Goosefoot Knee Bursitis and Other Common Knee Conditions

La knee bursitis «goose foot« It is an inflammation of a bag with synovial fluid, located on the inside of the knee, between the tibia and 3 tendons that connect it to the hamstring muscles of the leg.
In the knee, there are 5 types of bursae, located in different areas of this joint, but close, which can lead to confusion about the specific origin of the pain.
La prepatellar bursitis or prepatellar is the inflammation of the bursa located on the anterior face of the patella, just below the skin. An area very exposed to blows and inflammation.
Infrapatellar bursitis occurs when the inflammation is located over the patellar tendon. There are 2 pockets: the superficial, located in front of the tendon and the deep, located between the tendon and the infrapatellar body fat.
But the bursa that is slightly higher than the "goosefoot" one, in the medial area of ​​the knee, called the semimembranosus bursa, can also become inflamed.
When any of these bursae becomes inflamed, severe knee pain, stiffness, and limitation of joint movement are felt, with lameness. In some cases, there may be a fever if the inflammation comes from an infection.
It is a very common problem in those who use the knee excessively, as an adept at running, contact sport, someone who is overweight, has arthritis in the knee or has suffered an injury.

Home exercises for knee bursitis

We can do some home exercises to rehabilitate the inflamed knee, but it is always advisable to consult a specialist. Each exercise should be done slowly and stopped if you feel pain.

• Lying on the back. The swollen knee that rests on the ground and the one that is good, bent. Slide the heel of the affected leg gently on the ground until the knee is flexed. Hold the position for a few seconds and extend the knee again. Repeat the exercise several times.
• In the same position as the previous exercise, slowly raise the affected leg, straight, a few centimeters above the ground, hold the position for a few seconds and gently lower the leg. To rest.
• Standing or sitting, place the affected leg on a support in front of you. A chair, stool or any object that keeps the leg straight, parallel to the ground and at the height of the knee (sitting) or hip (standing). Stretch the leg as much as possible, without causing pain, and hold the position for about 30 seconds. Lower the leg and repeat.

What to do with prepatellar or infrapatellar knee bursitis?

• Applying cold to the knee will help calm the inflammation.
• Try to leave the leg at rest, for its recovery.

Depending on the causes of Prepatellar bursitis and infrapatellar bursitis its treatment can incorporate:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Infiltrations.
• Laser therapy.
• Physiotherapy.
• Surgical operation to remove the bag, when it does not respond to other treatments.
• Antibiotics, when the inflammation comes from a previous infection.

It is advisable to go to a specialist to treat “Goosefoot” knee bursitis and avoid, as much as possible, the recurrence of the inflammation or the injury it causes.