What is the Difference Between Achilles Tendonitis and Bursitis

Achilles tendonitis and bursitis are two conditions caused by inflammation. They cause painful swelling. Moreover, treatment for both these conditions focuses on pain relief and reduction in inflammation. Surgery is rarely needed to correct either of these conditions.

The key difference between Achilles tendonitis and bursitis is their cause. Achilles tendonitis is due to the inflammation in the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the foot, while bursitis condition is due to the inflammation of one of the fluid-filled sacs called bursa that cushion spaces between bones, muscles, and other tissue inside the body.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Achilles Tendonitis  
3. What is Bursitis
4. Similarities – Achilles Tendonitis and Bursitis
5. Achilles Tendonitis vs Bursitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Achilles Tendonitis vs Bursitis
7. FAQ – Achilles Tendonitis and Bursitis

What is Achilles Tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is a condition due to the inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the foot. The symptoms of this condition include pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon above the heel, pain felt in the Achilles tendon that worsens with activity, pain worsening with activity or the next day, swelling in the heel, and pain on the heel when wearing shoes. This condition is caused by repetitive or intense strain on the Achilles tendon.

Moreover, the risk factors for this condition include sex (men affected more), older people, physical problems, training choices like running without shoes, having medical conditions like psoriasis, and antibiotics like fluoroquinolones.

Figure 01: Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis can be diagnosed through physical examination, X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for Achilles tendonitis include taking medications such as pain relievers, exercises, orthotic devices, and surgery to remove inflamed tissue and abnormal areas of the tendon.

What is Bursitis?

Bursitis is the painful swelling in a small, fluid-filled sac called a bursa that cushions the spaces around bones and other tissue inside the body. The most common symptoms of bursitis include pain when moving the affected part of the body, a limited range of motion, and swelling. Sometimes, infections may cause discoloration or redness of the skin, a feeling of warmth, fever, and chills. Athletes, people who do physical work, musicians, and people with other health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid disease are more likely to get this condition.

Figure 02: Bursitis

The diagnosis of bursitis can be done through physical examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and aspiration. Furthermore, treatment options for bursitis include taking pain relievers, antibiotics for infections, physical therapy, occupational therapy, corticosteroid injections, and surgery to remove the bursa.

Similarities Between Achilles Tendonitis and Bursitis

1. Achilles tendonitis and bursitis are two conditions caused by body tissue inflammation.
2. Both conditions are painful and cause swelling.
3. These conditions may cause movement difficulties.
4. Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging testing.
5. They can be treated by taking certain medications and respective surgeries.

Difference Between Achilles Tendonitis and Bursitis

Definition

1. Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon that connects the calf muscle to the foot.
2. Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac that cushions a joint.

Causes

1. Achilles tendonitis is caused by overuse.
2. Bursitis is caused by overuse or injury.

Risk Factors

1. The risk factors for Achilles tendonitis include walkers, runners, or other athletes age (men affected more), middle-aged and older adults.
2. The risk factors for bursitis include athletes, people who do manual labor, musicians, and people with certain health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid disease.

Symptoms

1. The symptoms of Achilles tendonitis are pain in the heel when walking or running, pain and stiffness in the area in the morning, pain that occurs in the Achilles tendon when touched or moved, swelling and warmth in the heel, and difficulty in standing up on one toe.
2. The symptoms of bursitis are pain in the affected area, localized tenderness, limited motion, swelling, and redness if the inflamed bursa is close to the surface of the skin.

Diagnosis

1. The diagnosis of Achilles tendonitis is determined through a work history, physical examination, X-ray, and MRI.
2. The diagnosis of bursitis is determined through medical history, physical examination, X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, aspiration, and blood tests.

Treatment

1. Treatment of Achilles tendonitis includes recommended changes to normal activity, physical therapy (stretching exercises), and surgery to remove inflamed tissue and abnormal areas of the tendon.
2. Treatment of bursitis includes resting, applying ice, compression, elevation, taking anti-inflammatory and pain medicines, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, injection of a steroid, antibiotics, using splints or braces to limit movement, repeated aspiration of the infected fluid and surgical drainage and removal of the infected bursa.

The following table summarizes the difference between Achilles tendonitis and bursitis.

Summary – Achilles Tendonitis vs Bursitis

Both Achilles tendonitis and bursitis can present with swelling and discomfort around the affected area. However, Achilles tendonitis is a condition that occurs when the tendon that connects the back of the leg to the heel becomes irritated and inflamed, while bursitis is a condition that occurs when the small sac of fluid around a joint called bursa becomes irritated and inflamed. This is the key difference between Achilles tendonitis and bursitis.

FAQ: Achilles Tendonitis and Bursitis

1. What causes Achilles tendonitis?

• Achilles tendinitis is caused by repetitive or intense strain on the band of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone called the Achilles tendon.

2. How does Achilles tendonitis feel?

• The symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include swelling along the Achilles tendon or at the back of the heel, bone spurs or pain near the lower part of the tendon at the back of the heel, pain in the middle of the tendon and heel, pain when stretching the calf, swelling and the warmth in the heel, and difficulty in standing up on one toe.

3. How to cure Achilles tendonitis fast?

• Treatment options for Achilles tendonitis include resting, applying ice on the affected area, compressing, elevation, taking pain relievers, exercises, using orthotic devices, and surgery to remove inflamed tissue and abnormal areas of the tendon.

4. What is the main cause of bursitis?

• Bursitis is caused by repetitive, minor impact on the area or by a sudden, more serious injury to the bursa, which cushions the spaces around bones and other tissue inside the body.

5. Can bursitis be cured?

• The treatments for bursitis include resting the affected area, using bandages and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation, taking antibiotics if bacteria are involved, and surgery to remove the inflamed bursa.

Reference:

1.  “Achilles Tendonitis.” Pennmedicine.Org.
2. “Bursitis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Achilles tendonitis” By Injurymap – Free Human Anatomy Images and Pictures. (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “3D still showing Bursitis” By ScientificAnimations.com – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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