Nicole alerted us to this research article – this really takes the RICE/POLICE acronym for a spin.
The article is called ‘Soft tissue injuries simply need PEACE & LOVE’ published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine recently.
One of the important points is that the RICE / POLICE approach only really helps you out for the first 48-72 hours.
To remind you about RICE and POLICE, check out this blog from last year by Ed about the very topic!
What to do after 48-72 hours?
PEACE and LOVE are new acronyms that have been suggested and they make good sense.
One of the noteworthy parts of PEACE is that the A stands for ‘avoid anti-inflammatories’.
That may come as a surprise for some, but as the authors state:
‘…while anti-inflammatories show benefits on pain and function, our acronyms flag their potential harmful effects on optimal tissue repair. We suggest that they may not be included in the standard management of soft tissue injuries.’
Inflammation is a critical part of the healing process, something that your body automatically switches on (and switches off) after acute injury. It often gets a bad rap as if it is undesirable, but it is necessary.
There is much more to talk about with this acronym, including one character that is prominent in typical soft tissue acute management that is missing. And it’s not elevation or compression! (Hint – where is the R?)
Read the full article here. It is a good read and not too technical.
