The original saying when it came to soft tissue injuries included the acronym 'RICE'. Many people know this as:
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
Although it's useful, there have been minor changes to this acronym. The newer saying is "POLICE'. This one stands for:
Protection
Optimal-Loading
Ice
Compression
Elevation
We found that relative rest for most conditions is best. However, optimally loading the tissue speeds up the healing process. The old model of a sprained ankle included bracing, taking medication, and going home totally resting. However, we found these patients were taking substantially longer to heal from even simple ankle sprains. Follow the newer guidelines of optimally loading the tissue while continuing to ice and protect; you'll find your healing time decreases.
Dr. Julian Hawkins is a chiropractor at Physical Dimensions.