Even Elvis knew one day we'd need help with Peace, Love and Understanding

There are some new acronyms on the acute injury management scene and we want to help you understand why you should be open to them...corny as they may seem.

For ages management of injury has been based on Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation - all of that obviously passive injury treatment. Over years of exploring pain science, natural healing, chronic pain management including regional pain syndromes and simply EVIDENCE it appears we need to reframe this.  

Anecdotally, those of us in rehabilitation would agree that the folks who have always done better are the ones we have to chase around the clinic or put a leash on - the ones who move.  The current thinking is that allowing our natural inflammatory cascade an opportunity to fully run its course by avoiding anti-inflammatory agents (ibuprofen for example); by not walling off delivery of important healing agents contained in blood with ice; perfusing the body with cardiovascular work (even to the uninjured area if it cannot participate); gently loading or moving the injured area; by remaining positive; and still using conventional protection and or elevation we promote tissue regeneration, promote remodeling of the tissue (setting proper bridgework for scar) and dampen the experience of pain.  If you think about it - walking with proper mechanics and using a crutch versus limping without are 2 different things; resting until pain goes away and then trying to stand never feels better, modifying activity but not stopping all together is what we suggest for almost everything - why not this too. And who has ever gotten better by thinking catastrophic or negative thoughts about their recovery - anyone not know Ryan Shazier?  Optimism and beliefs in general, have been shown to be the difference maker in recovery from or need for most injuries or expanded care.  Emotions specifically have been shown to play a role greater than the injury alone in recovery from ankle sprains. Now obviously a fractured ankle will have weight-bearing restrictions, but even cast application has been rethought in order to allow active range of motion to begin sooner.  So these are the concepts for Peace and Love - and here they are:

Credit for image and individual references in BJSM  

Cheeky as these acronyms are we feel the bottomline serves our profession and specifically our business model, best - see us soon after an injury so we can help guide you.  Better results happen with prompt, thoroughly examined, fully informed - collaborative care.  End of pitch for Foley Physical Therapy ; -)
​See you in the next newsletter! (oh and of course I meant Elvis Costello...who were you thinking I meant?)