Introduction

Professional bodyworkers, exercise and movement practitioners follow a standard protocol for the treatment of acute injury. RICE. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Since its widespread introduction in the seventies we have witnessed a plethora of variations on this theme including PRICE (P for prevention) and RICER (R for referral) and others. Readers would be forgiven for thinking there must be a plethora of gold standard, peer reviewed research supporting the use of ICE on newly aquired, swollen tissues.

The anagram RICE comes from one source, a book written in 1978 with the title Sports Medicine Book penned by Dr Gabe Mirkin (an excellent book, by the way). In the tradition of good science practice Dr. Mirkin has raised a hand to say he may have got it wrong. Now Dr. Mirkin has a web-site (www.drmirkin.com/ fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html) devoted to letting people know that the anagram RICE, catchy and all as it is, was just an idea, his idea. Of course he thought it was a good idea at that time and he was correct, it was a brilliant idea. In spite of the fact that there was no research supporting the idea, just a catchy anagram, it has prevailed to the present day as if it were the only word or the last word concerning standard protocol for treating acute injury.

This   raises   the   question:   ‘What  other paradigms are we using that have no basis in fact or are not supported by empirical science’? Is it time to expand our understanding and explanations of human anatomy, physiology and motion guided by the new evidence coming from sources such as Biotensegrity-anatomy for the 21st century? Have we heard the only word or the last word when it comes to accepted paradigms or has the time come to update our positions and our thinking based upon our newly-found understanding of human anatomy and physiology?

Please refer to attached pdf for remainder of article.. John Sharkey M&MA Journal Summer 2017-2.pdf

Correspondence to: John Sharkey MSc. University of Chester/National Training Centre 16a St Joseph’s Parade, Dorset St, Dublin 7, Ireland. E-mail address: john.sharkey@ntc.ie. Website: www.johnsharkeyevents.com