2. Something hitting your knee
If something lands directly on your kneecap or if you have a hard fall, you could develop bursitis. A sudden, dramatic shock can affect the prepatellar bursa which can lead to engorgement and irritation on the lining of the bursa. Sometimes it can take a while before bursitis symptoms are seen, but even an injury that occurred a long time ago can manifest in bursitis later on.
It is important to get any injury looked at by a medical professional as soon as it happens and to take any pain seriously, even weeks after a hit or a fall. Your doctor will be able to tell whether the bursa is engorged or if the lining is becoming inflamed and can suggest treatment right away. The sooner you catch bursitis, the easier it is to treat and prevent from coming back. If you are an athlete, it is important to know the signs of bursitis.