Definition
A contusion of the shoulder is an injury to the shoulder that usually heals without consequences. It is usually caused by a fall or impact trauma. In the case of a contusion, the force applied to the affected tissue can cause bruising and swelling.
A contusion of the shoulder is painful, often the affected shoulder cannot be loaded as usual. The pain can also restrict movement and, under certain circumstances, the patient may involuntarily assume a relieving position. A contusion of the shoulder usually heals without consequences.
Causes
The cause of a contusion of the shoulder is a violent impact on the shoulder, which damages the tissue. In everyday life, such an accident often occurs during sports. Especially in contact sports, falls on the shoulder, collisions or fouls can cause a bruise of the shoulder.
Bicycle falls or accidents at work, especially during manual activities, are also frequent accident mechanisms. The force applied to the shoulder causes the tissue to be crushed. This can lead to swelling or bruising, which is caused by small vessels rupturing.
This irritation of the tissue causes pain. Pain serves as a protective function for the body and in this case prevents the shoulder from continuing to be subjected to heavy strain, since the tissue needs to be protected in order to heal properly. The patient should listen to his pain and not perform any activities that cause him severe pain. Light activities that are not painful are, however, harmless and can even contribute to faster healing by improving blood circulation in the tissue.
Associated symptoms
Depending on how the shoulder was bruised, other parts of the body may have been injured due to the accident. Especially when the pain in the shoulder is at its greatest after the accident, the patient may not notice other injuries because he or she is distracted by the complaints in the shoulder or is still startled by the accident. In such a case, it is important to observe the body closely in the initial period after an accident and to contact a doctor again if necessary if new pain occurs elsewhere.
Due to a relieving posture, which is often taken when the shoulder is bruised due to pain, tension can occur in the neck and back muscles. Patients often move less after a contusion of the shoulder, and there may also be other injuries so that they cannot move as usual. However, this maintains tension and sometimes makes it worse. Tension in the neck can also cause other symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and tinnitus. Heat treatments and physiotherapy can be helpful to relieve tension.
All articles in this series: