MEAT vs. RICE strategies for treating accidents| HealthPartners Weblog

In case you’ve ever skilled an acute damage like a sprained ankle or pulled again muscle, you’ve probably heard to make use of “the RICE technique” to scale back swelling and assist the therapeutic course of. However relying on the damage, there could also be occasions when bodily therapists would now advocate the “MEAT” remedy technique as a substitute, or along with, RICE.

The distinction between these two approaches is that RICE is concentrated on decreasing ache and swelling, whereas MEAT is concentrated on selling general therapeutic. So it’s doable that each kinds of damage therapies could also be useful in your therapeutic course of.

Be taught extra about RICE vs. MEAT damage therapies, when to make use of every and the way a bodily therapist may help you in your highway to restoration.

What’s the RICE technique for accidents?

RICE stands for relaxation, ice, compression and elevation. It’s used to scale back swelling and irritation instantly after a minor, acute (sudden) damage like a sprained ankle.

Relaxation

Taking time to relaxation for a few days permits the injured space to heal, so take a break from the game or exercise that precipitated your damage. Additionally take note of the way you’re shifting your physique and ensure there’s little to no motion of your damage.

Ice

To scale back ache and swelling, apply ice to your damage for 10-20 minutes at a time, three or extra occasions per day. That is particularly essential in the course of the first 24 hours. Put the ice in a towel or plastic bag to maintain the ice from immediately touching your pores and skin.

Compression

Wrapping the injured space with an elastic bandage (equivalent to an Ace wrap) for 48-72 hours can scale back swelling, present assist and maintain it within the appropriate place. Make certain the wrap is comfortable however nonetheless comfy. It shouldn’t trigger numbness, tingling or elevated ache to your damage.

Elevation

You’ll additionally wish to hold your damage elevated for the primary 24-72 hours, together with in a single day if doable. This may scale back swelling and make it simpler on your physique to heal. In case you nonetheless really feel ache and see swelling after a few days, the damage may very well be extra extreme.

When to make use of RICE remedy for an damage

The RICE technique is handiest when used instantly after a minor damage to assist scale back preliminary ache, swelling and irritation. Relying in your damage, it could make sense so that you can use RICE for 24-72 hours after getting damage. In case your minor damage isn’t higher in a few days, make an appointment with a bodily therapist who can present extra remedy and assist.

The RICE technique shouldn’t be used for severe accidents like damaged bones until advisable by a health care provider. To search out out the perfect remedy on your severe damage, head to orthopedic pressing care as quickly as doable.

What’s the MEAT technique for accidents?

After resting your minor damage for a few days, it is going to probably be time to make use of the MEAT remedy technique, which stands for motion, train, analgesia and remedy.

Motion

The act of shifting your injured space will increase blood circulate to advertise therapeutic. Plus, a small quantity of stress on injured ligaments helps stronger tissue development. So it’s greatest to maneuver your injured space as a lot because the ache will permit whereas defending it from impression that might trigger injury.

Train

As your damage begins to heal, you’ll have the ability to transfer it extra and begin workouts to assist the therapeutic course of proceed. This may very well be a good time so that you can work with a bodily therapist. Bodily remedy has many advantages for all sorts of accidents, even these which might be extra minor or acute.

Analgesia

Analgesics are medicines that may scale back ache and stress to assist your physique heal from damage. Managing ache is a vital a part of restoration as a result of for those who really feel extended, intense ache, will probably be tougher to maneuver your damage. Ache can even trigger limping and different modifications in motion that may impression the standard of your sleep and have an effect on your general well being. For some accidents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) equivalent to ibuprofen or acetaminophen could assist for short-term use, and different accidents could require completely different ache aid choices advisable by your physician.

Remedy (or Remedy)

Utterly recovering from any damage takes time and a spotlight. As a part of remedy, your bodily therapist will assess your damage, well being historical past and objectives to create a remedy plan for you. This might embrace a number of remedy strategies, together with:

• Train
• Guide remedy
• Dry needling
• Taping
• Spinal manipulation
• Comfortable tissue mobilization
• Neuromuscular re-education strategies
• Recommendation on returning to actions
• Ache relieving modalities (therapeutic massage, chilly and warmth packs, and so forth.)

MEAT is often the advisable selection for long-term therapeutic, particularly for delicate tissue accidents to the ligaments, tendons and cartilage – mostly sprains, strains, tendonitis and bursitis. These constructions don’t get a lot blood provide to start with, so rising that blood circulate with MEAT will assist with a quicker restoration.

Deciding between RICE and MEAT

Questioning whether or not RICE or MEAT is greatest on your damage? Most often, consider RICE and MEAT as a full meal – it’s a mix strategy starting with RICE because the appetizer. When you scale back the preliminary swelling and reduce your ache, you may transfer onto the primary course. MEAT will make sure you proceed shifting the injured space and progress remedy for a quicker restoration.

When to see a health care provider for an damage

In case you’re experiencing excessive ache and suppose you might need a damaged bone, head to orthopedic pressing care for speedy consideration. For different accidents, take time to see for those who get higher with RICE. For extra assist, we’ve got many orthopedic and bodily remedy clinics within the Twin Cities.

In case you’re able to take your first step towards restoration, no referral is required to make an appointment with a bodily therapist. They will develop a customized remedy plan that may determine, diagnose and deal with your damage or continual ache situation – which can embrace elements of MEAT – that can assist you transfer and really feel good once more. Be taught extra about what we deal with at TRIA.