Boatyard time often brings with it a season of bumps, bruises and muscle trauma. Yachts are full of hard surfaces, tight corners and unexpected hazards. Whether it’s a knock from a winch or a fall on deck, contusions and haematomas are common onboard injuries that shouldn’t be ignored.

What is a contusion or haematoma?

A contusion, commonly referred to as a bruise, is the result of direct trauma to soft tissue. This trauma causes tiny blood vessels to rupture, leading to blood pooling beneath the skin—what we see as discolouration. The body slowly reabsorbs this blood, changing the bruise’s colour over time.

The most common yacht-related contusions are caused by stanchions, hatches, cleats, winches, booms, or slips on wet surfaces.

Severity levels of contusions

• Mild Contusions: Slight discolouration and swelling; little to no impact on range of motion.

• Moderate Contusions: Noticeable swelling, discomfort, and limited movement. Professional attention may be helpful to speed up recovery.

• Severe Contusions: Deep within muscle tissue and possibly incapacitating. May not show large surface bruising but can have serious internal effects.

When to seek medical advice

If you’re on blood thinners like aspirin or have conditions like diabetes, bruises should always be checked. Additionally, deep or untreated contusions may result in myositis ossificans, where calcification forms in the muscle tissue, causing pain, stiffness, and long-term damage.

Physiotherapy treatments for haematomas

• Ice therapy (within appropriate timeframes)

• Compression techniques

• Ultrasound therapy to stimulate absorption

• Gradual stretching under physiotherapist supervision

Therapeutic ultrasound can break down coagulated blood and speed up healing, especially in deeper muscle injuries.

Why yacht crew should pay attention

On yachts, mobility and performance are essential. Ignoring a deep bruise could lead to long-term complications, prevent you from carrying out duties efficiently, and even lead to surgery and post-operative rehab.

Don’t ignore serious bruises on board

At the Physiotherapy Centre in Mallorca, we frequently treat crew with yacht-related contusions. The earlier the intervention, the faster and safer the recovery.

If in doubt, get it checked out!