PRICE method includes all components needed to prevent injuries and provide a recovery process for damaged parts of the body. If it is applied correctly on time it can greatly speed up the recovery time of an athlete. It stands for:

• Protection
• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Each letter of this method stands for an important constituent of reducing pain and edema. As a result, the healing process is accelerated.

Protection

Protection - a necessary part of damage prevention and healing, for example, by using a support.. There are some ways to protect the damaged area, all of them oriented to restriction of further movement. Partial immobilization of the damaged area is done with splint, bandage or sling. You must protect yourself from further damage if you are injured. You need to stop exercising and proceed to the next step of the PRICE principles.

Rest

Rest is important in order to ensure healing. But sometimes it is forgotten or overlooked. This applies not only to the long period of time during which the athlete will be disabled, but also immediately after the injury. A sportsman should know when to take a rest and stop training for some time, because it can lead to more serious injuries that will keep the sportsman on “bed rest” much longer. It can be prevented with accurate therapy after the injury.

Ice

Ice therapy, also called cryotherapy, is popular and used very often to treat acute sports traumas. This method is inexpensive and the easiest to use.

Compression

Compression reduces the swelling and should be applied within the first 3 days from the moment of injury. Pressure also helps to decrease inflammation; sportsmen usually use bandages around the knees, elbows and other earlier injured parts of the body. A medium tension should be applied to ensure sufficient, but not too strong compression.

Elevation

Elevating the injury is last but not the least principle of PRICE. The height allows gravity to divert the liquid from the damage site. It helps reduce edema and pain. So, in case of injury try to keep the damaged part raised above if possible, at least for the first 48 hours.

Many sports and other physical injuries can be treated by ice therapy with elastic bandages. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation—the optimum home treatment.

Sports that have also been associated with the fittest and most talented among all are increasingly being perceived by ordinary people. This makes sports medicine very important and relevant nowadays, being surrounded by the attention of not only athletes but fans too.

*Important! Not all principles of PRICE are appropriate to every injury. For example, severed arteries can’t be treated by icing or elevating, instead, you must put pressure on the wound and call an ambulance. Most of the principles are suitable for minor sport injuries, such as sprains and strains. *