Inflammation at the Interface of Structure and Motion. Joint pain is rarely the result of a single structure acting alone. This chart explores three closely related yet anatomically distinct categories of musculoskeletal pathology — bursitis, arthritis and tendonitis — and maps precisely where inflammation develops and how it influences movement.
At the centre, the skeletal framework establishes orientation. Surrounding focus zones highlight the regions most frequently affected, including the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle. Rather than listing conditions abstractly, the artwork anchors each diagnosis within its anatomical setting, allowing viewers to see where the bursa lies relative to the joint capsule, where tendons transmit load to bone, and where intra-articular degeneration alters joint mechanics.
Bursitis is presented as inflammation of the friction-reducing bursae that cushion movement between soft tissues and bone. Arthritis is differentiated into its common forms — degenerative, autoimmune, metabolic and infectious — clarifying how joint surfaces and surrounding tissues are progressively affected. Tendonitis is illustrated at the tendon–bone interface, emphasising overload, repetitive strain and tissue irritation. By placing these conditions side by side, the chart makes visible what is often confused in clinical conversation: intra-articular pathology versus periarticular inflammation.
The composition avoids visual clutter and instead prioritises spatial logic. Each condition is positioned where it typically manifests, reinforcing understanding of load transfer, tissue stress and regional vulnerability. This approach allows practitioners to explain why shoulder pain may stem from subacromial bursitis rather than glenohumeral arthritis, or why anterior knee pain may reflect tendon irritation rather than joint degeneration.
In practice, the artwork functions as a rapid explanatory surface. It supports discussions around overuse injury, degenerative change, inflammatory response and biomechanical compensation. When time is limited, patients can immediately distinguish between joint inflammation and tendon pathology, strengthening understanding and improving adherence to treatment strategy.
This is not a generic pathology poster. It is a structured visual framework for differentiating common inflammatory conditions of the musculoskeletal system — designed to support diagnostic dialogue, refine patient education and elevate the professional atmosphere of the clinic.
Free customisation with your clinic’s name.
For this chart we offer to add your clinic’s name (or website address) for free! The name will go instead of the current sub-headline on the artwork; view an illustration of this in the image gallery.
View this chart here on YouTube.
Black Edition.
This chart is available to order in a special black edition, which can be previewed in the image gallery.
🔥 This artwork is part of a set with a 25% discount, as seen here.
🇬🇧 View more details of the English version.
🇮🇹 Vedi i dettagli della versione italiana.
🇪🇸 Ver detalles de la versión en español.
🇩🇪 Details zur deutschen Version anzeigen.
🇫🇷 Voir les détails de la version française.
🇳🇱 Bekijk details van de Nederlandse versie.
🇵🇹 Veja mais detalhes da versão portuguesa.
🇸🇪 Se fler detaljer om den svenska versionen.
🇳🇴 Se flere detaljer om den norske versjonen.
🇩🇰 Se flere detaljer af den danske version.
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