Bruising

[StevieRay]

Does anyone else bruise easily? Anytime I use the barbell - hip thrusts, front squats, back squats, etc. I get really bad bruising from where the bar sits against my body. I did hip thrusts yesterday and today my back is agony from where I was leaning against the bench and the tops of my thighs are badly bruised from the bar. It means I can do the same exercise for days until the bruises have healed.

I would maybe go get your bloods checked at your doctor. I don't think it's normal to have bruises like that from a bench and barbell.

You need a pad to go around the bar for the hip thrusts. Do you have a PT or someone who can help with form? You shouldn’t need be hurting like that. What weights are you lifting?

I have had this when I first learnt some of those lifts, front squat especially. Once I got proper technique and a bit more strength to be able to support the bar better it stopped.
Without knowing more details it perhaps suggests you need to look at technique? Maybe take the weight down for a bit while you work on it?
Lots of people use a pad for hip thrusts but you shouldn’t be feeling it like that in your back.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been lifting weights for around 4 months now, 2/3 times a week. I saw a PT twice a week for the first month and now attend group sessions. I'm not lifting excessive weight either, hip thrusts were 27kg (6 sets of 12 reps). The trainer said my technique looked good but maybe it's not. The bruises on my upper thighs are big and really painful, we didn't use pads but I'll ask for some next time. I've always bruised easily to be honest but the barbell kills me.

Excuse my language but no f*ing way would I be doing hip thrusts without a pad! Crazy! Definitely get one! Is that 27kg on top of the 20kg bar or 27kg including the bar? Either way you need a pad.

6 sets of 12 seems a lot. I do 3 sets of 12 at a heavier weight. You must be there all day!

Was just about to say the same. Never heard of anyone doing 6 sets of 12. That's excessive and I would be bored out my nut doing all that.

God no, 27kg all in. 15kg bar with 12kg of weight added (well I think it was a 15kg bar). I'll definitely be using a pad next time!

It didn't take that long to be honest. It's a 1hr class which consisted of a warm up, 6 sets with 90 seconds rest in between, a 20 minute AMRAP and then stretching. I'm fairly new to weight training.

No wonder you’re bruising with 72 reps! Definitely try a pad. I do question the point of so many reps but I’m not an expert. I do 3 sets 12 at 65kg making sure I lock out and properly pause for 5-10 at the end of each set.

If you can do 6 x 12 it's not heavy enough!!!

We do 3 or 4 sets of 12, when that becomes easy we up the weight.
Then we might only be doing 3 sets of 8