Bursitis is inflammation or irritation to the bursa (small sacs between bone and other moving parts, such as skin, muscles and tendons). Tendonitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendon (thick fibrous cords that connect muscles to bone). Symptoms of bursitis and tendonitis are similar and include inflamed soft tissues that replicate symptoms of joint pain. Many times it is mistaken for arthritis. For these conditions, pain and stiffness often intensifies with movement. Bursitis and Tendonitis will not cause deformity, but can limit motion.

Common causes of tendonitis and bursitis include, injury or overuse and are seen in people that have bad posture or are not in good physical condition. Avoiding overuse and repetitive physical stress to the affected area is suggested to help with these conditions. Medications may be used to reduce inflammation that can be associated with tendonitis or bursitis. A doctor of chiropractic can help alleviate the problem by correcting the joint position, applying laser to reduce inflammation or incorporate soft tissue based therapies such as ART to break up muscle adhesion which prolongs the condition. These methods have been proven to be an effective way to treat these disorders.