Infrapatellar bursitis (knee mucosal inflammation)

Knee pneumonia, also known as infrapatellar bursitis, is a condition that can cause pain, reddish swelling and inflammation on the underside of the patella.

Infrapatellar bursitis can occur after a single trauma (fall or accident) or repeated microtraumas (such as prolonged exertion). Mucositis at the bottom of the kneecap can also occur from something as simple as standing on your knees for large parts of the day on a hard surface. Directly translated from English it is also called for kirkemann's kne (Clergy's knee).

The Pain Clinics: Our Interdisciplinary and Modern Clinics

Our clinic departments at Vondtklinikkene (click here for a complete overview of our clinics) has a distinctively high level of professional expertise in the investigation, treatment and rehabilitation of knee diagnoses. Contact us if you want the help of therapists with expertise in knee pain.

– Located on the underside of the kneecap

The position of the ground mucus bag is exposed to trauma or frictional injuries. As you can see in the picture below, it is located below the patella - named infrapatellar bursa.

Note: A differential diagnosis of infrapatellar bursitis is prepatellar bursitis. They can cause very similar symptoms.

What is a slimy bag / bursa?

A bursa is a fluid-filled 'mucus sac' found in various parts of the body. These mucous sacs are designed to reduce friction between different layers of tissue - thus they are typically located in areas that may be prone to such frictional damage.

We strongly recommend that you use light knee compression clothing to promote natural healing in the area - as illustrated below.

Relief and load management in the case of inflammation of the bursa in the knee

A bursitis in the knee is a particularly strong indication that your knee needs more relief and rest. In such cases, one can knee compression support be of great help as it both contributes to improved circulation and fluid drainage - which can result in less swelling. In addition to this, the support can also give the knee and bursa much-needed rest and stability - so that it can recover from bursitis.

Tips: Knee compression support (The link opens in a new window)

Click on the image or link to read more about the knee compression support and how it can help your knee.

Infrapatellar bursitis symptoms

The area can become hot, painful and reddish in the skin - a clear swelling will usually also be present. In other words, it will feel like an inflammation of the knee and patella, and the pain is in most cases also present at night. In certain cases (for example in the absence of treatment) the inflammation can become septic, and is then called septic infrapatellar bursitis.

This picture shows prepatellar bursitis - which can be misinterpreted as infrapatellar bursitis and vice versa.

Infrapatellar bursitis treatment

• Have the problem diagnosed by a doctor or clinic.
• NSAIDS and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Load management.
• Rest. Avoid suspicious causes.
• Knee support and possibly sports tape or kinesio tape to prevent further irritation.
• If there is no improvement, consult a doctor or emergency room.

What can I do even against pain in muscles, nerves and joints?

1. General exercise, specific exercise, stretching and activity are recommended, but stay within the pain limit. Two walks a day of 20-40 minutes make good for the whole body and sore muscles.

2. Trigger point / massage balls we strongly recommend - they come in different sizes so you can hit well even on all parts of the body. There is no better self help than this! We recommend the following (click the image below) - which is a complete set of 5 trigger point / massage balls in different sizes:

3. Training: Specific training with training tricks of various opponents (such as this complete set of 6 knits of different resistance) can help you train strength and function. Knit training often involves more specific training, which in turn can lead to more effective injury prevention and pain reduction.

4. Pain Relief - Cooling: Biofreeze is a natural product that can relieve pain by cooling the area gently. Cooling is especially recommended when the pain is very severe. When they have calmed down then heat treatment is recommended - it is therefore advisable to have both cooling and heating available.

5. Pain Relief - Heating: Warming up tight muscles can increase blood circulation and reduce pain. We recommend the following reusable hot / cold gasket (click here to read more about it) - which can be used both for cooling (can be frozen) and for heating (can be heated in the microwave).

6. Prevention and healing: Compression noise like that like this can increase blood circulation to the affected area, thereby speeding up the natural healing of injured or worn muscles and tendons.

Recommended products for pain relief in pain

Biofrost (Cold / cryotherapy)

Also read:
- Sore knee (learn about different causes of knee pain and what you can do to get rid of them)

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