Working out by lifting weights or performing push-ups is an effective way to increase the strength in your arms. While exercise and strenuous physical activity can cause side effects like soreness, the presence of bruising or bleeding on your arms may be a sign of an underlying injury or health condition. Here’s why that happens and what to do to treat the bruises.
What Causes Bruises?
Bruises can occur when blood vessels near your skin’s surface leak a small amount of blood into the surrounding tissues, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This minor injury often happens because of blunt force trauma or injury to your skin, causing your blood to pool, and subsequently, leading to skin discoloration that can appear blue, purple, black, brown, or yellow. You can develop bruises anywhere, but you might notice them more on high-contact areas of your body, such as your arms, hands, legs, and feet.
Since physical injury or trauma is one of the most common causes of bruising, it’s no surprise that exercising may lead to some bruising once in a while. Regularly using certain exercise machines or equipment (such as barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells), especially in the same muscles or body parts, can cause muscle injuries or sprains due to overtraining. When you experience a muscle injury, you may develop symptoms like pain, bruising, and swelling in the affected area, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For example, if you’re doing several sets of bicep curls every day without proper rest, the blood vessels in your upper arms can burst and temporarily cause bruises.
It’s worth noting, however, that you can develop bruises on your arms for non-exercise-related reasons, too. The Mayo Clinic explains that these other reasons may include taking certain medications like blood thinners or aspirin, having aging skin, or living with blood disorders or health conditions that affect your platelet count.
Symptoms of Bruising
Most of us have experienced bruising at some point in our lives. The type of bruise you likely experience more often is a subcutaneous bruise, or a bruise that develops just beneath the skin. According to Mount Sinai, common symptoms of this type of bruise include skin discoloration, pain, and swelling in the affected area. While bruises can look and feel uncomfortable, most bruises heal on their own and allow your skin to return to its normal color after a few days.
If, however, your bruise doesn’t heal and symptoms persist for several days, it may be a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider. They can evaluate your bruise(s), give you a proper diagnosis, and recommend treatment options that can relieve the pain, swelling, and discoloration.
However, you should seek immediate treatment from a healthcare provider if you have bruising with other symptoms such as dark urine, muscle weakness, or significant swelling, according to StatPearls. These can be signs of a serious health condition called rhabdomyolysis, which causes your muscles to break down, release harmful substances into your bloodstream, and damage your kidneys. This condition is most common after doing high-intensity workouts or exercising in very hot temperatures.
How to Treat Bruises
If you notice bruising on your arms after working out, there are several things you can do to help minimize your symptoms. The Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic recommend the following strategies:
- Elevate the affected area and apply an ice pack to the bruise to reduce swelling
- Use a heating pad on the area after two days to improve pain
- Ask your provider if it’s safe for you to take over-the-counter pain medications to relieve discomfort
As your body heals from the bruise, it may also help your recovery to temporarily avoid working out the same muscle groups or body parts.
