An injury or inflammation of a bursa, a small sac that cushions bone from tendons in many joints of your body, can be treated with therapeutic exercise. According to the eOrthopod website, the pes anserine bursa is specific to your knee and can be painful when inflamed or injured. Knee exercises should be conducted only under the direct supervision of a doctor or licensed physical therapist.

History

The pes anserine bursa is a small lubricating sac between your tibia and your hamstring muscle, which is located on the back of your leg. According to eOrthopod.com, the pes anserine bursa provides a buffer or lubrication for movement to occurbetween the tendons in your knee, including the MCL and ACL. At times this bursa can become inflamed, leading to a condition known as bursitis. The Mayo Clinic states that each knee contains 11 bursae around each joint 1.

Causes

Overuse or friction is the most common causes of bursitis in your joints. This is especially true in the pes anserine bursa in your knee, due to your legs’ daily workload. Inflammation can also be the result of other medical conditions, such as arthritis or infection. Symptoms of bursitis include pain, loss of motion and swelling in the affected area.

Considerations

Exercises used to treat pes anserine bursitis focus on increasing and maintaining normal joint range of motion (ROM) that would otherwise be lost due to increased swelling. Examples of ROM exercises include knee flexion and extension, which requires the leg to bend freely at the knee joint. Other exercises include squats, resisted leg-pulls and manual stretching techniques under the supervision of a therapist, according to eOrthopod.com.

Misconceptions

Non-surgical treatment of pes anserine bursitis can be a long, strenuous process that requires weeks of exercise and therapy. The rehabilitation process can also differ from one patient to the next, so basing your recovery on that of another patient may be misleading.

Risks

In the event that your bursitis is a symptom associated with another medical condition like arthritis, your doctor may suggest additional treatment or exercise options for your condition. In rare cases, infection may also cause the appearance of bursitis in a joint. In that case, antibiotics may be prescribed for treatment. While exercising, never push yourself to the point of risking further injury to your knee joint.