Contusion Treatment

A contusion, commonly known as a bruise, is caused when small blood vessels and capillaries are damaged due to an impact or trauma. Bruises occur when a force or pressure impacts against the skin that damages but does not break the skin. A result of this damage is leaking of red blood cells that accumulate in the tissue beneath the surface of our skin causing discoloration and swelling. Depending on how hard you were hit or how much your tissue was damaged, a contusion can range from light-colored blue, green to black and purple bruises.

A contusion, or bruise, is a common injury that causes skin discoloration and tenderness when touched. Although the healing process usually begins soon after the injury, it can take weeks to recover completely. The most common symptom of a contusion is the dark blue, purple, green, or black discoloration caused by blood escaping from capillaries that have been broken due to the impact of an injury. Other symptoms include swelling and tenderness in the area around the bruise, limited range of motion if an underlying muscle or joint has been affected and in severe cases, intense pain. Contusions should be tended to immediately in order to promote proper healing and reduce the risk of infection. Properly treating bruises often involves rest and compression of the injured area with ice. If your symptoms persist for more than a few days or become worse with time, you should seek medical attention sooner rather than later as this could be cause for concern.

Treatments for a contusion include chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy and massage therapy. Chiropractors can assess the area and help reduce swelling with chiropractic mobilization techniques. Physiotherapists can provide therapeutic exercises to begin strengthening the muscles around the injured area. Massage therapy may be used to relax tight muscles and reduce muscle soreness. All these treatments combined can help promote healing in the injured tissue. It’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after sustaining an injury with significant swelling and pain, so appropriate treatments can be started quickly for optimal relief and recovery.