The Facts:
* A recent clinical study was conducted to investigate whether different methods of applying ice to sprains had any impact on the outcome of the injury.
* About 90 people with sprained ankles, including both athletes and the general public, were included.
* The results showed that intermittent use of an ice pack was better than a continuous 20 minutes application at reducing the pain and swelling of the sprain.
Shaun’s comment: A sprain is an injury to a ligament (these connect one bone to another) due to overstretching. This results in inflammation, with symptoms of pain, swelling and loss of function. Treatment for this and other soft tissue injuries is RICE – Rest, Ice, Elevation and Compression. But how long do you apply the ice for? This study showed that intermittent use of the ice resulted in better healing than when the ice was applied continuously.
Study reference:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.025932
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