Can Cramp Cause Bruising?

We are all familiar with the normal symptoms of cramp, including muscle pain and tightness.

However is it normal to experience bruising following cramp?

The answer is yes, cramp can actually cause bruising.

Perhaps this isn’t a normal symptom of cramp, but there are cases of bruising following an episode of cramp.

Why Does Cramp Cause Bruising?

A bruise (contusion) appears on the skin usually due to trauma.

Examples of trauma include a cut or a blow to the body. The injury causes tiny blood vessels called capillaries to burst.

This blood gets trapped below the skin’s surface, which causes a bruise.

Because cramp involves a muscle becoming tight, it is possible for a muscle to become so tight that muscle fibres are pulled so hard that they literally tear the tissue.

Bleeding into the muscle follows, which can be very painful.

The blood will then eventually find its way out of the muscle, and at which point will show up as a bruise on the skin.

Can Leg Cramps Cause Bruising?

Yes it is possible that if you experience leg cramps that you may also experience bruising following this.

For example you may have a leg muscle, such as your calf muscle, that is stuck in a contracted or flexed position.

Your instinct may be to pull this muscle away into normal position.

If this muscle is pulled too quickly then you could actually damage the muscle fibres, leading to a bruise where you had cramp.

What Can Help Prevent Bruising After Cramps?

Regular exercise, stretching, adequate rest, and a healthy diet can help prevent cramps occurring in the first place.

For more advice on what helps prevent and reduce cramp check out our articles on curemycramp.com.