To R.I.C.E. or not to R.I.C.E.

It has been getting warmer outside and we have been getting more patients walking through our doors with aches and pains occurring do to getting back involved in recreational activities such as golf, outdoor running, sand volleyball, softball, etc...  With sports injuries like these, it brings to mind a common practice of treating acute sports injuries known as R.I.C.E.   This is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.  This approach to acute injuries can be a very effective way to manage an acute injury and help an athlete or weekend warrior get back to the desired activity in a reasonable amount of time.

Not this type of rice

In our office we do not fully support the idea that this is the exact protocol a person suffering from an acute injury should follow.  From our perspective, we believe that allowing the injury to heal on its own is a mistake that can cost extra time in the recovery process for these injuries.  We believe that early treatment in acute injuries can influence the way the tissue heals rather than having to adapt treatment around how the body healed on its own during the initial period of rest.  This is not to say that we do not incorporate the R.I.C.E. protocol at all, but rather we modify it and add an element of treatment.

IASTM

The treatments we may employ depend on the severity and location of the injury.  Through advanced evaluation procedures, we can identify the tissues involved in the injury as well as the severity to which those tissues are injured and develop a plan based on what we find.  This is accomplished through several methods of evaluation we utilize in our office which include movement screening, orthopedic testing, manual palpation and general observation.  Our treatment may include some combination of any number of these treatments:  chiropractic joint manipulation, acupuncture, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, kinesiology taping, and/or rehabilitative exercises. (learn more about these treatments at our website: www.backandbodycb.com) The specific combination of treatment depends about the patient and the injury.  Ultimately the goal is to allow the patient to return to their desired activity as quickly as possible without causing further injury and creating a proper healing environment.  I would imagine most athletes would like to be able to cut a week off the time it takes them to return to play. We work hard to make this possible.  Thanks for reading and enjoy spring.

Dr. Drew