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Ask the Therapist?

Featured in the Town Observer Newspaper

by Carol Pietromonaco PT. - Physical Therapy Plus

Q. What do I do if I have an injury?

A. THE R.I.C.E. PRINCIPLE

If you have recently injured yourself, the RICE Principle is the most effective form of treatment in the first 24 to 48 hours. R.I.C.E. consists of the following:

• REST If you have acute joint or muscle pain, you must rest the injured area at least for 24 to 48 hours or sometimes longer. You can often do gentle movement that is in a pain-free range but do not continue to aggravate the problem by continuing the activity that caused the injury.

• ICE The use of cold in a recent injury is always indicated. Patients will often put an ice pack on their ankle but will get into a hot-tub or place heat on an injured part, such the back, which is often very uncomfortable to apply but, nonetheless, essential in reducing the swelling caused by injury. It is the swelling caused by an injury that often causes more soft tissue damage then the injury itself.

• COMPRESSION Other technique to keep swelling at a minimum is to use an ace bandage or some other type of compressive agent to keep the body part from swelling extensively. It should be noted that any application of an ace bandage should be monitored so that there is no restriction of blood supply causing further damage to the injured part.

• ELEVATION
Other technique to keep swelling at a minimum is to elevate your leg as often as possible to avoid a dependent position and assist blood supply to reduce swelling

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