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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffKnee bursitis is a common complaint, but the following factors may increase your risk of developing this painful disorder.
Excessive kneeling
People who work on their knees for long periods of time — carpet layers, plumbers and gardeners — are at increased risk of knee bursitis. The nicknames of several types of knee bursitis reflect this connection:
- Housemaid's knee. This variety of bursitis involves the prepatellar bursa, located directly over the kneecap.
- Vicar's or preacher's knee. This form of bursitis involves the infrapatellar bursa, located just below the kneecap.
Participation in certain sports
Sports that result in direct blows or frequent falls on the knee — such as wrestling, football and volleyball — may increase your risk of knee bursitis. Runners may develop pain and inflammation in the anserine bursa, located on the inner side of your knee below the joint.
Obesity and osteoarthritis
Anserine bursitis, affecting the inner side of your knee below the joint, often occurs in obese women with osteoarthritis.
Impaired immune system
People who have medical conditions or who take medications that make them more susceptible to infection may have a greater risk of infectious (septic) knee bursitis. These conditions include cancer, diabetes, lupus, alcoholism and HIV/AIDS.
- Questions and answers about bursitis and tendinitis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bursitis/bursitis_tendinitis_qa.pdf. Accessed Feb. 17, 2009.
- Hanada E, et al. Knee bursitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/120873802-11/805536116/1678/65.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50064-X_1032. Accessed Feb. 17, 2009.
- Anderson BC. Knee bursitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 17, 2009.
- Regional processes: Knee. In: Noble J, et al. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2001. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125156294-3/814972377/959/864.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-00828-3..50139-4--cesec42_4185. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Prepatellar (kneecap) bursitis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00338. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Kouotouzis T, et al. Tendinopathy and bursitis. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125156294-3/814972377/1365/357.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50120-7--cesec40_5880. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Huddleston JI, et al. Hip and knee pain. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125156294-5/815026131/1807/290.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10042-7--s0020_1201. Accessed March 11, 2009.
