R.I.C.E.

What to do you when you sustain an injury:

REST:

Stop! As soon as you realize that you’re hurt, STOP using the injured area and rest. Continuing to run could cause further injury, delay healing, increase pain, and stimulate bleeding. These are bad, do not contribute to your problem.

ICE:

Using ice or a frozen gel pack helps control internal bleeding by causing small blood vessels to contract. Ice will help numb the area and also acts to interupt the Pain-Spasm-Pain cyle.

COMPRESSION:

Compression will help decrease swelling by slowing internal bleeding and limiting the accumulation of blood and fluids near the injury site. The more blood and fluids the accumulate, the slower the rate of healing.

ELEVATION:

Elevate the injured body part above the level of the heart. This will also help to decrease the level of swelling.

Norm St.Onge is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist and is the owner of ProTouch Professional Massage & Muscle Therapy in Townsend, MA. He is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Townsend Business Association. He can be reached at 508.597.5219. Please email questions to Norm St. Onge at protouch@tiac.net.

R.I.C.E.

What to do you when you sustain an injury:

REST:

ICE:

COMPRESSION:

ELEVATION:

© Cool Sports 1996