Bruising After Running & Jogging

Bruising After Running & Jogging
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A bruise is a sign of trauma and not something you should get from regular running or jogging routines. In other words, bruising is a secondary response to something else. Dealing with the primary problem will help to reduce incidents. Frequent bruises require evaluation by a doctor to rule out a life-threatening medical condition.

Bruises

Bruises occur when blood vessels rupture and fluid begins to pool. Subcutaneous bruising is blood seeping just under the skin. Muscular bruises form inside muscle tissue and a periosteal bruise is on the bone. All levels of bruising may present as tenderness with slight discoloration that darkens over time. A bluish tinted discoloration is a fairly new bruise. Marks that are greenish-yellow are older and beginning to heal.

Contact Trauma

The most obvious source of a bruise is contact trauma. This means you hit something while you were jogging. The location of the bruise can be a clue as to what may have caused the mark. For example, discoloration on the bottom of the feet can indicate running on a hard surface. A bruise on the ankle may be a sign you bumped into something such as a curb. Even brushing up against a shrub can cause minor bruises. The deeper the bruise, the harder the hit. Falling during a jog is likely to form multiple bruises on different areas on the body.

Connective Tissue Damage

Bruising after a high-impact exercise such as jogging may point to damage of connective tissue from stress or overuse. If you twist your ankle, you tear the ligaments in the joint and cause bleeding. This leads to bruising in the affected area. If the bruising is accompanied by swelling and pain, you may have injured connective tissue. Bruising may be a symptom of overtraining or overuse injuries to muscles and tendons. See your doctor to determine the extent of the damage and the most effective treatment.

Medical Causes

There are times repeated bruising can be a sign of a medical problem. Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, can result in severe bruising. If you notice an increase in bruises and cannot establish a cause, consult your doctor. Medication that thins the blood will make you more prone to bruising, as well. Your doctor will advise you on exercising while taking drugs like warfarin or aspirin. You should not go running while on these medications unless a doctor feels it is safe.

References

Article reviewed by Contributing Writer Last updated on: Jun 15, 2011

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