What Is a “Soft Tissue” Injury?

Since the start of Ravens’ training camp, we’re heard the phrase far more than we would like to:

‘Out with a soft tissue injury.’

Initially, it was first-rounder, Tight End Hayden Hurst, sidelined with the injury. Despite people claiming to know what his injury was, thanks to a picture circulating of blistered feet claiming to be Hurst’s injury (above – it was actually Pat Ricard), the soft tissue injury remained a mystery. 

Which particular tissue? Why is it soft? Was it once a hard tissue? Is there such thing as a hard tissue injury? Coach Harbaugh, can you point to a general area on this life-sized Joe Flacco Fathead to show us where Hurst hurts?

And then, without any warning, this soft tissue injury found a new victim, and the affliction struck fellow rookie Tight End, Mark Andrews. As of this writing, Andrews has missed his 3rd consecutive practice with the soft tissue injury, and there’s no word of when he’ll return (although no concern that it’s more than a ‘wait and see’ injury).

It was pertinent that I get to the bottom of this ailment, before anybody else gets slapped with the same diagnosis and we’re all left scratching our heads once again.

I did some digging on the Googles, which led me to Wiki- the most trusted resource on the internet- but instead, I’ll opt to use a more trusted source in Johns Hopkins Medicine. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library, here’s what could possibly be ailing the Ravens dynamic duo of rookie Tight Ends:

Many activities can lead to soft-tissue damage of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The result can be pain, swelling, bruising, and damage. Soft-tissue injuries are classified as the following:

• Contusions (bruises)

• Sprains

• Tendonitis

• Bursitis

• Stress injuries

• Strains

I know what you’re thinking and I’m right there with you: “soft tissue injury” is a catch-all description. You’re talking about a term that can explain everything from a partially torn ligament, down to a bruised hip from slipping while trying to climb back in through the window – and simultaneously avoid your overly-excited dog trying to lick rain drops off of you – after clearing out a fallen branch in the gutters in the driving rain the other day because you’re stubborn and didn’t want to hear about that freaking branch one more time, even though you know damn well another branch will end up in the same damn gutter before the storm is over…

So yanno, anything in that spectrum.

For Hurst, I think it’s safe to say his injury was probably more of the contusion variety, considering how quickly he was back to practice. As for Andrews? Perhaps his injury is a bit more serious, having missed three straight practices now. Hopefully it’s not as lingering as tendonitis or bursitis, and maybe more of the mild strain/sprain variety?

Of course the specifics of their ‘soft tissues injury’ will remain a speculative mystery, as this classification is so widespread- but still counts towards the ‘must denote injury’ rule, and really feels like the NFL’s version of the upper/lower body injury classifications used by the NHL. 

And to answer your last question, yes – there is such thing as a ‘hard tissue injury.’ 

Hard tissue injury is a fancy way to say fractured or broken bone. 

Enjoy your Snapple Facts.