So, I am sure we have all heard of and/or implemented the recovery acronym of “RICE”,standing for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation for any type of injury, big or small. This, however, has come into some controversy over the years as some people think icing is not good, and some people were upset that things like exercise and activity were left out. The acronym has gone through many variations over the years-some examples being “PRICES”, “PRINCE”, “RICER”, “POLICE”-but the most current one that I have come across is “PEACE and LOVE”. While it is a longer acronym, it more comprehensively covers recovery and is backed by more current research.

The new acronym stands for Protect, Elevated, Avoid anti-inflammatories, Compress,Educate, Load, Optimism, Vascularization, Exercise. “PEACE” is intended to cover the more acute stage-usually about 3 days-of injury/recovery, while “LOVE” is following that initial stage. A few comments to be made on this is that it is a general guideline and is not 100% the way to go for all cases. It is wise to get in touch with a healthcare professional for any serious injury or even if you have questions on how to go about implementing recovery. The anti-inflammatories, I believe, is inclusive of ice as it slows the inflammation process, and that inflammatory process is the first stage in healing, so is vital to recovery. There are times when intermittent ice can help, so again, this is not for every situation, but is a reasonable guideline. And, lastly, it is important to load the body – meaning being cognizant of the load that the injured part of your body can hold, and gradually increasing it; exercise, and to be optimistic and hopeful in the healing and adaptive properties that our bodies possess.