BURSITIS OF THE KNEE
Knee bursitis is particularly painful. There are three bursae in the knee, and the most commonly-seen knee bursitis can be found in the prepatellar bursa, which is right over the kneecap. This can easily become inflamed, especially when one is in a kneeling position for long periods of time. The conditions known as "housemaid's knee", "roofer's knee" and "carpet layer's knee" are all actually knee bursitis. Depending on the severity of the bursitis, it can cause pain and swelling, but not nearly as much pain as arthritis. Patients often report that the knees are warm, red and tender, and many say they feel stiffness in the knee joints, as well as pain while moving.
The other two bursae in the knees do not seem to cause as many problems for people, but they should not be overlooked. The second bursa is called the infrapatellar bursa, and it is located just under the kneecap, and below the tendon that attaches the thigh muscle to the kneecap. Most injuries to this bursa involve jumping and are often referred to as "jumper's knee". The third bursa is the anserine bursa, and it is located on the lower inside of the knee. Inflammation to this bursa is often seen in middle-aged women, and symptoms include pain in the back of the knee, especially when climbing stairs. Also called anserine bursitis, this condition is also common in those who are overweight.