PRICE Method for Injuries

PRICE Method for Injuries

• Protect yourself from injury by wearing appropriate clothing and equipment, and warming up.
• Rest the injury to allow the body's natural healing mechanisms to work.
• Ice the injury using a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel to avoid tissue damage.
• Compress the injury with a bandage to prevent excessive swelling.
• Elevate the injury above heart level to reduce swelling and promote fluid flow.

Muscle Injuries

• A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon overstretches, causing pain, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and limited range of motion.
• If left untreated, a strain can lead to severe pain, bone fracture, and recurring swelling.
• Strains commonly occur in the back, neck, or legs.
• A sprain occurs when ligaments are overstretched or torn, causing bruising, pain, inability to put weight on the affected area, skin discoloration, and stiffness.
• If left untreated, a sprain can cause chronic ankle pain, joint instability, and arthritis.
• Ankle sprains are the most common type of sprain.

How Strains and Sprains Happen

• Sprains can occur from walking on uneven surfaces or landing unevenly on a jump.
• Knees can be injured by pivoting during an activity.
• Wrists may be sprained when landing on the hand during a fall.
• Thumbs can be sprained due to overextension of the muscle.
• Strains often occur when excessive pressure is put on a muscle, such as when lifting a heavy object, or when not warming up before an activity.