Wrestling isn't just a contact sport. It's a combat sport, where two athletes try to force the other's body into specific positions. Although the rules of wrestling are designed to ensure fair and safe competition, wrestlers should expect to sustain minor injuries in practice and competition. One such injury is petechiae, broken blood vessels around or in the eyes.
Identification
Petechiae appears as an area of tiny, round spots that appear on the skin. Although easily mistaken for a rash, they are actually tiny bruises caused by broken capillaries. They are not normally accompanied by swelling. Unlike many larger bruises, they don't change color when pressed.
Causes
Petechiae that appears without cause can be a sign of a serious condition. However, in wrestling, the petechia around the eyes are usually attributable to minor injury. They form just like a bruise when capillaries burst in response to pressure or impact. In wrestling, a cross-face or similar move that rubs against the eyes and temples with a bony part of an arm can cause petechiae. Extreme exertion, for example the exertion of lifting a resisting person approximately your size several times over a 6-minute match, can also cause petechiae in the face.
Risks
Under normal circumstances, broken blood vessels around the eyes are no more dangerous than any other bruise. However, abnormal circumstances may require medical attention. If the petechiae appears without exertion or injury to cause it, this may be a sign of one of several dangerous medical conditions. If it continues to spread after the match is over or if they begin to form one large bruise, check with your doctor.
Treatment
Petechiae are essentially tiny bruises, and you should treat them in much the same way. Like bruises, they aren't usually intensely painful and will go away in a few days. You can reduce the pain, and sometimes speed healing, by icing the area for 20-minute periods several times over the first 24 hours. You can take acetaminophen for the pain, but avoid ibuprofen and other drugs that thin your blood. They can extend how long the burst capillaries bleed, thus slowing your healing.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Petechiae
- "The Sports Injury Handbook"; Christer Rolf; 2010
