Bursitis Treatment at Pura Vida Chiropractic in San Antonio

Bursitis—inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles—causes localized pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. Whether you experience bursitis in your shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, or another joint, the resulting pain can significantly restrict your activities and quality of life. At Pura Vida Chiropractic, Dr. Dan Foss, DC specializes in treating bursitis by addressing both the local inflammation and the underlying biomechanical dysfunction that creates abnormal stress on bursae.

Understanding Bursitis: Anatomy and Pathophysiology

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs strategically located between bones and soft tissues (tendons, muscles, skin). They reduce friction during movement and provide cushioning against impact. Over 160 bursae exist throughout your body, but only about 15 commonly become inflamed.

Most Common Sites of Bursitis

• Shoulder: Subacromial and subdeltoid bursae
• Elbow: Olecranon bursa (rear of elbow)
• Hip: Trochanteric and iliopsoas bursae
• Knee: Infrapatellar and suprapatellar bursae
• Ankle: Achilles and retrocalcaneal bursae

The Inflammation Problem

Bursae become inflamed from:

• Repetitive stress and microtrauma
• Acute impact injury
• Abnormal biomechanics creating excessive pressure
• Infection (septic bursitis, less common)
• Systemic inflammatory conditions
• Abnormal movement patterns

The Biomechanical Root of Bursitis

Most bursitis cases result from abnormal biomechanics that create excessive stress on specific bursae. For example:

Shoulder Bursitis: Results from shoulder impingement mechanics that compress the subacromial bursa. Underlying causes include cervical spine misalignments, postural dysfunction, and rotator cuff weakness.

Hip Bursitis: Results from abnormal hip mechanics from pelvic misalignment, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or lumbar spine subluxations.

Knee Bursitis: Results from abnormal knee tracking from pelvic or lumbar spine misalignment affecting hip and knee mechanics.

Addressing only the local inflammation through ice, NSAIDs, or corticosteroid injections fails to address the underlying biomechanical problem. Without correcting the abnormal mechanics, bursitis recurs repeatedly.

Why Dr. Dan Foss's Approach Works for Bursitis

Dr. Dan Foss has successfully treated bursitis of all types since founding Pura Vida Chiropractic in 2010. His understanding that bursitis results from biomechanical dysfunction rather than isolated inflammation makes his treatment approach uniquely effective.

Rather than simply reducing inflammation at the bursa, Dr. Foss corrects the spinal and joint misalignments creating abnormal stress on the bursa. By restoring normal biomechanics, he allows the inflammation to resolve naturally and prevents recurrence.

The Pura Vida Protocol for Bursitis Treatment

SOT Category I: Alignment Correction Based on Bursa Location

For shoulder bursitis: Dr. Foss corrects cervical spine (particularly C4-C6) and upper thoracic misalignments that create shoulder dysfunction and impingement mechanics.

For hip bursitis: Category I corrections address sacral and lumbar spine misalignments affecting pelvic mechanics and hip function.

For knee bursitis: Category I corrections address sacral and lumbar misalignments that alter hip mechanics and subsequently affect knee function.

For elbow and ankle bursitis: Category I corrections address the spinal regions supplying nerves to these areas.

By restoring proper spinal alignment, Dr. Foss normalizes the biomechanics creating excessive stress on affected bursae.

SOT Category II: Cranial Support for Anti-Inflammatory Response

The brain and nervous system control inflammatory responses throughout the body. Cranial misalignments compromise nervous system function, reducing the body's ability to resolve inflammation. SOT Category II cranial adjustments enhance cerebrospinal fluid circulation and brain function, supporting the body's natural anti-inflammatory responses.

This cranial component often accelerates bursal inflammation resolution, sometimes producing dramatic improvements within days.

SOT Category III: Structural Integration for Movement Normalization

Category III corrections ensure that the entire spinal structure supports normal movement patterns and biomechanics. By addressing overall structural alignment, Dr. Foss creates the biomechanical foundation for normal bursal function.

CMRT for Bursal Inflammation Reflex Control

Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique directly addresses the neurological reflexes controlling inflammation at specific bursa locations. Specific reflex points correspond to areas affected by bursitis. By stimulating these reflex patterns, Dr. Foss enhances the body's anti-inflammatory response at the affected bursa.

CMRT often produces rapid improvements in bursitis inflammation. Many patients experience significant swelling and pain reduction after treatment.

Class IV Laser Therapy for Bursal Healing

Class IV laser therapy penetrates deep into tissues surrounding affected bursae, reducing inflammation and promoting tissue healing. The laser energy:

• Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production
• Enhances anti-inflammatory cytokine release
• Stimulates mitochondrial function in inflamed tissues
• Promotes angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) for nutrient delivery
• Accelerates tissue repair and regeneration

For acute bursitis, laser therapy rapidly reduces inflammation and pain. For chronic bursitis with scar tissue formation, laser therapy promotes tissue remodeling and healing.

Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Bursitis

For chronic bursitis with persistent inflammation or calcification, shockwave therapy stimulates tissue regeneration and breaking down of chronic inflammatory patterns. This therapy is particularly useful for bursitis that has persisted despite conservative treatment.

The Complete Bursitis Care Plan at Pura Vida Chiropractic

Initial Comprehensive Evaluation

Dr. Dan Foss performs detailed evaluation including:

• Thorough history of pain onset, location, and aggravating/relieving factors
• Specific functional limitation assessment
• Orthopedic testing for bursal involvement
• Spinal and joint alignment assessment
• Analysis of movement patterns and biomechanics
• Palpation to assess swelling and tenderness

This evaluation identifies the specific bursa involved and the biomechanical dysfunction creating stress on it.

Customized Treatment Protocol

Based on the specific bursa affected and the underlying biomechanical problem, Dr. Foss designs a treatment plan. Most patients require 2-3 adjustments per week initially, with frequency adjusted based on improvement.

Activity Modification Recommendations

Dr. Foss provides specific recommendations for activities to avoid or modify while the bursa heals. These modifications prevent aggravation while allowing continued function as much as possible.

Therapeutic Exercises and Stretching

Dr. Foss prescribes specific exercises that improve the biomechanics creating stress on the bursa. These exercises prevent recurrence and improve overall function.

Postural and Ergonomic Corrections

Dr. Foss identifies postural or ergonomic factors contributing to abnormal stress and provides specific corrections.

Progress Monitoring

Regular reassessments track swelling reduction, pain improvement, and functional restoration. Treatment is adjusted based on progress.

Why Bursitis Becomes Chronic

Incomplete Treatment Addressing Only Symptoms

Treatments that reduce inflammation without correcting biomechanical dysfunction allow bursitis to recur as soon as stress on the bursa resumes.

Continued Abnormal Biomechanics

If the spinal misalignments or postural dysfunction creating excess stress on the bursa remains uncorrected, inflammation recurs repeatedly.

Scar Tissue Development

Chronic inflammation can lead to scar tissue (fibrosis) within the bursa, creating permanent changes if not properly treated.

Progressive Degeneration

Without correction of underlying biomechanical problems, bursitis can progress to degenerative changes in associated joints.

Common Bursitis Patterns and Causes

Shoulder Bursitis from Impingement

Most shoulder bursitis results from impingement mechanics compressing the subacromial bursa. Treatment must address the impingement mechanics (cervical spine misalignment, thoracic kyphosis, rotator cuff weakness).

Hip Bursitis from Pelvic Tilt

Hip bursitis often results from pelvic misalignment (particularly sacroiliac joint dysfunction) creating abnormal hip mechanics. Sacral and lumbar corrections typically resolve hip bursitis.

Knee Bursitis from Altered Tracking

Knee bursitis can result from altered knee tracking from pelvic or hip dysfunction. Treating the hip and pelvis often resolves knee bursitis.

Elbow Bursitis from Repetitive Stress

Occupational elbow bursitis results from repetitive movements. Treatment addresses both local inflammation and the overall biomechanical stress pattern.

Ankle/Achilles Bursitis from Foot Mechanics

Ankle bursitis can result from abnormal foot mechanics or ankle joint dysfunction. Treatment addresses these underlying mechanical problems.

Acute vs. Chronic Bursitis

Acute Bursitis

Develops suddenly, often from a specific injury or sudden increase in activity. Acute bursitis typically responds rapidly to treatment within days to weeks. Most acute cases resolve completely with proper treatment.

Chronic Bursitis

Develops gradually from repetitive stress or persists after incomplete treatment of acute bursitis. Chronic cases may require more extensive treatment but still typically resolve within 6-12 weeks with comprehensive care.

Timeline for Bursitis Improvement

Immediate Response (First Treatment): Many patients experience reduced swelling and pain immediately after treatment.

Early Response (Days 1-3): Most patients see significant improvement in swelling and pain within 3 days.

Significant Improvement (Weeks 1-2): By 2 weeks, most patients report major improvement in symptoms.

Substantial Relief (Weeks 2-4): By 4 weeks, most patients experience near-complete resolution of bursitis symptoms.

Complete Resolution (Weeks 4-8): Complete bursitis resolution typically occurs within 8 weeks with consistent treatment.

Timeline varies based on:

• Acuteness (acute vs. chronic)
• Severity of inflammation
• Duration before treatment initiation
• Consistency with office visits
• Compliance with activity modifications
• Overall inflammatory response

Preventing Bursitis Recurrence

Once bursitis resolves, preventing recurrence requires:

Maintaining Corrected Spinal Alignment

Periodic maintenance adjustments prevent subluxation recurrence that would recreate abnormal biomechanics.

Continuing Therapeutic Exercises

Continued performance of exercises that improved biomechanics prevents recurrence.

Maintaining Postural Awareness

Continue applying posture corrections that reduced stress on affected bursa.

Ergonomic Optimization

Maintain awareness of ergonomic factors and continue making modifications that reduce abnormal stress.

When Medical Treatment Is Appropriate

While chiropractic care successfully treats most bursitis, some cases benefit from medical coordination:

Corticosteroid Injections

For acute bursitis with severe inflammation unresponsive to initial chiropractic care, a corticosteroid injection can rapidly reduce inflammation while chiropractic care addresses the underlying cause.

Antibiotics for Septic Bursitis

If bursitis results from infection (septic bursitis), antibiotics are necessary alongside chiropractic care.

Surgical Drainage

Rarely, severely swollen bursae require medical drainage for symptom relief.

Dr. Foss coordinates care with medical physicians when appropriate.

Why San Antonio Residents Choose Pura Vida Chiropractic for Bursitis

Dr. Dan Foss is bilingual (English/Spanish), advanced SOT certified, and highly experienced in treating bursitis of all types. His biomechanical approach to bursitis, addressing root causes rather than just symptoms, makes him uniquely qualified.

Our office at 2318 NW Military Hwy Suite 103, San Antonio TX 78231 provides a welcoming environment for bursitis patients. We offer convenient hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:00am-4:00pm) to fit your treatment schedule.

Overcome Bursitis Permanently

Bursitis doesn't have to be a recurring problem. Dr. Dan Foss at Pura Vida Chiropractic has the expertise to identify and correct the biomechanical dysfunction causing your bursitis, allowing permanent resolution.

Call us today at (210) 685-1994 to schedule your comprehensive bursitis evaluation. Let us help you achieve lasting relief and restore normal, pain-free movement.

Begin your bursitis recovery at Pura Vida Chiropractic in San Antonio today.