Tackle fall sports injuries with R.I.C.E.

Minor sports injuries can be managed at home and should get better in a few days. The best home care is to use the R.I.C.E. treatment plan: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

Rest Immediately stop using the injured area. Sometimes 24 to 48 hours of rest will make a big difference in overall recovery. It could be that the area you injured will need to rest for a longer period of time. For injuries affecting legs, knees, or ankles, this means using crutches so that you are not putting weight on the injured body part.

Ice Putting ice on your injury will help with pain and swelling. You should apply ice to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes every four hours. Crushed ice is best for ice packs because you can manipulate it easier to cover the injury.

 

Compression Keeping pressure on the injury will also help with swelling and will provide additional support. An elastic medical-grade bandage works best. Wrap the bandage tight, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation to the area.

Elevation Propping up the affected area offers a few benefits. First, it will ensure you are resting your injury properly. Second, it will help reduce swelling. The correct way to elevate is to make sure that the injured area is propped up higher than your heart.

While the RICE approach can be effective on its own, Springfield Urgent Care is open seven days a week to assess and address injury quickly and accurately.