25/07/2026
🧊 Should we still be icing injuries?
For years we were told to follow RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). But current thinking has shifted.
Inflammation isn’t the enemy—it’s a normal and essential part of the body’s healing process. It helps clear damaged tissue and kick-start repair.
Research now suggests that routine icing doesn’t speed healing and may even interfere with some of the body’s natural repair mechanisms if overused. That’s why newer injury management approaches, like PEACE & LOVE, focus more on education, compression, gradual movement and progressive loading than on ice.
So, should you use ice?
✅ Yes, if it helps reduce pain and makes movement or sleep more comfortable.
❌ No, if you’re using it because you think it will make the injury heal faster.
The goal isn’t to stop inflammation—it’s to support the body’s natural healing while managing symptoms sensibly.
