| Have you ever been the victim of an unforeseen | | | | severity of the injury |
| injury? Whether it is that a hidden curb that took out | | | | - Ice- an ice wrap should be applied for 20 minutes- |
| your ankle on a grocery shopping trip, an accidental | | | | this will help with initial swelling. A good rule of thumb |
| slip down the stairs that leaves your knee twisted | | | | is to apply a cold pack treatment to a recent injury |
| underneath you, or an athletic injury from your | | | | for 20 minutes, and repeat every 1 to 1.5 hour |
| weekend basketball game, proper injury | | | | throughout the waking day. |
| management, that includes rest, ice therapy, | | | | - Compression- applying compression wraps/elastic |
| compression, and elevation may be essential for a full | | | | bandages can reduce and prevent excessive swelling. |
| recovery. | | | | Bandage should always reach the largest muscle area |
| These injuries have rabid onset and occur almost | | | | below the injury to the largest muscle group above |
| immediately. You may feel pain, discomfort, loss of | | | | the injury. |
| function and are unable to perform your task at | | | | - Elevation- Raise the injured area at least, or slightly |
| hand. These acute injuries call for treatment and the | | | | above heart level. The force of gravity can reduce |
| most common treatment is called "RICE". This | | | | swelling. Support the affected area in the most |
| acronym stands for Rest, Ice Therapy, Compression, | | | | comfortable position afforded. |
| and Elevation. They are the four steps used in first | | | | If an unforeseen injury jumps out and bites you in |
| aid injury management to address these types of | | | | the ankle, knee, lower back or other body part apply |
| injuries. | | | | first aid immediately using the RICE method. Rest |
| A major part of injury is swelling, and although | | | | your affected body part, provide ice therapy to your |
| swelling is part of the healing process, too much | | | | injury site, put something on it that slightly restricts |
| swelling can impede the healing process and decrease | | | | the blood flow and elevate your injury above your |
| one's ability to return to activity. If swelling can be | | | | heart to reduce the secondary swelling. Manage your |
| controlled initially, the amount of time for injury | | | | injury with RICE and you'll be back before you know |
| rehabilitation will be reduced. Initial injury management | | | | it. If you experience extreme swelling, intense pain, |
| should include rest, ice, compression and elevation- | | | | deformity, or simply because you are not sure, you |
| RICE. | | | | should visit your physician as well as performing these |
| The guidelines for RICE are as follows: | | | | initial injury management procedures. Don't forget the |
| - Rest- stop the activity that has caused the injury | | | | RICE principle for your trip there. |
| or will make it worse. Rest will vary depending on the | | | | |