R.I.C.E. Therapy For Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries, sprains, and strains commonly affect the feet and ankles. If you suffer an overuse injury, there is an acronym that can help you remember the proper treatment for such injuries. R.I.C.E. therapy is an acronym to help you remember the steps for treatment that can help reduce swelling and promote healing of overuse injuries, sprains, and strains.

R.I.C.E. therapy stands for rest, ice, compression, elevation. Rest is appropriate to allow the joint and affected muscles to heal. Activity should be reduces as much as possible following such an injury. It is recommended that the person with a sprained or strained ankle avoids putting much weight on the injury, especially for the first forty-eight hours.

Ice should be applied to the injury as soon as possible. Ice should be applied in twenty-minute intervals and should not be applied directly to the skin. The ice should be applied several times a day. A physician can give directions on the precise routine that the patient should follow.

A compression bandage is often used to help reduce swelling. An ace bandage is commonly used for foot and ankle injuries. Some sprains required more immobilization. A removable cast may be used. The doctor will suggest the appropriate level of care.

The injured foot or ankle should be elevated above the level of the heart. This helps reduce swelling. R.I.C.E. therapy is largely focused on reducing swelling of the injury. In many cases, an over-the-counter pain reliever such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is suggested.

If the injury is minor, following R.I.C.E. therapy and using NSAIDs may be all that is necessary. However, it is strongly recommended that the injury be examined by a physician, especially if bruising occurs. A black and blue bruise can indicate that a bone is broken instead of a joint sprain.