Causes and Risk Factors
Shoulder bursitis is mainly caused by overuse or repetitive movement of the shoulder joint. Therefore, athletes and physically active people who have to lift the arms overhead often tend to be at a higher risk. These include swimmers, tennis or badminton players, painters, musicians, carpenters. Shoulder trauma or injury can also be a possible cause. When you bang or fall the shoulder on a hard surface, the bursae may fill with blood, which leads to inflammation. Age is another risk factor as the elderly tend to have weaker muscles and bones. Other possible causes and risk factors include having a poor posture, a bacterial infection of bursae, and other medical conditions, such as gout, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, alcoholism, lupus, HIV/AIDS, or cancer. [3]
