Ice, Ice.......Maybe? Part 2
- Sep 12, 2017
- 2 min read
Welcome to Part 2! Today, I will share my 3 C's of Ice: Cautionary tips, Contraindications with massage, and Controversies of the acronym RICE. Let's get to it!
Cautionary tips of using ice appropriately: It's recommended to ice an affected area up to 20 minutes, 4 to 8 times a day. It's important to allow the tissue to resume it's normal state before reapplying. And, remember to never apply ice directly to the skin....use a towel! Adhere to these guidelines, people! Click here & scroll down to RICE therapy
Contraindications: There are several stages of inflammation. Acute, Sub-acute, and Post-acute.
Acute inflammation is not appropriate for massage. This is why I encourage clients to wait at least 3 days after an acute onset of pain (sudden pain after lifting a box or twisting from a golf swing) before coming in for a massage. I still recommend RICE until it is time for massage...always inform me so you receive the most beneficial session!
Sub-acute stage can last for 2 to 3 weeks depending on severity of injury, validating my policy regarding car accidents, etc. After my accident in 2012, I thought I was fine, but then after day 5, I couldn't pick up a glass of water. It's important to wait it out and get cleared by a doc! Click here for my faqs/policies page.
"Bodywork may be helpful in flushing out debris and improving sluggish and congested circulation in the post-acute stages of inflammation." Pathology book, Pg. 17
Controversies: Ice of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) After the long-standing controversy over how long to do RICE, now there's a new controversy. Do you even ice at all??
Knowing why you ice is important. I only recommend it to control the pain from inflammation, not to speed up recovery. There is discussion of long-term consequences like nerve damage, but it's possible that sufferers used ice inappropriately. Recently, Dr. Gabe Mirkin made a statement about his original RICE acronym. In my opinion, it seems like he wasn't changing his mind about using ice but wanting to discuss the dangers of using ice inappropriately and recalling his statement about ice supporting healing.
I think icing has benefits and instead of completely removing it from the acronym RICE, I believe we need to educate the public on when, how, and how long to use it. For it to help me as much as it did after my car wreck, I'm not ready to get rid of icing altogether. What do you think?
Werner, Ruth. A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, 2009. Print.
*This is an informational blog only and shouldn't be construed as a substitute for medical examination, diagnosis, and/or treatment, and that you should see a medical physician, chiropractic doctor, or other health care specialist to address concerns that are outside the massage therapist's scope of practice.
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