{"id":347,"date":"2020-09-22T10:36:35","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T10:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integrativa.pt\/?p=347"},"modified":"2026-02-01T17:52:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T17:52:48","slug":"should-ice-be-applied-after-an-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integrativa.pt\/en\/sera-que-deve-fazer-gelo-apos-uma-lesao-pratique-peace-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you ice after an injury? Practise PEACE & LOVE"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What does the current scientific evidence and the PEACE & LOVE protocol framework say?<\/h4>\n

Ice is one of the oldest and most commonly used anti-inflammatory strategies after an injury, whether it's a sprain, a bruise, or in situations of pain or swelling of unclear origin. Most people have resorted to applying ice in these contexts. However, in light of current scientific knowledge, it is important to question whether ice and rest remain the best approach in the initial stages of an injury.<\/p>\n

For decades, ice has been widely used in physiotherapy as a primary strategy for managing acute soft tissue injuries. This approach gained notoriety with the RICE protocol \u2013 rest, ice, compression, and elevation \u2013 proposed in 1978 by physician Dr. Gabe Mirkin.<\/p>\n

From the RICE approach to scientific questioning<\/h4>\n

With the advancement of knowledge, the RICE protocol has been adjusted. In 2012, PRICE emerged \u2013 Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation \u2013 and later, POLICE \u2013 Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. However, more recent studies have shown there is no robust scientific evidence to support these protocols as ideal strategies for the management of acute soft tissue injuries.<\/p>\n

In 2015, Dr. Gabe Mirkin himself acknowledged that, while ice may help reduce pain when applied immediately after an injury, it can also interfere with the body's natural tissue regeneration processes. In particular, applying ice can hinder the migration of cells responsible for healing to the injury site, potentially delaying recovery.<\/p>\n

Recent investigations suggest that strategies aimed at aggressively reducing inflammation, such as ice or the use of anti-inflammatory medications, may negatively interfere with the recovery process, especially in the acute phase. Inflammation is now understood as an essential stage of tissue repair.<\/p>\n

From POLICE to POLICE-CANAI<\/h4>\n

In this framework, the POLICE-CANAI protocol emerged, representing an evolution of previous models. It maintains the principles of Protection, Optimal Loading, Compression, and Elevation (POLICE), and adds appropriate Cardiovascular Activity (CA), through pain-free aerobic exercise, as well as the Non-use of Anti-Inflammatories (NAI), recognising the role of inflammation as an integral part of the tissue healing process.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, these models continued to insufficient consider the biological, psychological, and emotional factors, which play a decisive role in the perception of pain and the recovery process, even in the initial stages of the injury.<\/p>\n

PEACE & LOVE: A modern approach to acute injury<\/h4>\n

Given these limitations, the PEACE & LOVE protocol was proposed, developed by Canadian physiotherapists and researchers Blaise Dubois and Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Esculier. This approach advocates for an active, dynamic, and informed recovery, in which the injured person takes a central role in their recovery process.<\/p>\n

The protocol is divided into two complementary phases: PEACE, in the first few days after the injury, and LOVE, in the subsequent phase.<\/p>\n

The PEACE phase: the first few days after injury<\/strong><\/p>\n