Why R.I.C.E.?
What is R.I.C.E. and why do you need it? One of the most recommended icing techniques for reducing inflammation and treating minor injuries is R.I.C.E., an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. It is best used for pulled muscles, sprained ligaments, soft tissue injury, and joint aches. Applying R.I.C.E. treatments will decrease pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, swelling and tissue damage. It achieves this by reducing blood flow from local vessels near the injury and decreasing fluid hemorrhaging as a result of cell damage. To administer R.I.C.E. use the following guidelines suggested by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Rest: Stop using the injured body part immediately. If you feel pain when you move, this is your body sending a signal to decrease mobility of the injured area. Ice: Apply an ice pack to the injured area, using a towel or cover to protect your skin from frostbite. The more conforming the ice pack the better, in order for the injury to receive maximum exposure to the treatment. Compression: Use a pressure bandage or wrap over the ice pack to help reduce swelling. Never tighten the bandage or wrap to the point of cutting off blood flow. You should not feel pain or a tingly sensation while using compression. Elevation: Raise or prop up the injured area so that it rests above the level of your heart. How long should ice be applied while practicing R.I.C.E. for it to be effective? There are four levels of cold felt by the skin: coldness; a prickly or burning sensation; a feeling of aching pain; and finally a lack of sensation or numbness. When the area feels numb, icing should be discontinued. The skin should return to normal body temperature before icing again. Usually numbness can be achieved in 10 to 20 minutes. Never apply ice for more than 30 minutes at a time or tissue damage may occur. It is generally recommended to practice R.I.C.E. at intervals of 4 to 6 hours for up to 48 hours after an injury. Heat treatments are appropriate for some injuries, but should only be considered after inflammation has receded, approximately 72 hours after an injury. If the body part does not respond to R.I.C.E. therapy within 48 hours, it would be wise to consult your health care provider in the event a serious injury has occurred such as internal bleeding or a broken bone. For minor injuries, use R.I.C.E. instead of plain ice! This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment or consultation. Always consult with your physician in the event of a serious injury. About The Author Louise Roach is the editor of an on-line health and fitness newsletter. She has been instrumental in the research, testing and development of SnowPack, a patented cold therapy that exhibits the same qualities as ice. Her injury prevention and treatment articles have been published on running, walking and fitness websites. For more information visit: http://www.snowpackusa.com or NewsFlash*SnowPack at: http://home.netcom.com/~newsflash. Louise Roach can be reached at: info@snowpackusa.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Taking The Sting Out Of Bug Bites
(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left alone, the irritation will subside within 48 hours.
Heart Disease: The Dangers Of Coronary Heart Attack And How To Avoid It
What is a coronary heart attack?
4 Reasons Why You Should Use Canadian Pharmacies
Let's face it: purchasing prescription drugs in the U.S. can be a costly undertaking. By filling your prescriptions online through Canadian pharmacies, your savings can be substantial. Here's why you should consider having your drugs shipped to your home from Canada:
Advanced Surface Ablation
In patients with corneal thickness below a certain minimum, performing LASIK would be unwise, because the "foundation" may not go back to its original stability. Our colleagues from around the world, agree on when not to do LASIK, like when the cornea is very steep or very flat. In those cases we feel strongly that advanced surface ablation or (PRK) would be the preferred procedure.
The 7 Most Dangerous Mistakes You Can Make When You See a Doctor for Arthritis!
1. Seeing a doctor who's not board-certified or a doctor who isn't really an arthritis specialist. A lot of doctors will tell you they're "board-eligible." That's nonsense! What "board-eligible" means is that they did the training for the specialty but either haven't taken or- heaven forbid- failed the examination for board-certification. Don't trust your health to one of those doctors. And worse yet, some specialists don't pass on the first attempt. They keep taking the board exam over and over in the hopes they'll finally pass. Ask the doctor how many times it took them. Would you rather see somebody who passed the first time or some idiot who took three and four times to pass?
Benign Tumors Of The Cervix
Endocervical polyps
Three Antioxidants (ginko biloba, grade seed extract, and selenium) for Alzheimers Treatment
Checklist of Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease
Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers - Take An Informed Decision
Alcohol rehabilitation centers in the United States offer a
wide range of treatment programmes for your recovery from
alcoholism.
Are You Suffering From Addiction?
Many researchers believe that addiction is a behavior that can be controlled to some extent and also a brain disease. And since some testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) found that all addictions tend to cause nearly the same reactions inside the brain, there could be one type of control model for addiction health-related issues.
Generic Drugs: How They Cost You Less?
If you are wondering why the chemist has charged much less than what you expected then it is not because he has developed sudden liking for you or the government decided to subsidized your medical bill.
Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness
As a physician specializing in psychiatry, I know that many emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders are true medical illnesses with a biologic (physical) origin. Psychiatry has become more and more "biological" in its diagnosis and treatment approaches during recent years, but a very significant stigma still exists against those who are seeing a therapist. This has become increasingly difficult to understand, but it is a social stigma that is so very important to eliminate.
CT and MRI Scans in Neurological Practice: A Quick Overview
Before computed tomographic (CT) scans became available in the 1970s, there was no good method for imaging the brain. The available methods and technologies struck around the target without quite hitting the bull's-eye.
A Guide to Arthritis Pain Relief
In a recent survey on pain conducted by the Stanford University Medical Center, arthritis pain was cited as the chief complaint among America's seniors, with thirty-two percent of the senior population listing arthritis as the specific cause of their suffering. Arthritis does strike children and young adults as well, although it afflicts the mature segment of the population more frequently. It is estimated that 15% of the American adult population suffer from arthritis, and this number is rising, increasing the demand for arthritis pain relief.
Talking Money with Your Doctor: Drugs and Tests for Less
Would you buy groceries without knowing their prices? I suspect not. You probably compare the costs of different boxes of cereal in order to get the best deal. But when it comes to medical care, do you even ask for the prices involved?
Vioxx and Bextra Lawsuits Could Tie Up Courts for Years
In September, 2004, pharmaceutical giant Merck voluntarily withdrew its painkilling medication Vioxx from the market. Studies show that Vioxx increases the risk of heart attack and stroke among patients who have used the drug for longer than 18 months. Vioxx, a drug from a family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, is one of only a few drugs specifically designed to minimize inflammation while avoiding the stomach disorders long associated with other anti-inflammatory medications. Since its introduction in 1999, Vioxx has been a huge success, and sales of the drug worldwide topped $2.5 billion in 2003. That is certainly a great deal of money, but it pales when compared to the amount that Merck stands to lose through product liability lawsuits, which will soon come to court. As of this writing, several thousand lawsuits have been filed nationally, but attorneys estimate that the total number of lawsuits filed could reach a staggering 100,000.
Medical Collections
Although you make a patient feel better, there isn't usually anything tangible to be a reminder of your service. When it comes time for the patient to pay their bills, yours is often at the bottom of the pile. You are competing with other credit grantors that supplied a tangible product, or something they really enjoy like cable or their cell phone and therefore your medical collections problem is more difficult.
Potassium and The Dialysis Patient
Any dialysis patient who has had a brush with high potassium will know only too well how dangerous this can be. We are forever being told to watch our potassium intake, so I thought I would explore the reasons for this, and what practical steps we can take to limit the risks.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors (AChEIs)for the Treatment of Moderate and
Checklist of Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease
Risperdal Side Effects: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome NMS
Risperdal is an atypical anti-psychotic drug that balances the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. It helps to stabilize patients with mental illness including the manic stages of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However Risperdal has been prescribed not just for people with mental illness, but also for children and the elderly who have behavioral and conduct disorders and for autism. Studies have only approved Risperdal for use with adults, not children. Children on Risperdal could retain lasting side effects.
Christopher Reeve To Have Promoted Basement Lab
Chrisopher Reeve has died. But his vision of a "Cure" has not. Mr. Reeve, who became a quadripilegic after a horse riding accident in 1995, was best known as advocate for stem cell research which promises cures for spinal cord injuries. Shortly before his death he had planned to get behind a little known biotech driven offshore By President Bush's restrictions on stem cell research. The "Cure" didn't reach Christopher Reeve in time. But a cure for the paralysis that plagued the star ?and ultimately led to his death may be in the test tubes in a basement lab in a small carribean island.
|
