RICE stands for:
- Rest the sprained or strained area. If necessary, use a sling for an arm injury or crutches for a leg or foot injury.
- Ice for 20 minutes every hour. Never put ice directly against the skin or it may damage the skin. Use a thin towel for...
- Compress by wrapping an elastic (Ace) bandage or sleeve lightly (not tightly) around the joint or limb. Specialized...
Why you shouldn't do rice for sprains?
"Patients should start moving most sprained and strained joints soon after the injury, but a lot of doctors go too far in traditional prescription of RICE','he notes, "This doesn't reflect modern science." The matter is RICE reduces blood flow necessary for healing.
What is the rice treatment for sprains and stains?
What Is the RICE Method for Injuries?
- Rest. Pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. ...
- Ice. Ice is a tried-and-true tool for reducing pain and swelling. ...
- Compression. This means wrapping the injured area to prevent swelling. Wrap the affected area with an elastic medical bandage (like an ACE bandage).
- Elevation. This means raising the sore body part above the level of your heart. ...
Is "rice" really appropriate for treating injuries?
This treatment method is helpful for mild sports injuries. For best results, follow the RICE method within the first 24 to 36 hours after the injury. It can help reduce swelling and prevent additional pain and bruising in the early days after a sports injury.
What is the RICE method for treating injuries?
What is RICE Method for treating Injuries?
- Rest. Well, there is much debate on this rest protocol from the RICE method. ...
- ICE. This is the most important step in the RICE method as ice therapy reduces or minimizes swelling and inflammation that causes pain.
- Compression. In the RICE method, the word C stands for compression. ...
- Elevation. ...
How many days do you use RICE on a sprained ankle?
RICE treatment is a first-aid treatment for soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and bruises — for example, sprained ankles, sprained knees, or muscle strains. It's best used immediately after sustaining an injury and should be stopped within two days (48 hours).
Does the RICE method work?
Based upon the available evidence, the only plausible conclusion is that the use of the RICE technique to accelerate the recovery process is unequivocally a myth. Its validity was unequivocally compromised in 2015 when Dr. Mirkin publicly recanted his original position from 1978.
How long should you RICE?
Begin immediately after an injury, and continue treatment for the next 24–48 hours. Rest the injured area. Avoid moving it and try to keep weight off it.
How does RICE treat strains and sprains?
To remember the first aid for sprains and strains, learn the acronym RICE:Rest. Give the injured area a rest. ... Ice. Apply ice as soon as possible after the injury occurs to help limit inflammation, bruising and pain. ... Compression. Wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ... Elevation.
Is RICE treatment outdated?
The good news: while the RICE treatment method may be outdated and ineffective, there's still A LOT of things you can do to recover from soft tissue injuries.
Can you elevate your foot too much?
Don't elevate your legs on a table or desk without a cushion to prevent the edges and corners from digging into your skin. This can cause leg pain, bruising, spider veins, and nerve damage to the area. It's also counterproductive, as it hurts circulation to the area due to excessive pressure.
Should you elevate a sprained ankle while sleeping?
Healthguidance.org recommends how to sleep with a sprained ankle is by elevating it slightly to drain fluids and prevent unnecessary swelling, so place a pillow or some blankets under the offending ankle while you sleep. Also apply some ice before going to bed to reduce inflammation.
What helps ligaments heal faster?
Balance, control, and strengthening exercises can also help your ligaments heal more quickly than they otherwise would.
How do you speed up tendon healing?
Full body immersion cryotherapy and localized cryotherapy can both be used to speed up tendon injury healing. The extreme cold stimulates blood flow, tissue regeneration, and boosts tendon healing.
When should ricer be used?
Use RICER first aid for up to 72 hours after a sprain, strain or fracture. It can limit swelling and speed up recovery.
What is ricer treatment?
If you've ever hurt your ankle or had another type of sprain or strain, chances are your doctor recommended rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) as one of your first treatments. The RICE method is a simple self-care technique that helps reduce swelling, ease pain, and speed up healing.
Does compression help healing?
Compression wraps limit the veins' ability to expand and help blood move more efficiently, which assists the healing process. Further, reducing the inflammation near your wound makes it easier for your damaged skin to receive oxygen, which also speeds healing.
What Is The R.I.C.E Treatment method?
R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and taking these simple steps following a strain, sprain, or other similar injury can he...
Step 1: Rest
p>Immediately rest the affected area as much as possible. Experts recommend 24 to 48 hours of no weight-bearing activities. Continued use of a mode...
Step 2: Ice
To help reduce pain and swelling during the first 48 hours after injury, ice the area 20 minutes at a time every 4 hours, using an ice pack covered...
Step 3: Compression
Using an elastic medical bandage, wrap the area to help decrease swelling and internal bleeding (if present). The wrap should be snug, but make sur...
Step 4: Elevation
Raise the injured body part above heart level so that gravity can move fluids away from the injured area.
Seeking Medical Attention After A Sports Injury
If you have are not sure of the severity of your injury, be sure to consult your physician before beginning any sort of treatment regimen. If you h...
Step 1: Rest
Pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. As soon as you’re hurt, stop your activity, and rest as much as possible for the first 2 days. Don’t try to follow the “no pain, no gain” philosophy. Doing so with certain injuries, like a moderate to severe ankle sprain, can make the damage worse and delay your recovery.
Step 2: Ice
Ice is a tried-and-true tool for reducing pain and swelling. Apply an ice pack (covered with a light, absorbent towel to help prevent frostbite) for 15-20 minutes every two to three hours during the first 24 to 48 hours after your injury. Don’t have an ice pack? A bag of frozen peas or corn will work just fine.
Step 3: Compression
This means wrapping the injured area to prevent swelling. Wrap the affected area with an elastic medical bandage (like an ACE bandage). You want it to be snug but not too tight -- if it’s too tight, it’ll interrupt blood flow. If the skin below the wrap turns blue or feels cold, numb, or tingly, loosen the bandage.
Step 4: Elevation
This means raising the sore body part above the level of your heart. Doing so reduces pain, throbbing, and swelling. It’s not as tricky to do as you might think. For example, if you have an ankle sprain, you can prop your leg up on pillows while sitting on the sofa.
Treatments Used With RICE
Your doctor may suggest using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen or naproxen) along with the RICE treatment. These are available over the counter and by prescription. Talk to your doctor about your health history before taking these medications.
Understanding the RICE Method for Acute Sprains
Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery.
Ice Packs and Wraps
Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries. If you have a recent injury (within the last 48 hours), where swelling is a problem, you should be using ice treatment rather than heat .
Heating Pad
Heat treatments can be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues and to stimulate blood flow to the area.
Wrist Support
Support braces can help people who have either had a recent wrist sprain injury or those who tend to injure their wrists easily.
Ankle Brace
Ankle braces act in a similar manner to wrist supports. While these will not prevent all injuries, they often help those who tend to be prone to ankle sprains .
Compression Bandages
Use compression when elevating an acute sprain or strain. Using an Ace bandage, wrap the area overlapping the elastic wrap by one-half of the width of the wrap. The wrap should be snug, but not tight—you don't want to cut off circulation to the extremity. So, if your fingers or toes become cold, blue, or tingle, loosed and re-wrap!
Rest and Elevation
In addition to ice and compression, rest and elevation is an important part of treating an acute sprain or strain. How long to rest your injury will depend on the severity, but it's important to realize that resuming activity may increase pain and swelling, and can raise the risk of suffering another, perhaps even more severe, injury.
Self-Care to Reduce Pain and Swelling With Soft Tissue Injuries
Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Rest
Rest is essential for the healing of injured tissue. 2 Without rest, movement and weight bearing can continue to aggravate an injury and cause increased inflammation and swelling.
Compression
Compression of an injured or painful ankle, knee, or wrist helps to reduce the swelling. 3 Elastic bandages, such as ACE wraps, are usually effective. Special boots, air casts, and splints can offer both compression and support. Your healthcare provider can suggest the best option for you.
Elevation
Elevate the injured part of the body above heart level. 3 This provides a downward path for draining fluid back to the heart, which may reduce swelling and pain. Try to elevate the entire limb six to 10 inches above the heart. You can lie down and use a pillow to help elevate the injured limb.
When to Seek Medical Treatment
Many common acute injuries can be helped by R.I.C.E., especially when combined with over-the-counter pain relievers. However, if your pain and swelling don't begin to go down after 48 hours, you should see your healthcare provider.
Summary
With an acute injury, it's important to bring pain, swelling, and inflammation under control as soon as possible. The R.I.C.E. method—Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation—is a simple way to do this on your own at home. You may want to include an ice pack and an ACE bandage in your first-aid kit in case you need it at some point.
What Is the R.I.C.E Treatment Method?
R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and taking these simple steps following a strain, sprain, or other similar injury can help you more quickly recover and get back to everyday activities.
R.I.C.E. Recovery
While using the R.I.C.E. method, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help to reduce swelling and pain. With these tips, a sprain, strain, or other minor injury can be easily treated and get you back in the game as soon as possible.
Seeking Medical Attention After a Sports Injury
If you have are not sure of the severity of your injury, be sure to consult your physician before beginning any sort of treatment regimen. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine experts, visit UPMCSportsMedicine.com, or call 1-855-93-SPORT.
First-Line Treatment for Sprains and Strains
Most minor injuries like sprains and strains can be treated conservatively at home through the RICE method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
The Different Steps of RICE Treatment
Generally, it is helpful to stat the RICE method immediately after a minor injury with the following steps:
The Benefits of Using RICE Procedure as the First Line of Treatment
RICE treatment is an excellent form of conservative treatment for minor injuries, which can easily be administered at home with some readily available equipment.
Complementary Treatments to Be Used With RICE
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, are often used in conjunction with the RICE method. These medications are very effective at treating sprains and strains, but should be avoided in patients with kidney, stomach, or bleeding disorders.
How Long Should RICE Treatment Be Administered?
A staged approach should be taken to RICE treatment in terms of duration, depending partly on the type of injury.
Possible Side Effects of Using RICE Treatment
Although RICE treatment is fairly benign, there are potential consequences if it is not administered properly:
People Who Should Not Use RICE Treatment
RICE treatment should only be used on the extremities and should be avoided if the patient suffers from restricted blood flow or is unable to monitor the treatment safely, as in the case of neuropathy.
Comparing RICE and MICE
As many doctors recommend RICE, as MICE. It’s more important to use the acronyms as guides rather than absolutes.
When should you see a doctor?
If you can otherwise perform normal activities, sprains and strains will respond to this conservative care in two to three weeks.
Process
Cons
- The evidence for using RICE—especially the ice part—is sketchy at best.3The major flaw lies in restricted blood flow. When you're injured, your body rushes more blood to the area as part of the healing process. RICE can prevent that.4
What to Do Instead
- So far, no one has come up with a handy acronym to replace RICE. Some have been suggested, including: 1. MICE (replacing rest with movement) 2. METH (movement, elevation, traction, heat) 3. MOVE (movement, options for rehabilitation and training, varied exercise, ease back into activity early) All of these are problematic, though. MICE continues to use ice and compression so it ha…
Medications
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)are a mainstay of pain and injury treatment. Remember, though, that some inflammation is good. Don't over-use them. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include: 1. Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) 2. Aleve (naproxen) 3. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) If you continue having a lot of inflammation despite taking these medications, talk to your provider…
When to Talk to Your Doctor
- Some soft-tissue injuries can be treated at home. Others require a healthcare provider's care. Get medical attention if:11 1. You've treated an injury at home for several days but it's not improving 2. You can't move it 3. You can't put weight on it 4. It's significantly swollen 5. Pain is severe and doesn't go away with rest 6. A bone looks misaligned 7. The area turns blue 8. The injury site is n…
Summary
- The traditional RICE method for treating soft tissue injuries limits blood flow to the injury. That might slow down the healing process. Evidence suggests that movement and heat may be better for healing than rest and ice. Elevation can help keep swelling under control, and medication can help with pain while the injury heals.
A Word from Verywell
- You can find a lot of websites, coaches, and healthcare providers who still recommend RICE. That advice has been around for a long time and some people continue to swear by it. You may want to discuss the problems of RICE with your provider and look at other treatment options for pain and rehabilitation.