A soft tissue injury is damage to the soft tissue of the body, which can be anything from your tendons and muscles to your skin and nerves. The four tissues commonly injured are the epithelial, muscular, nervous, and connective tissues. Bruises, contusions, and other signs of injury should be photographed immediately and periodically.
Common types of soft tissue injuries include:
Bruises/contusions: Bruising can occur when anything makes contact with your body in a harmful way, such as being struck by a flying object or falling on the ground in an accident. Bruising can cause pain, swelling, and skin discoloration.
Sprains and strains: Some of the most frequent injuries suffered in accidents are sprains and strains, which occur when any force causes tears in your tissues by pushing your joints or muscles beyond their range of motion. Some signs of a sprain or strain in the aftermath of an accident include pain, swelling, inability to walk or use the affected limb, and discoloration.
Repetitive stress injuries: Sometimes, a soft tissue injury doesn’t result from one single incident, but rather over time after performing the same motions. Constant straining or twisting over time can cause soft tissue injuries that can be quite painful.
Soft tissue injuries are commonly caused by accidents, sports, being struck by an object, falling, or repetitive movements. Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of soft tissue injuries because bruises and strains frequently accompany falls, whether a person has slipped down a flight of stairs or has sprained their ankle while tripping over torn carpeting. Car accidents often contribute to soft injury claims when drivers and passengers are jolted or thrown from their vehicles.