Why the RICE Method Is Outdated for Injury Recovery: PEACE & LOVE Is the New Evidence-Based Protocol
- Dr. Jay Copeland
- Sep 9, 2025
- 2 min read
For decades, athletes and clinicians were told to treat injuries with the RICE method — Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This acronym, popularized in
1978 by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, became the gold standard for sprains, strains, and other musculoskeletal injuries. What was once considered best practice has long been disproven by research and was even publicly recanted by its original author.
Why the RICE Method No Longer Holds Up
1. Rest is not recovery
Extended rest after injury contributes to deconditioning, joint stiffness, and
delayed tissue healing. Controlled movement and early loading are now proven to stimulate tissue repair and restore function more effectively.
2. Ice is not healing
Ice reduces pain temporarily, but it also constricts blood vessels, slows inflammation, and delays the body’s natural repair processes. Inflammation is not the enemy — it’s a vital biological signal that drives tissue regeneration. Even Dr. Mirkin previously stated and still acknowledges on his website that ice and rest delay healing and should not be relied upon as primary treatment strategies.
3. Compression and elevation are limited tools
They may temporarily manage swelling, but they do not directly improve long-term recovery or restore load tolerance.
The evidence is clear: RICE is outdated, and continuing to rely on it can actually prolong recovery.
The Shift to PEACE & LOVE
In 2019, Dubois and Esculier introduced the PEACE & LOVE protocol, which reflects the modern understanding of injury rehabilitation. It emphasizes both immediate and long-term strategies for recovery:
PEACE (acute phase):
Protect – Limit movement and load for 1–3 days, then gradually reintroduce.
Elevate – Helps manage swelling in the short term.
Avoid anti-inflammatories – Both medication and ice can interfere with the natural inflammatory process needed for repair.
Compression – Used as tolerated for comfort.
Education – Teach patients that passive treatments alone won’t solve the problem; active participation is key. Your body knows best, and let nature play its role.
LOVE (subacute to long-term):
Load – Progressive mechanical stress stimulates tissue healing and adaptation.
Optimism – Mindset matters. Fear, catastrophizing, and negative beliefs delay recovery.
Vascularization – Pain-free cardiovascular exercise boosts blood flow and supports healing.
Exercise – Targeted mobility, strength, and stability training restores function and reduces reinjury risk.
Bottom Line
The old model of icing and resting injuries in recovery is obsolete. Ice may numb pain in the short term, but it slows the very process needed for tissues to rebuild stronger. Modern rehabilitation recognizes that movement, load, and education are the drivers of lasting recovery.
As clinicians, athletes, and coaches, it’s time to move beyond RICE and embrace PEACE & LOVE — a framework built on current science, not outdated tradition.
Dr. Jay Copeland PT, DPT, CSCS, CF-L1, BFR
Resources
Dubois, B., & Esculier, J. F. (2019). Soft-tissue injuries simply need PEACE and LOVE. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(2), 72–73. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099422
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