What should you know about housemaid bursitis?

The bursa cushions movement between skin and the kneecap. Repeated kneeling, leaning on hard surfaces, or a knock can irritate it, causing a soft or firm swelling over the front of the knee and tenderness with pressure. Bursitis can occur without an obvious injury. Infection is a separate concern when the area is hot and red or you feel feverish, so the appearance and timing of symptoms matter.

Avoid kneeling and use padding or a raised work surface while the knee settles. Reduce activities that press directly on the swelling, but keep gentle pain-limited movement so the joint does not become unnecessarily stiff. A clinician may discuss anti-inflammatory medication when appropriate, or other options if fluid persists. Do not attempt to drain the swelling yourself. Gradual return to kneeling should wait until pressure no longer causes pain.

Seek prompt medical assessment for fever, spreading redness, warmth, drainage, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, or difficulty moving the knee. Arrange review if the lump remains, repeatedly returns, or interferes with work. A clinician may examine the bursa and consider joint aspiration when infection or another cause needs checking.

Ask whether the swelling is in the bursa, how long to avoid kneeling, and whether medication or a cortisone injection is appropriate. Ask what signs would make aspiration or testing necessary.