A bruised sternum (breastbone) most often results from blunt trauma, a fall, sports injury, or car accident (including from seatbelt pressure), and while it’s typically not dangerous on its own, it needs to be distinguished from a fractured sternum or underlying cardiac injury, especially after significant chest trauma. This guide covers causes, symptoms, and recovery.
This is general information, not medical advice. Chest pain after significant trauma, or any chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, should be evaluated urgently to rule out more serious injury.
What causes a bruised sternum
The sternum (breastbone) is the flat bone in the center of the chest connecting the ribs via cartilage. A bruise (contusion) occurs when blunt force trauma damages tissue and blood vessels without breaking the bone itself. Common causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, particularly from the seatbelt or steering wheel pressing against the chest during sudden deceleration
- Sports injuries, particularly contact sports or falls
- Direct blows or falls onto the chest
- CPR (chest compressions can sometimes cause bruising or, less commonly, rib or sternal injury as an expected tradeoff of a life-saving procedure)
Symptoms
A bruised sternum typically causes localized pain and tenderness directly over the breastbone, which often worsens with deep breathing, coughing, movement, or pressing on the area. Visible bruising or swelling over the sternum may develop, and the pain can sometimes make normal activities like reaching, twisting, or even laughing uncomfortable, given how central the sternum is to chest and upper body movement.
How it differs from more serious injuries
Because the chest houses the heart and lungs, any significant chest trauma deserves careful evaluation to rule out more serious injuries beyond a simple bruise:
- Sternal fracture, which typically causes more severe pain, may be associated with a visible deformity or a grinding sensation, and generally results from more significant trauma
- Cardiac contusion (bruised heart) or other cardiac injury, a rare but serious complication of significant chest trauma that can cause abnormal heart rhythms and requires cardiac monitoring
- Rib fractures, which can occur alongside sternal injury from similar trauma mechanisms
- Pneumothorax (collapsed lung), which can occasionally result from significant chest trauma and causes shortness of breath
This is why any chest trauma significant enough to cause real concern, particularly from a car accident, a hard fall, or a forceful blow, generally warrants medical evaluation, sometimes including imaging (X-ray or CT scan) and, in cases of significant trauma, cardiac monitoring, to rule out these more serious possibilities before assuming it’s “just a bruise.”
Recovery and treatment
A bruised sternum typically heals on its own over about two to four weeks, though healing time varies based on the severity of the injury, with some sources noting recovery can take up to four to six weeks for more significant bruising. Because the chest is constantly moving with every breath, it can’t be kept fully immobilized the way an injury to a limb might be, which is part of why recovery can feel slower and more uncomfortable than bruises elsewhere on the body. General management includes:
- Rest and avoiding activities that worsen pain, particularly contact sports or heavy lifting, during initial healing
- Over-the-counter pain relief as appropriate (check with a doctor or pharmacist about the best option for your situation, particularly regarding NSAIDs if there’s any question about associated rib or bone injury)
- Ice application in the first day or two to help reduce swelling
- Deep breathing exercises, despite the discomfort, to help prevent breathing-related complications like pneumonia that can occur when pain leads someone to breathe too shallowly for an extended period
When to seek emergency care
Seek immediate medical attention for: severe or worsening chest pain, shortness of breath, an irregular or racing heartbeat, dizziness or fainting, a visible chest deformity, or any chest injury following a significant trauma like a car accident or a hard fall from height, since these patterns could indicate a more serious injury requiring prompt evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a bruised sternum take to heal?
Typically about two to four weeks, though more significant bruising can take up to four to six weeks; healing time varies by injury severity.
How do I know if my sternum is bruised versus fractured?
A fracture typically causes more severe pain, may involve a visible deformity or grinding sensation, and generally results from more significant trauma; imaging (X-ray or CT) is needed to definitively distinguish the two, so any concerning chest injury should be medically evaluated.
Can a bruised sternum affect my heart?
The bruise itself doesn’t directly injure the heart, but the same trauma that bruises the sternum can, in more severe cases, also cause a cardiac contusion or other heart injury, which is why significant chest trauma warrants medical evaluation and possible cardiac monitoring.
Can I take ibuprofen for sternum bruise pain?
Over-the-counter pain relief is often used, but check with a doctor or pharmacist first, particularly if there’s any possibility of an associated fracture or if you have other health conditions that affect NSAID safety.
When should I go to the emergency room for chest pain after an injury?
Seek immediate care for severe or worsening pain, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, dizziness or fainting, visible deformity, or any injury from significant trauma like a car accident.
References
About this article
Written by the Health Linear Editorial Team from primary sources such as FDA prescribing information, DailyMed, NIH and peer-reviewed studies, which are linked in the article. Last updated September 22, 2026.
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