A contusion is essentially a bruise that typically appears on the skin when blood vessels, muscle fibers and/or other connective tissue are crushed or broken due to a direct blow to the skin or a fall where the body has jammed against a hard surface.
The discoloration on the skin occurs due to blood leaking out from the damaged blood vessels into the surrounding tissues. It is also a protective mechanism done by the body as its response to the injury.
Most contusions are minor and generally recover within a couple of weeks. However, the recovery time is often determined by the impact of the injury and the number of structures involved. If the pain and bruising last more than 14 days, please see us for a treatment plan.