A fall on the buttocks can injure many different tissues. An injury to the superficial fascia and muscles can make small blood vessels bleed. If the skin isn’t broken the blood doesn’t have anywhere to go so it pools, forms clots, and changes the colour of the skin above the injury, like in the above photo. Harder blows tend to cause bigger red bruises which may be tender to touch and throb severely. As the bruise heals, the iron-rich substance in the blood, called haemoglobin, breaks down into other compounds, the bruise changes colour and the pain generally diminishes. Within a day or two, it turns purplish or black and blue. In 5 to 10 days, it may be green or yellow. In 10 to 14 days, it’s yellowy-brown or light brown. It should totally fade away and be pain-free in about 2 weeks. If you are lucky no treatment will be required.
If the pain persists for more than 2 weeks some residual soft tissue damage, like densification of the superficial fascia and/or trigger points in the muscles most likely exists. Both types of tissue damage may require professional therapeutic attention. The treatments of choice including: massage, instrument assisted soft tissue scraping and/or dry needling can be initiated once most of the bruising has subsided, 2 weeks after the injury. Our chiropractors and massage therapist, Jo Badenhorst, are skilled in identifying and treating soft tissue injuries of the spine and buttocks.
Beneath the superficial fascia and muscle are the bones, ligaments and joints of the hips, lumbar spine and pelvis. Any of the ligaments, joints or bones in the diagrams below can be sprained or bruised when someone falls on their buttocks causing significant persistent pain and disability.
If the fall causes a joint to lock or get stuck in a twisted position it will need to be unlocked and eased back into motion. Chiropractic manipulations and/or mobilizations are the most efficient way to restore joint mobility. They relieve the pain by taking the strain off the overstretched ligaments and joint capsules, which also relieves the reflex tension and tenderness in the superficial muscles. Depending on the severity of the injury, manipulations can be applied to the joints minutes to hours after the injury, even if there is superficial bruising. With the average case, 4-6 treatments, targeted to the tissues that have been injured, over a 3-4 week period will provide significant benefit.
If a fracture is suspected, however, an x-ray, CT scan or MRI should be obtained prior to initiating any treatment. Our Doctors of Chiropractic are highly skilled in the diagnosis and management of joint, bone and soft tissue injuries of the lumbar spine, hips and pelvis. We are ideally placed to be the first port of call for someone who has fallen onto their buttocks. For appointments, please call 07 3823 2282
I fell on my buttocks. What happens and what do I do about it?
May 10, 2022 by manager • News Blog
A fall on the buttocks can injure many different tissues. An injury to the superficial fascia and muscles can make small blood vessels bleed. If the skin isn’t broken the blood doesn’t have anywhere to go so it pools, forms clots, and changes the colour of the skin above the injury, like in the above photo. Harder blows tend to cause bigger red bruises which may be tender to touch and throb severely. As the bruise heals, the iron-rich substance in the blood, called haemoglobin, breaks down into other compounds, the bruise changes colour and the pain generally diminishes. Within a day or two, it turns purplish or black and blue. In 5 to 10 days, it may be green or yellow. In 10 to 14 days, it’s yellowy-brown or light brown. It should totally fade away and be pain-free in about 2 weeks. If you are lucky no treatment will be required.
If the pain persists for more than 2 weeks some residual soft tissue damage, like densification of the superficial fascia and/or trigger points in the muscles most likely exists. Both types of tissue damage may require professional therapeutic attention. The treatments of choice including: massage, instrument assisted soft tissue scraping and/or dry needling can be initiated once most of the bruising has subsided, 2 weeks after the injury. Our chiropractors and massage therapist, Jo Badenhorst, are skilled in identifying and treating soft tissue injuries of the spine and buttocks.
Beneath the superficial fascia and muscle are the bones, ligaments and joints of the hips, lumbar spine and pelvis. Any of the ligaments, joints or bones in the diagrams below can be sprained or bruised when someone falls on their buttocks causing significant persistent pain and disability.
If the fall causes a joint to lock or get stuck in a twisted position it will need to be unlocked and eased back into motion. Chiropractic manipulations and/or mobilizations are the most efficient way to restore joint mobility. They relieve the pain by taking the strain off the overstretched ligaments and joint capsules, which also relieves the reflex tension and tenderness in the superficial muscles. Depending on the severity of the injury, manipulations can be applied to the joints minutes to hours after the injury, even if there is superficial bruising. With the average case, 4-6 treatments, targeted to the tissues that have been injured, over a 3-4 week period will provide significant benefit.
If a fracture is suspected, however, an x-ray, CT scan or MRI should be obtained prior to initiating any treatment. Our Doctors of Chiropractic are highly skilled in the diagnosis and management of joint, bone and soft tissue injuries of the lumbar spine, hips and pelvis. We are ideally placed to be the first port of call for someone who has fallen onto their buttocks. For appointments, please call 07 3823 2282