The RICE Treatment Technique is a straight forward common sense approach used for treating trauma types of injuries. RICE is an acronym for the key components of the injury treatment: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The first step is to Rest the injured area so it is safely immobilized. Ice should then be applied to the area, as well as compression, to support the area. Finally, elevation of the area will reduce blood flow to the injured area and this reduces the swelling. These actions if applied immediately after the injury happens will help prevent further injury, reduce swelling, pain and the recovery time. The RICE technique has become a universal standard for the care of muscle injuries. It is a treatment that is low in cost and most people in any location can use.
The Ice component of the RICE technique is often called Cold Therapy or Cryotherapy as it is technically known. Cold therapy can be done with crushed ice cubes. The crashed ice cubes are contained in a bag which is wrapped up in a cloth and applied onto the surface of the injury. The cold temperature numbs the area which reduces the pain. Cold therapy also works by cooling down the affected area which in turn reduces the swelling if the injury has caused any inflammation. This can be referred to as the analgesic effect.
Ice is not the only substances that can be used in cold therapy. Gelatinous substances are now available which get colder faster than other substances - no waiting for ice cubes to freeze. It is also more comfortable than using crushed ice due to its soft gelatinous form that can conform to the body area. A number of cold packs and wrap configurations have been designed to accommodate the different areas of the body that regularly get injured. It is easy to acquire a cold wrap made specifically for the ankle or the knee for example. Ice gel is highly effective in relieving the pain of the injured muscles within the first few minutes of application. What is even more important is that this topical pain relief does not have any side effects. The ice gel pack should be placed onto the affected area for around fifteen to twenty minutes at a time.
The use of cryotherapy has been fundamental in the treatment of other injuries too. Another positive effect is that it reduces the amount of bleeding if there is any. The cold caused the blood vessels to constrict enabling the clotting agents in the blood to work more effectively. When the blood vessels become constricted from the cold, the oxygen requirements for the cells are reduced and this will prevent cell death that may happen due to loss of oxygen in the blood. All this leads to reduced pain in the affected area and the rest of the body.
Cold therapy is mostly utilized in sports where muscle injuries are a regular occurrence. Cold therapy packs are now a standard part of first aid kits carried to sporting events. The cold therapy gel treatment can be very useful for sprains or injuries that happen at home also. This is why every home should have such a product in the refrigerator or freezer ready to be used when needed. Treating injuries this way is not expensive, easy to apply, and most importantly achieves the desired end result - that of seeing the injured muscle restored to its previous optimum functioning. It is however not advised to use cold therapy for people who have Reynaud's Phenomenon or have cold hypersensitivity.
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