Bruising on the Shoulders After a Workout

Although seeing purple and blue spots crop up beneath your skin can be alarming, most bruises are not dangerous and will disappear without care. These marks occur from bleeding beneath your skin, and may be caused by strenuous exercise or a collision with a hard object -- such as a weight. In some cases, bruising may indicate a pulled muscle or a more serious condition.

  1. The Exercise Explanation

    • Intensive exercise can lead to bruising, according to Columbia Health, and athletes and bodybuilders may be most susceptible. If you play competitive sports and have been training extra hard lately -- or even if you've simply been exerting extra effort at the gym -- it's possible to cause enough internal trauma to tear blood vessels, causing a bruise or two.

    Collision Course

    • If you've been lifting dumbbells or resting heavy barbells on your shoulders, you may have bumped the area hard enough to cause bruising. And if you were focused on your effort and form, you may not have ever noticed the impact. This is more likely to happen among those who are prone to bruises. Women generally bruise more easily than men, and everyone bruises more easily as they grow older. You may also bruise more readily than normal if you're taking aspirin or other medications that thin the blood.

    Pulled Shoulder Muscle

    • Bruising can sometimes accompany muscle strains, also called pulled muscles. If this is the case, you will almost certainly have other symptoms, such as pain and swelling. It may be also be hard to move the affected muscle. Strains occur when you overexert yourself during exercise or because you failed to warm up properly, according to MedlinePlus. Medline notes that most strained muscles can be treated at home with ice, rest and elevation. You should avoid using the muscle until pain subsides. If you notice any bleeding or you are unable to move the muscle at all, seek medical help.

    More Serious Possibilities

    • Unexplained bruising can sometimes indicate a more serious problem. If you are bruising frequently, or if the bruises are especially large and painful, Mayo Clinic doctor William Nichols, M.D., recommends seeing a physician. In some cases, strange bruising may indicate issues with blood clotting or other blood-related problems. Bruising can also indicate a condition called compartment syndrome, which occurs when muscle swelling is too great for the surrounding tissue to accommodate. Compartment syndrome is serious -- indicated by intense pressure in the area -- and can require surgery.