Injury Treatment

In the Trainer's Room 

The PRICE Method is an accepted five-step treatment plan for the first 24-72 hours after a a sprain or strain injury:

PROTECTION can minimize further injury. A splint helps immobilize a sprained ankle or wrist. Crutches are helpful when it's too painful to walk on a foot, ankle or leg.

REST minimizes bleeding, injury and swelling and is particularly important for tendinitis, an overuse injury marked by painful tenderness around a joint-shoulder, wrist, and elbow. An injury can worsen if vigorous activity is resumed too soon.

ICE applied for 10-15 minutes every couple of hours keeps swelling down, numbs pain, and limits muscle spasm and tissue destruction. Be careful not to apply heat after injury since it draws blood to the skin and worsens bleeding around the injury. Don't massage the wounded area, either; this may further damage torn muscle fibers and increase bleeding.

COMPRESSION often helps reduce pain and swelling from an arm or leg injury. Using and elastic (ACE) bandage, wrap the area firmly to provide support, but don't tighten to the point of cutting off blood flow.

ELEVATION of a sprained ankle or painful elbow or wrist helps minimize swelling and keeps blood and fluid from pooling in the injured area.