Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy, or the use of ice, for sports injuries has been the accepted practice for decades. I was taught, like many other health professionals, the old acronym RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). The basic science behind the practice seems simple enough, but research on the topic has yielded mixed results. Here are some of the generally accepted physiological reactions to icing:
Reduces pain by slowing nerve impulses.
Decreases spasm by inhibiting involuntary muscle contraction.
Decreases secondary cell death after injury by lowering surviving cells’ need for oxygen
“Evidence shows that cryotherapy slows metabolic processes and nerve conduction velocity. Metabolic pathways are necessary for human function. Cells are supposed to produce catabolic and anabolic reactions. This is a constant process in all humans. During healing we breakdown and rebuild tissue. Cold inhibits this function, so in a sense we are slowing the necessary catabolic and anabolic pathways.”
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Other research shows a decreased time to 10 minutes, from the traditional 20 minutes, to be adequate in decreasing acute pain, while not interfering with the metabolic processes. Evidence is showing a change in traditional thinking. Ice will continue to be used in the Athletic Training room for acute injuries, but my practices will reflect current methods. This means "icing" times will be decreased and the use of ice for chronic injuries will be phased out, favoring a more functional approach to rehabilitation and healing.
The moral of the story-- Just because it's the way it has always been done, doesn't make it right!