Causes and Symptoms of Muscle Contusion

Written and reviewed by

Dr. Ashis Acharya

Fellowship, MS - Orthopaedics, MBBS

Orthopedist, Delhi • 17 years experience

Muscle contusion is a condition that is characterized by bruising in the muscles. It generally tends to occur in athletes who play a lot of contact sports. Repetitive blows in any part of the body may cause damage to the underlying muscle tissues. These blows may lead to internal bleeding, resulting in blood clot formation. The most common site where it occurs are the quadriceps.

The various causes of this condition are:

Direct repetitive blows to a part of the muscle in contact sports such as football
If you fall on a hard surface
It may also occur if the muscle comes in contact real hard with sports equipment like soccer balls

The symptoms of a muscle contusion are:

You may experience swelling of the muscle
Excessive pain
Decrease in range of motion in the concerned body part

It may lead to leaking of blood vessels
You may also experience hematoma where a lump is formed over the affected spot
Symptoms of broken bones, dislocations and fractures may also occur

Complications: This disorder may also lead to various complications such as compartment syndrome, which leads to compression of blood vessels resulting in pain.

Treatment: The basic treatment for this condition is the RICE protocol which is rest, ice, compression and elevation. You should rest the muscle, then apply ice to the affected area to reduce the pain. You can also take NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to reduce the pain. In severe cases, the doctor may drain the lump surgically.

It is advisable to not return to your normal sports routine in order to allow the muscle to recover. If you carry on with your regular routine, it may result in further complications like the formation of scar tissue. You may undergo various stretching exercises to relieve the pain and make a gradual return to your normal sporting activities.

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