A chest bruise (also called a chest contusion) happens when small blood vessels under the skin leak blood after an injury. The trapped blood might show as red or purple marks on the skin or, if the bruise is very deep and involves the muscle, might not be visible. A bruise usually hurts when touched, especially for the first few days after the injury.

As bruises heal, they may turn different colors as they fade away. Most bruises heal within about 2 weeks.

For 2–3 days, to help with pain and swelling:

• Encourage your child to take deep breaths.
• If your health care provider says it's OK, give your child medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand) as needed for pain. Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often.
• Place ice wrapped in a towel on the bruise for about 20 minutes several times a day. Do not put ice directly on the skin.
• If your child is old enough to use a pillow (usually after moving from a crib to a toddler bed at around 2–3 years old), raise their head with a pillow or two during sleep.

Follow your health care provider's advice for:

• Any exercises or stretches your child should do and any activities to avoid
• If you should try a heating pad or massage (usually about 2 days after the injury)
• When to follow up

• The pain or swelling gets worse.
• Your child feels sharp chest pain when coughing or taking a deep breath.
• Within 2 weeks:
  • The bruise and pain haven't gone away.
  • Your child isn't moving normally. 
  • Your child seems to have a lot of bruises or gets bruises for no clear reason.

Your child:

• Is short of breath or has severe chest pain
• Looks pale or seems weak or dizzy

How do health care providers diagnose a chest bruise? Health care providers carefully examine the injured area and ask about what happened. Usually no testing is needed, but sometimes they order an X-ray to make sure there are no other injuries.

How do bruises heal? Bruises usually go away in 2 weeks. While it heals, the bruise changes color as the body breaks down the blood:

• At first, a bruise looks red or pink because of the trapped blood under the skin.
• Within 1–2 days, the bruise will look bluish-purple or even sometimes black.
• After 5–10 days, the bruise looks green or yellow.
• After 10–14 days, the bruise may turn yellow-brown or light brown.

Can chest bruises be prevented? Most kids will get bruises from time to time. But it can help to:

• Wear protective gear and helmets for sports.
• Use proper technique during sports and practices.
• Keep floors clear of clutter or things your child can trip on.
• Always use seatbelts in the car.