Ankle Injuries and the RICE Protocol - Essay Example

Describe the RICE protocol and whether it is effective in the treatment of ankle injuries.

The RICE protocol is a first-aid measure taken when an individual suffers a sprain or a strain. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. This procedure requires the hurt individual to rest immediately, the sprain or strain has occurred, put ice on the injured ligament or muscle/ tendon, then compress the area using a bandage to prevent swelling and finally keep the injured part of the body elevated to relieve the pain and also prevent further swelling (Starkey and AAOS, 2012).

In case of an ankle injury, the RICE protocol can be applied. However, its effectiveness depends on the grade of an ankle injury; grade I which is not severe can work effectively with the RICE procedure but grade II and III require the injured patient to see a physician as physical therapy may be required to avoid permanent damage to the ankle.

How can you make an argument for using heat instead?

Heat is used also in sprains and strains which are persistent, have no inflammation or swelling. The pain from these injuries should be chronic (have lasted for a while and are slow) and have occurred as a result of overuse. Heat treatment should however never be used in case of acute pain as it may cause more damage to the ligament or tendon. Heat treatment is also effective for sores or stiff muscles as it acts as a muscle relaxant as long as the temperature of the heat pads is controlled to avoid burns (Starkey and AAOS, 2012).