RICE Therapy for Routine Care of Injuries

Introduction

The routine care of many injuries includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE therapy). RICE therapy is often recommended for
injuries to soft tissues, such as muscle strain, sprains, bruises, and overuse injuries. It can also be used for some bone injuries. Using RICE
therapy can help to relieve pain and lessen swelling.

Supplies needed:

• Ice.
• Plastic bag.
• Towel.
• Elastic bandage.
• Pillow or pillows to raise (elevate) the injured body part.

How to care for your injury with RICE therapy

Rest
Rest your injured area. This may help with the healing process. Rest usually involves limiting your normal activities and not using the
injured part of your body. Generally, you can return to your normal activities when your health care provider says it is okay and when
you can do them without much discomfort.
If you rest the injury too much, it may not heal as well. Some injuries heal better with early movement instead of resting for too long.
Talk with your health care provider about how long you should limit your activities and whether you should start range-of-motion
exercises for your injury.

Ice
• If directed, put ice on the injured area. To do this:
○ Put ice in a plastic bag.
○ Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
○ Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
○ Remove the ice if your skin turns bright red. This is very important. If you cannot feel pain, heat, or cold, you have a greater risk
of damage to the area.
• Putting ice on your injury can help to lessen swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly to your skin. Use ice on as many days as
told by your health care provider.

Compression
Put pressure (compression) on your injured area to control swelling, give support, and help with discomfort. Compression may be done
with an elastic bandage. If an elastic bandage has been applied, follow these general tips:
 • Use the bandage as directed by the maker of the bandage that you are using.
• Do not wrap the bandage too tightly. That may block (cut off) circulation in the arm or leg in the area below the bandage.
○ If part of your body beyond the bandage becomes blue, numb, cold, swollen, or more painful, your bandage is probably too
tight. If this occurs, remove your bandage and reapply it more loosely.
• Remove and reapply the bandage every 3–4 hours or as told by your health care provider.
• See your health care provider if the bandage seems to be making your problems worse rather than better.

Elevation
Elevate the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.

Follow these instructions at home:

• If your symptoms get worse or continue, make a follow-up appointment with your health care provider. Having these problems
may mean that you need further evaluation or imaging tests, such as X-rays or an MRI.
• If you have imaging tests, it is up to you to get the results of your tests. Ask your health care provider, or the department that is
doing the tests, when your results will be ready.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your pain and swelling continue.

• Your symptoms are getting worse rather than improving.

Get help right away if:

○ You have sudden severe pain at or below the area of your injury.
○ You have redness or increased swelling around your injury.
○ You have tingling or numbness at or below the area of your injury and it does not improve after you remove the elastic
bandage.

Summary
○ The routine care of many injuries includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE therapy). Using RICE therapy can help to
relieve pain and lessen swelling.
○ RICE therapy is often recommended for injuries to soft tissues, such as muscle strain, sprains, bruises, and overuse injuries. It
can also be used for some bone injuries.
○ Seek medical care if your pain and swelling continue or if your symptoms are getting worse rather than improving.

First Completed: September 26, 2009 | Last Completed: October 7, 2021 | Last Completed with Full Clinical Review: October 7, 2021

References