It is so deeply ingrained that the first thing you should do after an injury is to Rest Ice Compress and Elevate. It’s catchy and easy to remember, but it was never evidence-based. The person who coined the term, Dr. Gabe Mirkin, has moved on from the 1970s concept.
We now know that icing and too much rest can delay healing. Our body produces inflammation so that it can increase the blood flow around the injury. The swelling acts as a splint to prevent too much movement.
This is a natural process, so by adding ice and not moving at all, we are interfering with our body’s ability to heal itself!
So unless you love ice because it makes you numb, it’s best to let nature take its course.
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