Most bone contusions, or bruises, occur from sports-related injuries. Max Benton, athletic trainer for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, writes that most bone bruises occur when an athlete strikes another person or piece of equipment at full-speed. Rehabilitating the injury can include rest and ice as well as vitamin therapy and the use of electrical currents.
Bone Bruises
A bone contusion occurs when an object strikes the body with such force that it damages tissue well below the surface. This deep bruise breaks down fibrous tissue around a bone or joint, leading to swelling and pain. Overcoming a bone bruise can take time, but it is better than the alternative---a broken bone. The Cavaliers' Benton, who is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association and National Academy of Sports Medicine, writes that a few broken fibers result in a bruise, whereas a larger section of fiber breakage is a fracture.
RICE
The most reliable course of treatment is to limit use of the effected area, according to the doctors at Houston's Midtown Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Limiting use means using the RICE plan. RICE is an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Your body's ability to heal itself accelerates when it can rest. Midtown suggests icing a bruise two to three times daily for 15 minutes to constrict the blood vessels and speed up their repair. Adding compression with neoprene wraps and athletic tape also adds constriction. By keeping the area elevated at a level above the heart, blood can flow away from the area while not depriving the rest of your body.
Medication
Doctors and trainers suggest taking over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to aid in healing. Benton suggests ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain. The Institute for Sports Medicine at Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital adds that ibuprofen also reduces swelling and inflammation around the injury.
Vitamin Therapy
Vitamin therapy can also help heal a bone contusion. Denver chiropractors Niall McNally and Ihsan Erhuy, writing for the sports website Midwest Sports Fans, suggest increasing vitamin intake to relieve swelling around the bruise. A 500 mcg daily dose of vitamin K strengthens bones and increases your body's ability to form clots. The doctors write that 500 mg of vitamin C taken two to three times daily as well as 50,000 I.U. of vitamin A can fight infection and provide antioxidant support to reduce swelling. An additional enzyme, bromelain, taken in doses of 250 to 750 mg can reduce inflammation and pain at the site of the wound. Consult your doctor for guidance about vitamin therapy and supplementation if you have a bone bruise.
Microcurrent Therapy
McNally and Erhuy are also proponents of microcurrent therapy. According to the website of their practice, Mountain View Pain Center, this therapy uses small amounts of electrical current to stimulate healing at the site of the bruise. The electrical current is low enough that you won't feel a shock but intense enough to increase your body's rate of healing soft tissue damage.
References
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Training Time with Max Benton
- 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers Media Guide: Front Office
- Midtown Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: Bone Bruises
- Children's Memorial Hospital Institute for Sports Medicine: Thigh Contusion
- Midwest Sports Fans: The Trainer's Room: Knee Bone Bruise Treatment and Diagnosis
- Mountain View Pain Center: Microcurrent
