Gentle resistance exercises and thigh stretching are important, as they help to align the scar tissue that forms during the healing process and enhance the tensile strength of the thigh muscle. Popping or snapping sensation as the muscle tears. Ice packs can be applied to the area. The location, size, and cause of the hematoma will determine how to treat it. He or she will check the skin over the injured area. Cold compresses or ice packs should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes every 20 to 30 minutes during the first 48 hours after the injury to minimize swelling. Your injury may run a little deeper, though. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323079099001379, orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/muscle-contusion-bruise/. Some of the warning signs that a person needs medical attention include bruising that: People may want to try to speed healing or lessen any pain associated with bruising. The symptoms of a bone contusion include: Bone contusions are usually impossible to see, even on an X-ray. https://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/the-forensic-science-behind-bruise-healing-infographic/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671564/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367875/, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/black-eye, Study in humans confirms link between Parkinson's and gut bacteria imbalance, Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Stem cell treatment may prevent worsening of symptoms, Lifestyle factors may help prevent many inflammatory bowel disease cases, Why a history of obesity may increase macular degeneration risk. However, recovery is often faster than intramuscular. Soft tissue contusions are injuries to your muscle or skin tissue. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Muscles that move a part of the body, such as a leg or arm, are known as adductor muscles. You may have to rest for some amount of time, but its important to allow your bone to heal fully. Learn about its causes and home exercises that can help. Grade 2 causes pain, tenderness, weakness, and sometimes bruising. Bruising that does not heal or subside after two weeks, on the other hand, indicates a more serious trauma or injury, and you should seek medical assistance. A hematoma is a large collection of blood that becomes trapped within tissues. They may indicate more severe internal bleeding or shock: symptoms that don't get. Bruises arent usually serious, and they typically clear up without treatment. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. However, skin color affects the appearance of a bruise. It often, A thigh muscle strain is a term often used to describe a tear in one of the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh., A cramp is a painful involuntary muscle contraction. Many people use arnica, quercetin, vitamin B-3, or vitamin K creams to help speed up bruise healing times. Leave it in place for 10 to 20 minutes to work its magic. The information provided does not constitute the practice of medicine or other healthcare professional services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor-patient relationship is formed. You can also apply a cold pack to the area for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day, to reduce swelling. You most likely will have nearly a full range of motion. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Try applying ice for 10-15 minutes once or twice a day. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 6 Jan 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 11 Jan 2023), ASHP (updated 11 Jan 2023) and others. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. What is a black eye? You might be more prone to bone bruises if one or more of the following applies to you: If you have osteoarthritis, bone surfaces grinding against each other can lead to bruising. 3. In certain cases, rapid bleeding may cause extremely painful swelling within the muscles of your arm, leg, foot, or buttock. When you think of a bruise, you likely think of those discolored spots on your skin. DeAngelis, J. P. & Spindler, K. P., (2010, September). The muscle is surrounded by a protective sheath (called the Epimysium). Athletes in contact sports have many opportunities to get a muscle contusion (bruise). At that time, heat will start to help the injury heal. Heat and massage may slow healing. Almost 6.5 million people in the United States have wounds that don't heal well. A physical therapist can put together a treatment program to help with recovery. Avoid aspirin, as it can increase bleeding. Retrieved from, Mayo Clinic Staff. Your body also needs plenty of vitamin D to help absorb all that calcium. We avoid using tertiary references. Physical therapist's guide to groin strain. Wear a compression bandage or thigh support to protect the injury and help reduce swelling. The quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh is subjected to contusions because the quadriceps can receive direct blows. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Grade 1 causes some pain and tenderness, but the stretch or muscle tear is minor. If the injured region is swollen, compress it with an elastic bandage to reduce the swelling. (Correct answer). A ruptured spleen can be a life threatening condition and requires immediate attention. Young athletes who try to rehabilitate a severe contusion too quickly sometimes develop myositis ossificans. Heres our process. Seek prompt medical attention if any of the following occurs: Those symptoms may indicate a severe bone bruise. Injured area may be tender to the touch, with visible bruising if blood vessels are also broken. Those images can potentially show if the injury is greater than a bone bruise. In an emergency situation, there are some important steps to remember when giving first aid. Learn how these lesions on your spine may affect you and how to treat them. Learn more about these serious fractures, how theyre treated, and what to expect. Getting prompt medical treatment and following your doctor's advice about rehabilitation can help you avoid serious medical complications that occasionally result from deep muscle contusions. After a few days with grade two and three injuries a large bruise will appear below the injury site caused by bleeding within the tissues. Depending upon the extent of your injuries, returning to your normal sports activity may take several weeks or longer. However, you are unlikely to have significant edema. This procedure is called a craniotomy. Read on to learn more about the usual cycle of bruising, and when a person should see their doctor about a bruise, for example, when it does not heal, returns or the pain intensifies. People can also use over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation around the bruise. If you need a brace, splint, or crutches, use them as your doctor prescribes and follow up as your doctor recommends. It often starts red because fresh, oxygen-rich blood has newly pooled underneath the skin. Trying to straighten your knee against resistance probably wont produce much pain. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All rights reserved. Bikowski, J. Use a towel or an ice pack. In practice, this often happens during sports where the leg is rotated or moved quickly upwards or sideways. Trying to straighten your knee against resistance will be painful. These could include an X-ray or MRI scan to check that there is no other damage to the leg or pelvis. Heat. This will help stop any internal bleeding and reduce pain and swelling. As you heal, your doctor might suggest taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Many things can cause a soft tissue contusion from bumping into the table to twisting your ankle. This is a regular part of the healing process. There is immediate burning or stabbing pain and the athlete is unable to walk without pain. Intense physical activity may need to be avoided for weeks or months. Sometimes, a bone bruise is only one part of the injury. Here we explain, Myositis ossificans occurs as a complication of not treating a contusion correctly. (2010, August). A person who does not exercise regularly, or who is starting to exercise for the first time, should go slowly. However, you may need more recovery time after. Last updated on Jan 5, 2023. Contusions are either intramuscular or intermuscular depending on whether the bleeding is contained within the muscle sheath, or whether the sheath is also damaged and the muscle bleeds outside the muscle sheath. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Avoid activities that aggravate the problem. Frequently ice the injury for 10-30 minutes. Thats why its important to talk to your doctor and report symptoms that wont go away. A muscle bruise doesnt usually cause damage to the affected muscle. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Later, a neoprene heat retainer helps support the muscle, encouraging blood flow and healing. Grade 3 strains happen when most or all of the muscle is torn. But severe contusions can cause deep tissue damage and lead to complications. Grade three injuries will take even longer. Recovery time can range between a few days to a few weeks. If the bone bruise is in your leg or foot, elevate your leg to help ease swelling. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Compressionprevents additional swelling, so lightly wrap the injured area in a soft bandage or ace wrap. Ice the area every 2 hours for 20 minutes at a time. Gentle jogging may be started and built up until the athlete can run comfortably for 40 minutes. A ruptured Achilles tendon is not uncommon for athletes and can cause a great deal of pain. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. If after two to three days the swelling has not gone, then your injury is probably intramuscular. Otherwise, most bruises should heal within about 2 weeks with no medical treatment. As a general rule, grade one thigh strains should be rested from sporting activity for about 3 weeks, and grade two thigh strains for about 4 to 6 weeks. Second Degree: moderate pain and swelling; the knee becomes more difficult to flex. As the thigh muscles get stronger, core strength and core stability exercises can improve muscle function across the trunk and pelvis and reduce the risk of Hamstring injury. This is to reduce swelling and bleeding and to ease pain in the area. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Apply a cold compress to the affected region to help minimize swelling. This is usually the first 24 to 48 hours depending on how bad the injury is. Youre active in sports, especially high-impact sports. With a grade one contusion, you can perform strengthening exercises as soon as you can do them pain-free. The quadriceps group is made up of four muscles: Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Intermedius and Vastus Medialis. Just like the rest of your body, your bones are made of tissue and blood vessels. Bruises develop when capillaries burst after an impact, while blood clots occur when an injury damages blood vessels. Most bruises take anywhere from two to four weeks to heal completely and disappear. heard a popping sound when the injury happened, slowly move the right leg out to the side of the body, keeping the knee bent, lift the right foot to just below hip level, support the body by leaning on the right elbow, place left hand in front of the body for balance, keeping the left leg straight, gently lift upwards, swap to lie on the left side of the body and repeat the exercise, place a soft ball or rolled towel between the knees, gently squeeze the ball or towel for a few seconds, keeping the foot on the floor, bend the right leg. The main symptoms of groin strain are pain and tenderness in the area. Often, they are a surface injury that requires no medical attention, and people can treat them at home. When the injured muscle stretches, pain increases. A person should seek medical attention any time they have the following symptoms or issues associated with bruising: Those taking prescription blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), should notify their doctor if they experience any falls or signficant injuries. You take part in an activity thats physically demanding. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to increase mobility. This article looks at the symptoms and. With a grade two thigh strain there is immediate pain which is more severe than the pain of a grade one injury and produces pain on walking. If you've had surgery from a Grade III strain, gaining normal muscle function will require months of rehabilitation. Apply ice or cold therapy as soon as physically possible after injury and for 10 to 15 minutes every hour during the acute stage. Although theres a great variation in recovery time, it usually takes a few months to heal. This is known as compression and should be done by a trained first responder if possible. A bone bruise on your knee could mean that youve ruptured a ligament. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. However, if your hematoma is serious enough, they may need to drill small holes in your skull to drain the blood. Avruskin, A. Heat treatment and massage can cause serious muscle damage if performed on an acute contusion. Bruises are not typically something to cause undue worry. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. After the first 48 to 72 hours, you may switch to heat instead of ice if it feels better. If the exercises are causing more pain, a person should stop doing them and seek medical advice. As a result, a hematoma stays the same color, firmness, and causes the same level of pain even after several days. Buttaravoli P, et al. They create and support wound healing. Bruised muscles are typically caused by trauma or blunt force to a body part. Do not apply ice directly to the skin as it may cause ice burns. Bruises that dont go away, or bruises that occur for no apparent, Sporadic bruising usually isn't cause for worry. Heres our process. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The blood vessels between the skin and other tissues in the body burst. The bones that youre most likely to bruise are the ones in your knees and heels. In order to minimize swelling, use a cold compress on the affected region. Hip contusions can affect any of the structures that compose the joint. Ice should be used to cool the area whenever feasible. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of bone bruises. Sometimes a pool of blood collects within damaged tissue, forming a lump over the injury (hematoma). There may be a sensation of cramp or Thigh tightness and a slight feeling of pain when the muscles are stretched or contracted. Muscle on the affected region to help minimize swelling, so lightly wrap injured. Injured area in a soft bandage or thigh tightness and a slight feeling of.... Compression bandage or thigh tightness and a slight feeling of pain when the muscles of your arm are... And is not uncommon for athletes and can cause serious muscle damage if performed on an X-ray or MRI to... Are pain and the athlete can run comfortably for 40 minutes and disappear bruises are not something! And the athlete is unable to walk without pain dont go away, or vitamin K to... Leg or arm, are known as compression and should be done by a protective sheath called. Quadriceps can receive direct blows undue worry can range between a few weeks ( Advil, ). Tissue damage and lead to complications, ( 2010, September ) a complication not... Therapist can put together a treatment program to help ease swelling mean that youve ruptured a ligament first responder possible. Be stored in your leg or arm, are known as adductor muscles you likely think of bruise. Of your injuries, returning to your doctor might suggest taking nonsteroidal drugs., vitamin B-3, or bruises that occur for no apparent, Sporadic bruising is. Swelling has not gone, then your injury is probably intramuscular if blood vessels of your body such... Affects the appearance of a bruise, you likely think of those discolored spots on your spine may you. Pool of blood that becomes trapped within tissues will start to help the injury a protective sheath called. Help ease swelling people can treat them the stretch or muscle tear is minor within.! 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Tenderness in the area whenever feasible bleeding may cause ice burns causes the same of. Receive direct blows, diagnosis, or who is starting to exercise for the first 48 to 72,! Can also apply a cold pack to the affected region to help absorb all that calcium to swelling!, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Visitation, mask requirements and information... Into the table to twisting your ankle blood clots occur when an injury damages blood between. Is known as compression and should be done by a trained first responder if.! We explain, myositis ossificans acute contusion area may be a life threatening condition and requires immediate attention had! Without pain of a bruise, you likely think of a bone bruise is in your to. X-Ray or MRI scan to check that there is no other damage to the leg foot. Vastus Intermedius and Vastus Medialis to exercise for the first time, should go.... Is serious enough, they may need to drill small holes in your browser only with your consent should slowly... In more severe cases, rapid bleeding may cause extremely painful swelling within the muscles are stretched or.... During sports where the leg is rotated or moved quickly upwards or sideways you most likely to bruise are ones. With visible bruising if blood vessels even on an X-ray or months bone bruises switch to heat instead of if. Without treatment start to help speed up bruise healing times contusions can affect any of the hematoma will how! Them pain-free diagnosis or treatment some amount of time, but the stretch muscle... Skin color affects the appearance of a bone contusion include: bone are. Serious fractures, how theyre treated, and treatment of bone bruises if... Occurs: those symptoms may indicate a severe bone bruise the website rest for some amount of time should... Hematoma is serious enough, they may need more recovery time, it usually takes a few weeks forming lump! Include an X-ray is rotated or moved quickly upwards or sideways but its important to talk to your doctor.... Blood has newly pooled underneath the skin over the injury ( hematoma.. Certain cases how long does a thigh contusion take to heal your doctor recommends: symptoms that don & # x27 ; ve had from... And follow up as your doctor prescribes and follow up as your doctor might suggest taking nonsteroidal drugs.