
  • Hip (Greater trochanter)
  • Knee
  • Subacromial-bursitisAchilles tendon

What Are the Symptoms of Subacromial Bursitis?

Subacromial Bursitis causes pain in the joint of the inflamed Shoulder bursa which may build up gradually or be sudden and severe. Shoulder Pain is aggravated during or after activity and often the Shoulder joint is stiff the next morning with reduced range of movement.

How is Subacromial Bursitis Treated?

Traditionally, treatments for Subacromial bursitis consist of temporary pain relief using anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and icing the area. While ice numbs the pain it also prevents healthy blood flow which is essential to providing oxygen and nutrients to the area to heal it, and remove waste products and CO2. Ice should therefore not be applied to injuries after the acute phase (the first day). http://drmirkin.com/fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html

Pain killer medication just masks pain temporarily which is appropriate to alleviate suffering but does not enhance tissue healing. Anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen and Diclofenac, used for more than even a week can cause a host of side-effects in the body and can be injurious to your health. These medications also do not improve healing and have actually been shown to slow it down.

Corticosteroid (cortisone) injections are also used to assist in the treatment of Subacromial bursitis. These can be painful and the procedure carries risks such as increase in pain (“steroid flare”), skin discolouration at the injection site, nerve damage, infection, to name a few.


Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is the application of red and near infrared light over injuries to stimulate cellular repair. LLLT has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect as well as a healing effect on inflamed bursae and surrounding inflamed soft tissues.  LLLT is completely safe and has no effect on normal tissues.

Inflammation is the body’s response to injury to attempt to heal it. But often the inflammatory reaction is excessive and this has a paradoxical inhibitory effect on the body’s natural healing mechanisms. This then perpetuates pain and dysfunction in the affected area. By improving circulation and increasing cellular repair functions LLLT provides an environment for your body’s own natural healing processes to be activated and restored. Once normal immune processes are restored, the excessive inflammation is reduced and healing can begin.

LLLT does not exert any physical force on the bursa. Manipulation of the bursa just aggravates it, so you don’t want to actually handle the bursa, but instead decreasing the inflammation enables faster healing.

LLLT stimulates blood flow and lymphatic drainage, improved delivery of O2 and nutrition to the area, oxygen utilisation, removal of oxygen-free radicals and other waste products, and tissue healing. Read more on how Low Level Laser Therapy works.

You will be encouraged to move the affected area within range of movement/pain but not exert stretch or force during the healing phase

The end result is resolution of inflammation and restoration of healthy bursa and local soft tissues. Once tissues are healed, pain is eliminated and normal range of motion and function is restored. Then muscle and tendon strength and flexibility can be addressed with graduated exercises and stretching.

LLLT has no known side effects, is safe and effective. By treating the underlying problem, LLLT results in relief of pain  and restoration of function, assisting with issues such as knee pain, hip pain and bursitis related chronic pain.

To see how Low Level Laser Therapy can help your Subacromial bursitis contact us for more information or to make an appointment.

South Yarra, Victoria
Suite 8, 200 Toorak Road
(Ground floor from William St)
South Yarra, Vic 3141
Ph: 03 8529 2225
Email us:
 
info@laserpaintherapy.com.au

Map Location

TRANSPORT ACCESS:
Train: South Yarra Station, 100m, 1 minute walk
Tram: Route 58, stop  no. 127


Easy off-street free parking:
If driving you will find many free 1P and 2P spots on and around Toorak Rd near the clinic.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to helping our patients with the most technically advanced, proven and affordable medical therapies. Our treatment modalities offer evidence-based, safe, non-invasive and painless solutions to improve health, well-being and quality of life.

Disclaimer

The contents of this website have not been evaluated by the Australian Government Department of Health. The information of this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the author, who retains copyright as listed.....Continue Reading

Design & developed by gowebbi.com
Dedicated to Drug Free Pain Relief and Healing