Instead of increasing blood flow to the injury, RICE decreases blood flow, helping to reduce pain and swelling. When an injury swells, it restricts motion and often causes more pain. Using the RICE method as soon as possible is important because swelling, while easy to induce, can be very difficult to reduce if not addressed immediately. Dr. Kent Davenport, an orthopedic surgeon at the Bone and Joint Clinic of Hawai'i, agrees that RICE is an effective way to handle minor injuries. If a patient is experiencing intensive pain and swelling, or if they feel something popping, it is definitely time to see a doctor.
Most people think they can judge how severe an injury is, but injuries can be deceiving.
This widespread belief has kept many fractures from receiving proper medical treatment. Adelfa Raras, an education major at UH who works at Hamilton library, was pushing a cart of books when the cart tipped over and broke her foot. I rested for a while, but I still couldn't walk on it. That's when I decided to go to a hospital. Fortunately, Raras had made the right decision to seek medical assistance.