RICER First Aid for Soft Tissue Injuries

Injury

RICER refers to the immediate first aid treatment for soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries involve tissues that connect, support, or move other structures of the body. RICER aims to reduce pain and promote healing.

The RICER protocol is the immediate first aid treatment for soft tissue injuries.

Like other first aid principles, it aims to reduce pain and promote healing.

In this article, we cover the RICER protocol and other key information for the treatment of soft tissue injuries.

We also cover soft tissue injuries in our first aid courses:

We have training locations in every state, capital city, and major town throughout Australia. Head to our website to enrol at a location near you.

Soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries are injuries to tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body (according to Sports Medicine Australia).

Soft tissues include:

Muscle - A collection of fibres that contracts and expands to produce movement
Tendon - fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones
Ligament - fibrous tissue that connects bones to one another

Soft tissue injuries can be categorised as either acute or overuse:

Acute injuries are those caused by a sudden trauma, such as a fall, twist, or blow to the body (according to OrthoInfo). Signs and symptoms of acute injuries tend to develop rapidly
Overuse injuries are those caused by repetitive demand over a period of time, such that the body is unable to heal between occurrences

In the following sections, we explore the most common types of acute soft tissue injuries: sprains, strains, and contusions (bruises).

Sprain

A sprain occurs when a joint is forced beyond its normal range of motion, and the ligament supporting it is subsequently overstretched or torn.

Common sites for sprains include the knee, ankle, and wrist. Symptoms include:

Sudden pain in the joint
Loss of power and ability to bear weight
Substantial swelling and bruising
Site becomes tender and painful to touch

Strain

A strain occurs when a muscle is overstretched or contracts too quickly, which causes the muscle and/or surrounding tendons to partially or completely tear.

Common sites for strains include the elbow, the lower back, and the back of the leg. Symptoms include:

Pain, increasing on movement
An audible 'pop' may be heard if the tendon parts from the bone
May have a discernible deformity to the muscle area
Tenderness, discomfort when bearing weight

Contusion

A contusion (bruise) occurs when a direct force is applied to the body and causes compression and bleeding in the underlying soft tissue without breaking the skin.

Symptoms include discolouration of the skin (due to the bleeding) and swelling.

Female runner suffering with pain on sports running injury

Ankle sprains, like the one pictured above, commonly occur when walking or exercising on an uneven surface, or after landing awkwardly from a jump.

RICER protocol

Soft tissue injuries should be treated with the RICER protocol, which stands for rest, ice, compression, elevation, and referral. These factors can reduce pain and promote recovery:

Rest: Rest the injured area immediately to reduce internal bleeding and swelling and to prevent the injury from becoming worse
Ice: Ice the injured area to help limit inflammation and reduce pain and swelling*
Compression: Wrap the injured area firmly with a compression bandage to help limit swelling. Take care to overlap each layer by half
Elevation: Elevate the injured area above the heart to reduce blood flow and swelling
Referral: If the injury is severe, call 000 - otherwise, refer the casualty to a medical professional so the extent of the soft tissue damage can be assessed

*An ice pack should be placed on the injured area for 10 - 15 minutes, removed, and then reapplied when the injured area becomes warm again (about 30 – 60 minutes). Always use a barrier when you apply ice to the skin.

HARM protocol

The HARM protocol refers to factors you should avoid within the first 48 - 72 hours of sustaining a soft tissue injury. These factors can increase circulation to the injured area and minimise healing and recovery:

Heat: Applying heat in the form of a hot bath, heat pack, or heat rub can cause blood vessels to dilate and so increase the flow of blood to the injured area
Alcohol: Like heat, alcohol can promote blood flow and mask the severity of the injury
Running/exercise: Strenuous physical activity can also promote blood flow and aggravate the existing damage
Massage: Like running, massage can promote blood flow and irritate the injured tissue

Please note, massage therapy at massage day spas like our recommended partner Thai Fusion Spa can help relieve the pain of soft tissue injuries and aid in faster recovery times when applied more than 72 hours after sustaining the injury.

Final thoughts

To learn more about treating soft tissue injuries with the RICER protocol, enrol in one of our first aid courses:

We have training locations in every state, capital city, and major town throughout Australia. Head to our website to enrol at a location near you.

Originally published at https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/ricer-first-aid
as part of the Australia Wide First Aid Articles Library

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