Palpation of the prepatellar bursa

The prepatella bursa (arrow) is palpated for warmth, focal tenderness, and swelling, and the walls are squeezed between the fingertips to assess for bursal wall thickening. After assessing the acute and chronic inflammatory changes, the range of motion of the knee is assessed. The patient with prepatellar bursitis is able to fully extend the knee without increasing their symptoms.