Bruises and sprains

Soft tissue injuries such as abrasions, bruising and sprains are common minor fall-related injuries.

A bruise can for example develop when you fall onto an object or bump into something. Through the impact the blood vessels under the skin get damaged or break. If some bleeding occurs, blood leaks into the surrounding skin. The affected skin area turns black and blue and swells up. As the bruise heals the colour fades away and turns yellowish-green. The healing process lasts about 2-3 weeks.

Anybody can bruise, however older people tend to bruise more easily because their skin becomes thinner and the supporting tissue around the blood vessels is weak.

Sometimes easy bruising is also a side effect of some medications, for example steroids and blood thinning medicine like warfarin. Bruising can signal a vitamin deficiency.