Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that serve as cushions and reduce friction between bone and other moving parts, such as overlying muscle, tendons, or skin. There are approximately 160 bursae found throughout the body. If a bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is referred to as bursitis.

People whose occupation or leisure activity requires repetitive use of a joint are prone to bursitis. Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of bursitis in Bursitis - Fast Facts.

Related Resources:

• Fast Facts About Tendonitis
• Inflammation - The Battle Within
• Test Your Knowledge - Inflammation
• More About Bursitis

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Bursitis - Fast Facts originally appeared on About.com Arthritis on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 23:34:44.

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Back pain is ubiquitous. Lots of new treatments and tests have emerged in recent years to try to address it. A 2009 study led by Richard Deyo, MD, PhD, and notable patient advocate specializing in spinal treatments, found that Medicare payments for spinal epidurals, spine MRIs, opioid pain management, and spinal fusions have shot up significantly since 1994. This is most likely a combination of more procedures done and an increase in cost for those services.

So how well did the recipients of the treatments and tests do? Deyo says there are not a lot of follow up studies, but the ones that have been done suggest that back pain is actually increasing. For example, he reports that the US Medical Expediture Panel Survey found several factors that usually go with back pain (like limitations in what you're able to do and your mental health) actually rose between the years of 1997 and 2005.

One might think that with the increase in costs and use of new spine treatments, the people on the receiving end would feel better for the experience.

Do You Really Need All That Treatment for Your Back Pain? originally appeared on About.com Back & Neck Pain on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 15:37:23.

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