Acute Injury Management: RICE Has Gone Stale

Choose PEACE & LOVE

Instead

Brief description: 

Want to know the latest and greatest secret recipe for getting on top of your acute soft tissue injuries? Hint – RICE is no longer on the menu. 

Ever sprained an ankle and been immediately taxied to the bench with the local sports trainer or coach instructing you to Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate the injured limb? The RICE approach for soft tissue injuries has been the stalwart of old. PEACE and LOVE has been proposed to as a worthy successor that incorporates more recent research and reflects the multiple stages of tissue healing and recovery. 

For the first 1-3 days following injury, let PEACE guide your approach to optimise recovery. After that initial window, show a bit of LOVE to your tissues – it will pay off in the long run.  

What does this approach look like in action? That is a great question. Let’s revisit the scenario of a common ankle sprain. 

First 1-3 days following injury… 

PROTECT = Taping around the ankle joint may help to reduce movement and provide temporary stability in the acute stages. If weight-bearing is too painful, crutches may be helpful in reducing the loading on the injured ankle. 

ELEVATION = In settings where it is possible, a seat and pillow may be used to support the injured ankle to elevate it above heart height.

AVOID ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES = If the pain and swelling levels are manageable without taking medication, it may be optimal to avoid consumption. 

COMPRESSION = A compression sleeve may be cut to size and placed around the ankle joint to help reduce surrounding swelling

EDUCATION = If you have sought professional advice during the acute stages of the injury, they may provide information regarding the diagnosis, likely prognosis, possible recovery timeline and management going forward. 

After the first 72 hours…

LOAD = As the initial pain and swelling reduces, weight-bearing on the injured ankle may become more comfortable. Crutches may no longer be needed. Walking slowly on flat ground may be tolerated. 

OPTIMISM = The body has incredible capacity to heal and recover if given the right recipe. It may not happen overnight, but persistence and consistency are key. 

VASCULARISATION = Stationary bike riding or swimming are great options to continue participating in cardiovascular activities whilst the ankle is recovering. 

EXERCISE = A personalised rehabilitation program prescribed by a physical therapist is critical to restoring mobility, strength, and proprioception to the ankle joint. 

If you are keen to learn more, you can book online with one of our experienced practitioners by visiting:

www.osteopathicmovement.com

or by calling:

0402 377 209

If you have any further enquiries email:

info@osteopathicmovement.com

Written by: Serena Kuo

Source: Dubois, B., & Esculier, J. F. (2020). Soft-tissue injuries simply need PEACE and LOVE. British journal of sports medicine, 54(2), 72-73.