Meth Vs Rice
Is RICE the best way to improve an injury?
The meth method for injuries is intriguing…find out more below
Are rest and ice effective in helping you recover from an injury?
We take a look at what the research says and give you our opinion.
Let’s just say we’ve stopped recommending ice for most injuries now…
The RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is an acronym that is synonymous with treating athletic injuries.
Ice has been the gold standard for injuries and sore muscles since Dr. Mirkin coined it in 1978 from his sports medicine book. Everyone from Trainers to Grandma’s prescribes ice for those injuries because it relieves the pain from the injured tissue.
What if I told you that there isn’t much scientific support to whether ice will help your injury or not?
You’d probably look at me like I told you Santa is alive, sorry for the dreams I just crushed.
In the National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement, they found that ice therapy had a “C” level of evidence, this means little to poor evidence exists for it.
In an interview, the author of that article said: “I wish I could say that what we found is what is really being done in a clinical setting…. Maybe our European colleagues know something we don’t…there is very little icing over there.”
In the 1970’s we knew very little to what we know now about the healing process. We didn’t know that inflammation is an important part of the overall healing process. Dr. Mirkin has since changed his mind on RICE, he believes that ice and complete rest may delay healing and not help it.
What We're Going To Talk About Today
- What is the RICE method and What is METH
- What are inflammation and healing
- What is the Lymphatic System
- The problems with the RICE method and a possible solution
- Quick tips
- FAQ
The Inflammatory Phase And Healing
Inflammation is a necessary part of recovery and healing
Let’s talk about what I mean by “inflammation”.
I’m talking about the inflammatory process, the Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes – the acute inflammation and not chronic inflammation.
The inflammation phase is an inevitable biological process following acute soft tissue injuries.
It’s the body’s way of protecting itself by removing the damaged stimulus and beginning the healing process.
There came a point in time where this became second nature to stop or limit this process.
It’s the inflammatory response that increases blood and lymphatic flow to and from the injured tissues. This brings the healing nutrients and inflammatory mediators to the injury site and removes the damaged refuse.
The best analogy to think is “Groceries in, Garbage out”.
It starts with the release of the inflammatory mediators that cause vasodilation (rush or opening of blood vessels) at the injury site. This allows more leukocytes and macrophages (Groceries aka White blood cells) to clean up the site and moderate the inflammation.
The more fluid at the site means swelling (edema) and this will increase the sensitivity to pain.
What are the signs and symptoms of Inflammation:
The signs and symptoms of inflammation are
- Swelling
- Redness
- Heat
- Loss of function
Once the fluid is filled up with waste products (Garbage), it needs to be drained. This is where one of the lesser-known systems comes in handy, the Lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system removes all the waste products and excess fluid build-ups caused by the inflammatory process.
What is the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system is a circulatory system made up of lymph vessels, which are much like blood vessels. It drains extra fluid (called lymph) that has passed out of the blood and into tissues and returns it back to the blood.
The lymphatic system works in a one-way valve system.
The circulatory system is a valve system also but your heart pushes the blood through with every contraction.
The lymphatic system isn’t so lucky; it needs the muscles around to push it through. It works like an old fashion bike pump, the one that you stand on and push down to get air to go through the tire.
Proper healing requires inflammation
When you damage your tissues through a traumatic event or develop exercise-induced muscle soreness (DOMS), you’re healed by inflammation and other processes.
When you hurt yourself, your body sends inflammatory cells to the newly damaged tissue to promote healing.
The inflammatory cells are called macrophages that release a hormone called Insulin-like growth Factor (IGF-1) into the damaged tissues, which helps muscles and other injured parts to heal.
However, applying ice to reduce swelling delays healing by preventing the body from releasing IGF-1
What Is The Rice Method?
RICE is a simple, at-home treatment for sprains and strains. It stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
The RICE method has been a well-established practice but is it the best option to recover from an injury?
Rest
Rest and protect the injured or sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.
Ice
Ice is used to "control" the amount of swelling and reduce pain that comes to the injury site.
Compression
Compression, or wrapping the injured or sore area with an elastic bandage (such as a wrap), will help decrease swelling. Don’t wrap it too tightly, because this can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to use a wrap for longer than 48 to 72 hours; a more serious problem may be present.
Elevation
Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
What Is The METH Method for injuries?
The METH method for injuries is the alternative to the rice method. It stands for movement, elevation, traction, and heat.
Movement
Controlled movement of the affected limb can stimulate blood flow, reduce the formation of inappropriately aligned collagen fibres (aka scar tissue) and effectively improve recovery.
Elevation
Place the injury site above the heart to assist the movement and allow gravity to assist you in removing the swelling. This will reduce pain from the pressure of the swollen tissue.
Traction
Traction refers to the practice of slowly and gently pulling on a joint. Traction is the new compression. Traction helps to take the pressure off the injury by promoting the movement of fluid.
Heat
Incorporating heat instead of ice will be the most scrutinized aspect of this new method. Those who support the use of heat suggest that inflammation is the bodies’ natural response to injury and bringing more blood to the area will help speed the process and instead of halt/delay it with ice.
The Problem With The RICE Method
RICE may be a commonly known method for injury recovery but it doesn't come without its own problems. There may be times to use RICE but for the majority of injuries, we'd say that the METH method for injuries would improve your recovery time and reduce your pain.
The problem with rest
Rest does not stimulate tissue repair.
Rest causes tissue to waste and can cause abnormal gene transcription of collagen (scar) tissue.
When we get hurt, scar tissue is laid down in a random formation (think wet spaghetti when pulling out of the water). This can cause some problems and make it harder/prolong to rehab.
When the cells are being laid down as tissue, they don’t know what they are going to be (muscle/ tendon/ ligament/bone) but with movement you can stimulate which ones and proper alignment (think handful dry spaghetti).
This is why cross-friction massage works well and how myositis ossificans can form. Myositis ossificans is an uncommon condition that may occur following a bruise (typically the thigh) and is characterized by bone formation in the muscle belly at the site of the bruise.
Complete rest doesn't facilitate the processes of mechanotherapy (exercise prescription to specifically treat injuries) and cellular signalling.
This takes the progenitor cells (baby cells that don’t know what they are going to be) and makes them into rebuilding cells like myocytes (muscle cells), osteocytes (bones cells), tenocytes (tendon cells), chondrocytes (cartilage), and so on. You need some type of controlled movement (aka therapeutic exercise) to stimulate this, that doesn’t mean if you sprain your ankle you can go run a marathon.
Complete rest does not facilitate the processes of mechanotherapy (exercise prescription to specifically treat injuries) and cellular signalling.
The problem with Ice
You’d be surprised that there isn’t much scientific proof that Ice works, I know I was.
Ice limits/delays the body from releasing IGF-1.
Macrophages (white blood cells) release the hormone Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) into the damaged tissues, which helps muscles and other injured parts heal.
Ice has been shown to actually reverses lymphatic drainage and pushes the fluid back into the interstitial space!
A study from 1986 (yes it’s old but it’s a foundational study) found when ice is applied to a body part for a prolonged period of time; it increases the permeability of the lymphatic vessels.
So when these vessels become more permeable, the fluid goes back into the injured area increasing the swelling. Ice slows down debris removal and increases swelling.
Ice impedes the cellular signalling and inhibits the proper development of new cells.
There was a study in June of 2013 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine that had the athletes exercise intensely that they developed DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). It showed that the cooling delayed the swelling, but it didn’t speed healing along.
The problem with compression
Compression isn’t all that bad; it just depends on when you use it. It has been shown to help limit swelling. We actually like compression. You can use a tensor, a brace, or a diabetic sock to accomplish this.
The problem with elevation
Elevation is great; you can use it in conjunction with massage, muscle pumping, and compression.
The Possible Solution With METH
The METH method for injuries may provide faster benefits for you or your clients.
We all know that we aren’t going to die or lose a limb if we put ice on an ankle sprain.
Heck, it can be quite relieving. What if there’s a faster way?
This is where METH – Movement, Elevation, Traction, and Heat is intriguing. It’s a pretty new concept and a brand new one for many people.
Let’s think of it from a logical process and take a step back.
Movement
We know that when mechanical stimulation can stimulate cell transcription.
We need that “baby cell” to turn into the proper cell and to be laid down in a fashion that is conducive to healing. We want that scar tissue laid down as dry spaghetti instead of random wet noodle it wants to.
RICE may not be the best option for injuries anymore. A new method may provide better benefits - click here to learn more!
Elevation
We want to get rid of the swelling because the increased pressure will cause pain.
Remember the lymphatic system works on a one-way valve system, to make it easier on the body, we can elevate the limb and use the muscles to get rid of the excess edema.
Traction
Athletic Therapists and Physiotherapists use traction as a treatment to decrease pain and muscle spasms. It can reduce the compression, pressure, and allow fluid to move flush in.
Heat
Your first thought is, if I heat it – it will swell more.
You’re right, increasing the temperature will inevitably increase the fluid in the area.
I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing; the major problem is can we remove that excess fluid before it becomes problematic. Inflammation is a necessary part of the first phase of healing, without inflammation there is no healing.
Inflammation is controlled by the body’s response to maintain homeostasis.
If too much swelling has accumulated, it’s not that your body has produced too much, but the drainage system isn’t fast enough to get rid of it. Gary Reinl, the author of “ Iced! The illusionary treatment” may have the best analogy. Take two tubes of toothpaste, put 1 in ice for 20 minutes, the other one warmed to 99 degrees. If you can’t figure out which one flows better, well I can’t help you, friend.
A recap on the METH method and if RICE is better
METH – The alternative to the RICE method may help you return to your sport faster than icing your injury
- Inflammation is not a bad thing. Healing requires inflammation. You can’t have tissue repair without inflammation. Ice impedes the necessary inflammatory cells to reach the tissues.
- Inflammatory cells are designed to release the IGF-1 ( insulin-like growth factor). This is a primary mediator of the effects of growth hormone and stimulator of cell growth/proliferation, and a potent inhibitor of cell death. Ice inhibits the release of IGF-1
- Complete Rest causes muscles cause muscles to waste away. The body needs mechanical loading (exercises) to promote structural change.
- Ice impedes cellular signalling and inhibits the proper development of new cells.
- Your body doesn’t release “ swelling cells”, it’s a by-product of the inflammation process. The best way to remove swelling is to facilitate the lymphatic system. Effectively remove swelling = remove the pain. Think about this, you buy groceries and then eat them. You have leftover garbage from it, you don’t wait until the garbage is overflowing and going onto the ground. No, you don’t, you get rid of it before it becomes a problem.
- Gabe Mirkin, the physician who termed “RICE”, has said he was wrong. “ Coaches have used my “ RICE” guideline for decades, but now it appears that both Ice and complete rest may delay healing, instead of helping”
- How can you effectively get rid of swelling? Massage, muscle pumping, compression, and elevation are effective ways to remove the swelling.
- Don’t ever use ice and then immediately return to your sport. Ice has been shown to decrease strength, speed, power, and agility-based running.
Final Thoughts On The Alternative Method For Injuries
The METH vs RICE debate
Ice will control the pain from an injury, that relief only lasts between 20-30 minutes.
There are many other things that we can do to control pain and not impede the healing process.
The research is now saying that if you delay or inhibit inflammation, you will also delay your healing.
We now know more about the role of inflammation in healing than we did when the RICE method was coined. Healing requires many different chemical reactions, proteins, and new cells to repair the damage.
Ice will lead to a decrease in blood flow, this blood flow brings with it
- white blood cells
- potent chemicals
- new cells needed for repair
So keep in mind… anything that reduces inflammation, may also be reducing your chance at rapidly healing from an injury.
There’s a question that has been asked, ”Do you really believe that your body’s natural inflammatory response is wrong?”.
Our bodies have evolved over millions of years, when did inflammation after an injury become this deadly disease that needs to be eliminated?
I just read an interesting article on whether you should use ice for injuries
