A bruise is an injury to tissue below the skin. An injury to the area causes blood vessels to break and bleed into layers of tissue under the skin. A bruise causes discoloration to the skin, beginning with a purplish-red color that fades to blue and then turns yellowish-green before healing. Additional symptoms of a bruise include tenderness, pain and swelling. Three types of bruises exist and include subcutaneous bruises, muscular bruises and bone bruises. Subcutaneous bruises occur just beneath the skin, intramuscular bruises involve the layers of muscle and a bone bruise injures the bone. A bone bruise takes the longest to heal and is more painful than other bruises, according to MedlinePlus.
Sports Injuries
A bone bruise, also referred to as a hematoma or contusion, is a common sport injury, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Bruises occur in sports when the body makes contact with a hard surface, such as a fall to the ground, sport equipment or another person. Ribs are common bones that receive bone bruises due to chest impact in contact sports. To prevent bruises, players should wear recommended protective gear, such as shin guards and helmets, designed for the particular sport.
Car Accidents, Trauma and Falls
Car accidents can cause direct high-velocity impact to the body, including bones. This impact may be forceful enough to cause bone bruises. Bone bruises may also occur after falling onto a hard surface, such as slipping on ice. A fall from a higher height increases the risk of injury. Direct trauma to the body from other people or objects can cause bruising, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Twisting Injuries
Injuries to the body caused by traumatic twisting, such as joint sprains, can also cause bone bruising. The bruising occurs when the twisting joint causes the affected bones of the joint to collide forcefully. Knees and ankles are common areas to receive bone bruises due to a twisting injury. Eighty percent of injuries involving a torn ligament in the knee also have a bone bruise, according to the Sports Injury Bulletin website.
