M.I.C.E Or R.I.C.E.
“We play a lot of sports and are familiar with R.I.C.E. or R.I.C.E.R. But lately we been hearing a bit about M.I.C.E and how that is the new thing replacing R.I.C.E. for injuries like ankle sprains.”
– a bunc of rugby player
Hi there,
Rest, ice, compress, elevate and refer (R.I.C.E.R) to a medical professional is what most sports people will do to manage an acute injury like a muscle pull or ankle sprain. Recently, M.I.C.E has been gaining popularity with “Movements” replacing “Rest”. Movements should be done safely.

Appropriate and specific movements like stretching during the acute phase of an injury can shorten healing time, reduce scar tissue formations and prevent secondary issues like muscle wasting. This is why ankle sprains are no longer managed with casts but with exercise rehabilitation.
At the same time, movements can potentially aggravate the injury if not done right. Therefore, M.I.C.E is safe only if prescribed by your medical professional. Otherwise, just RICE it.
Experiencing ankle pain? Click here to find out more about physiotherapy for ankle pain relief and how Core Concepts can help
Related Articles
- BMT Injuries: Prevention & Management Injuries occurring from physical activities are a dime a dozen. However, they are more prevalent in intensive physical training sessions…
- How do I choose Heat or Ice Therapy To Use For… When should you use heat or ice therapy? The answer is - it depends. In general, heat therapy is for…
- Lateral Ankle Sprain: Why is it so recurrent? Lateral ankle sprain is one of the most common sites for acute musculoskeletal injuries accounting for 75% of ankle injuries.…
- HIIT Workouts: Check Your Form (Upper & Lower Body) High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an increasingly popular and effective way to get lean. HIIT Programmes strip away the…
- Coping With Pregnancy Related Musculoskeletal Discomforts The majority of musculoskeletal problems that arise during pregnancy can be prevented and treated with physiotherapy intervention. Individualized physical therapy…