To ice or not to ice?

Whenever my kids get hurt, the first thing they ask for is ice.

Icing may provide temporary pain relief but according to a report by the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Dubois & Esculier, 2019), the use of ice and anti-inflammatory medication (such as Advil) may actually impaired the tissue healing progress.

Instead of icing, the following approaches for new and acute tissue injuries are suggested:

• Protection: Restrict movement for 1-3 days to reduce risk of aggravating the injury

• Elevate: Elevate the limb higher than the heart to reduce swelling (make sure you do this lying down and NOT sitting)

• Compression: Use tape or bandages to help reduce swelling and provides stability.

Wishing a speedy recovery!

By Mia Dang, PT / a registered physiotherapist with extensive supplementary training in pelvic floor physiotherapy and perinatal care