Pes anserine syndrome
If you are experiencing pain on the inside of your knee, or at the center of your shinbone, then you may be suffering from Pes Anserine Bursitis.
We guide you through the common causes and how you can start relieving and treating your pain.
If the inside of your knee or the center of your shinbone is painful and feels even worse with movement, such as when using stairs, you might be experiencing a condition known as Pes Anserine Bursitis (PAB).
The good news is that only about 1% of the population will experience this problem, and there are several ways in which PAB can be treated. In the long-run especially, specific exercises that target this very type of knee discomfort will be extremely useful to keep the pain at bay.
Keep reading to figure out if you are displaying symptoms of PAB, which causes this type of discomfort, and most importantly, find out the best treatment options and methods for you.
What is Pes Anserine Bursitis?
Bursitis refers to an inflammation of the bursa or the fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between two structures, particularly at a joint, such as the knee. The human body has over one hundred bursae, that are located at the hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. Since the bursae are located close to moveable structures, they can easily become irritated and inflamed, especially with repeated use.
In the case of pes anserine bursitis, the inflammation develops in the bursa located between the tendons attached to the hamstring muscles, the muscles on the back of your thigh, and the shin bone. When this bursa swells, it may place pressure on parts of the knee, creating pain and discomfort.
Frequently, this condition occurs in conjunction with pes anserine tendinopathy, or inflammation of the tendon. This may happen due to injury of the muscles or tendons, or again, from overuse.
The Signs & Symptoms of Pes Anserine Bursitis
If you have pes anserine bursitis, you might have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the inner part of your knee, especially when straightening or bending your knee.
- Inner knee pain when using stairs.
- Weakness around the knee.
- Swelling or tenderness, on or around the inner knee.
- Limited range of motion due to swelling at the knee.
If you play sports or regularly participate in physical activity, you may also find it hard to perform these movements properly. If you’re experiencing any of the above signs or symptoms, avoid doing any movements that rely on your knees too much, and try resting your knee for a period of time to see if there are any improvements.
If the pain persists, consider doing specific exercises that focus on strengthening the knee area. Injurymap can help you with this! Use Injurymap to track your pain, receive a customized treatment plan, and move towards a speedy recovery. However, if the pain persists or becomes severe, even after targeted exercises, this may be a sign that it’s time to see a doctor or a physical therapist. Learn more about the app here.
What Causes Pes Anserine Bursitis?
PAB is often caused by repeated use or overuse of the knee joint. It’s a fairly common condition in runners, especially when they amp up their training around competition time.
Other causes
- Poor hip or knee movement and coordination.
- Incorrect exercise or training techniques.
- Tight hamstring muscles.
- Obesity.
- Osteoarthritis (a type of arthritis that only damages the cartilage and bone around the joints).
- Other injuries, such as tendonitis, at the knee joint.
- Muscle imbalances.
- Improper footwear.
- Inadequate warm-up or cool down when exercising.
- Increase in sport intensity, duration, distance, or time, causing the joint and its structures to become overused
Whenever you experience pain, it’s best to halt your activity and rest. This can prevent your condition from becoming worse and allows your body some time to heal.
Recovery Time For Pes Anserine Bursitis
Typically, pes anserine bursitis will heal within 6-8 weeks or sooner, depending on its severity, adequate treatment, or rest. Typically, it is best to stop all activities that involve the knee until the injury has fully healed, and the bursa is no longer inflamed. Failure to do so may result in a longer recovery period, or even other injuries. In other words, there are no shortcuts when it comes to recovery and healing. Taking care of your body is a gradual process, but if you are patient and diligent with your exercises, you will see longer-lasting positive effects and changes to your body.
Treating Pes Anserine Bursitis
While you regain your strength, various treatment methods can help guide your recovery and help you get back in shape. When it comes to PAB, a combination of treatment methods is best. Keep reading to see which ones could work for you.
1. Rest
Rest is probably the first thing you should try. A simple rule to stick to: if it hurts don’t force it, all types of injuries require a certain amount of rest. This is where your body can do its job and heal the affected area. You may need to take a break from certain activities or sports until you’ve made a full recovery. Know that this is in your best interest, and will prevent your pain from worsening, and reduce your recovery time.
2. Ice it!
Ice can help decrease your pain, but remember, it is only a temporary fix. To get the most effective results, ice the affected area for 10-20 minutes at a time, leaving at least 45 minutes in-between applications. The standard recommendation is that you ice your knee three times per day at a minimum. To ensure that you do not stop the blood flow or damage your skin tissue place a cloth in between any ice pack or cold device, and your skin.
3. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications can be used during the initial onset of pain. It’s not recommended to take NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, for longer than 10-14 days. They can cause gastrointestinal and other health issues. Many of these medications can help reduce your inflammation and thus, restore some range of motion.
4. Injections
For more painful types of pes anserine bursitis, your doctor may recommend a corticosteroid injection. This provides almost instant pain relief. However, again, this is a temporary solution and should be used in combination with other treatment options, such as exercise.
5. Exercise
Exercise is essential to help heal most injuries. When it comes to pes anserine bursitis, strengthening and stretching exercises can reduce your pain, improve function, and most importantly, prevent the injury from happening again. Strengthening exercises may focus on the muscles surrounding the knees and hips. Improper movement patterns or weakness of these muscles may lead to injury, including bursitis. The quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes, are the major muscles that are worked on in a pes anserine bursitis rehab exercise program.
The hamstring muscles are also frequently targeted for stretching exercises, since they are located on the back of your thigh, and help to bend the knee. When the hamstrings become tight, they may pull on surrounding structures, leading to injury and pain. Hamstring stretches are therefore essential to any PAB rehab program.
So now you may be wondering, what does an actual pes anserine bursitis rehab exercise program look like?
Exercises for Pes Anserine Bursitis
About the author
Krista Bugden has worked as a Rehab Exercise Expert at a physiotherapist clinic in Ottawa, Canada for the past 4 years. She has an Honours Bachelor Degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa. She uses her extensive knowledge in this area to educate others through well-researched and informative articles. Her passions include helping others and inspiring each person she meets to get the most out of their life.