|
I
got injured! What can I do? Of course we should always take the
steps to avoid the injuries. But they can happen. And what can
you do if you are injured and the doctor can see you just
in the next in
three days? Or maybe you are just felling a light pain, which
doesn't require a medical appointment, but you don't want to see
it developing in a more severe condition. In these situations
you can take advantage of a home treatment known as RICE method.
And what is this RICE
method? It is something easy to remember, that you can do at
home, and that is the best fast approach for most injuries. It
means:
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
Easy
to remember, isn't it? It is also easy to do. Let's explain
how these four letters can help you to recover from injuries.
Rest:
It doesn't need too much explanation. Your body needs to
rest in order to recover.
Ice:
Wrap ice cubes in a wet towel, or take a cold
pack, and put
it on the injured area. Don't put ice directly over
the injury because it can produce blisters and ice burns.
The time limit for an ice application is 15 minutes, but you
can repeat it every hour
Compression:
The goal here is to lower the blood irrigation at the injured
area. You can use a bandage, but be aware to not tie it too thigh
and block the blood circulation, which can cause gangrene.
You can alternate the compression with ice applications. If
the injured area became numb, release the bandaging.
Elevation:
Elevating the injured member reduces the blood pressure at
the area.
The
RICE method is effective for minor injuries. If the symptoms
persist, look for a doctor.
|
Back
to Injuries & Health articles for runners