What is bone contusion?
Bone contusion is a bone injury without a fracture. It often follows a single powerful impact to the area, or many impacts repeated over time.
If the bone is affected without being fully broken, you may see cracks, compression or bone oedema — this is the first stage of bone damage, before an actual fracture.
From bruise to bone contusion
Following trauma to the soft tissue, several levels of damage are possible:
Simple bruise: soft tissue damage only, no bone involvement
Bone contusion: a crack, compression or oedema of the bone, without a complete fracture
Fracture: a partial or complete break of the bone
What to do about bone contusion
It’s best to see a doctor to determine how much rest is needed and to distinguish a simple bruise from a more serious bone contusion — only imaging can confirm this with certainty.
In the meantime, the PEACE & LOVE protocol (Protection, Elevation, Avoid anti-inflammatories, Compression, Education, then Load management, Optimism, Vascularisation, Exercise) remains the reference for managing the first few days well.
The HOPP solution to support you
HOPP helps you understand your bone contusion and progressively get back to activity once the pain is under control.
A clear assessment of your injury
You describe your situation, HOPP helps you understand what’s going on and offers you a suitable programme.
Daily tracking of your pain
You log how you feel each day so your return can be adjusted progressively, without overloading the affected area.
Frequently asked questions
Is bone contusion serious?
It’s less serious than a fracture but can be very painful and may require several weeks of relative rest depending on the area affected.
How can you tell a bruise apart from a bone contusion?
Only medical imaging (most often an MRI) can confirm whether the bone is actually affected or whether only the soft tissue is involved.
Can you keep playing sport with a bone contusion?
It depends on the area and the intensity of the pain. A medical opinion is recommended to adapt the load without worsening the injury.
What is the PEACE & LOVE protocol?
A two-stage care protocol: PEACE in the first few days (Protection, Elevation, Avoid anti-inflammatories, Compression, Education), then LOVE for what follows (Load management, Optimism, Vascularisation, Exercise).
Pain that looks like bone contusion?
Get a clear answer in 3 minutes and start your suitable programme.