Study finds that icing muscle injuries could actually delay the normal healing process

This article was recently published on Naturalnews.com (March 7, 2016) and brings a new perspective on the use of ice for muscle injuries:

Dr. Gabe Mirkin is man who created the RICE system for recovering from muscle injuries: Rest – Ice – Compress – Elevate. This system was created in the late 70s and it was used and recommended by professional for the past decades however, recent studies are bringing new perspectives.

These studies are showing new results that are forcing Dr. Mirkin to come back to his own recommendation: “Coaches have used my ‘RICE’ guideline for decades, but now it appears that both ice and complete rest may delay healing, instead of helping,” he wrote on his website.

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal, published a new study that suggests that inflammation just after an injury is an essential part of tissue regeneration and healing.

The article suggests that inflammation is a complex biological immune reaction where special cells and proteins are sent to the place of injury to promote healing. They release hormones into the damaged tissues that help them to heal.

Researchers are founding that the use of ice actually delays the inflammatory reaction and the formation of new muscle fibres. It causes blood vessels to constrict and shuts off the blood flow.

Although this helps in numbing the pain, it also makes it impossible for inflammatory cells and proteins to reach the area of the injury and start the physical response to repair tissue and promote healing.

Next to the no-ice rule, the no-movement rule seems to be ready for revision, too. A study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that exercise, not total rest, may help heal ankle sprains much faster.

In conclusion, this article by  Naturalnews.com, recommends to Move safely when you can as much as you can, Compress and Elevate (MCE).