What Are the Different Types of Bursitis?

Although bursitis can occur anywhere in the body where bursae are located, there are several specific types of bursitis, including the following:

• Anterior Achilles tendon bursitis
  This type of bursitis is also called Albert's disease. Extra strain on the Achilles tendon, such as injury, disease, or shoes with rigid back support, causes this condition, which is characterized by inflammation of the bursa located in front of the attachment of the tendon to the heel.
• Posterior Achilles tendon bursitis
  This type of bursitis, also called Haglund's deformity, is located between the skin of the heel and the Achilles tendon (which attaches the calf muscles to the heel). Aggravated by a type of walking that presses the soft heel tissue to the hard back support of a shoe, this type of bursitis occurs mostly in young women.
• Hip bursitis
  Also called trochanteric bursitis, hip bursitis is often the result of injury, overuse, spinal abnormalities, arthritis, or surgery. This type of bursitis is more common in women and middle-aged and older people.
• Elbow bursitis
  Elbow bursitis is caused by the inflammation of the olecranon bursa located between the skin and bones of the elbow. Elbow bursitis can be caused by injury or constant pressure on the elbow (for example, when leaning on a hard surface).
• Knee bursitis
  Bursitis in the knee is also called goosefoot bursitis or Pes Anserine bursitis. The Pes Anserine bursa is located between the shin bone and the three tendons of the hamstring muscles, on the inside of the knee. This type of bursitis may be caused by lack of stretching before exercise, tight hamstring muscles, being overweight, arthritis, or out-turning of the knee or lower leg.
• Kneecap bursitis
  Also called prepatellar bursitis, this type of bursitis is common in people who sit on their knees a lot, such as carpet layers and plumbers.