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Questions and answers about sports

Running with a bruised knee?

4 min read

Asked by: Kickthedog Schulz

Should I run with a bruised knee?

While you are recovering from your injury, you may need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim or bicycle instead of run. Depending on the injury, your provider may tell you to use crutches until your knee heals.

Can I run with a bone bruise on my knee?

The pain serves a very useful protective function, limiting your ability to run after the injury until such time as the bone and ligament heal. The bone bruise itself simply requires unloading (using a moon boot and crutches) to heal.

Should you exercise a bruised knee?

Exercising a knee that’s injured or arthritic may seem counterintuitive, but in fact, exercise is better for your knee than keeping it still. Not moving your knee can cause it to stiffen, and this may worsen the pain and make it harder to go about your daily activities.

How long should you rest a bruised knee?

Recovery time depends on the extent of the injury. A minor knee contusion can heal in as little as a few days. A bone bruise may take several weeks or months to heal before you can return to normal activities.

Is walking good for a bruised knee?

Confused? Walking can help some kinds of knee pain but in others, it can worsen the injury. For example, if you have had a fall and hurt your knee, you are better off in your bed giving complete rest to your joint, lest the swelling aggravates.

Is it okay to exercise with a bruise?

While the injured muscle heals, be sure to keep exercising the uninjured parts of your body to maintain your overall level of fitness. If there is a large hematoma that does not go away within several days, your doctor may drain it surgically to expedite healing.

Should I run with a bruised bone?

Your healthcare provider will tell you how long you should not put weight on your bone. Most bone bruises slowly heal over 1 to 2 months. A larger bone bruise may take longer to heal. You may not be able to return to sports activities for weeks or months.

How long does bruised cartilage take to heal?

After cartilage injury there must be a six-week period of non-weight bearing, but full recovery can take up to a year to fully heal and regain the full range of movement.

How long does deep tissue bruising take to heal?

Soft tissue contusions can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to heal. Bone contusions may take longer — usually a couple of months — depending on how severe the injury is. For either type of bruise, you can use the RICE protocol as you recover to help manage your symptoms.

How do I get rid of a bruise on my knee fast?

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  1. Rest the bruised area, if possible.
  2. Ice the bruise with an ice pack wrapped in a towel. Leave it in place for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat several times a day for a day or two as needed.
  3. Compress the bruised area if it is swelling, using an elastic bandage. Don’t make it too tight.
  4. Elevate the injured area.

How do I know if my knee injury is serious?

Five signs of a potentially serious knee injury:

  1. Your Knee Is Swollen. …
  2. Your Knee Is “Locked” And You Can’t Straighten It. …
  3. Your Knee Feels Unstable, or You Felt a Pop. …
  4. You Have Significant Weakness Trying To Straighten Your Knee. …
  5. You Have Significant Difficulty Walking.

Can you play sports with a knee contusion?

In fact, some doctors suggest that athletes avoid anti-inflammatory medications because inflammation is an important part of the healing process that should not be slowed or interfered with. It is safe to play with a contusion.

Does exercise make bruises worse?

If you’ve received a bad bruise, heavy exercise can also increase blood flow to the injury site and that could make the bruise worse.