Keith Baar Introduces 1 New Sprain Treatment Method That Drops Ice

Q: With ice now considered harmful, should we also stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs for common injuries?

Not routinely. The emerging view is that for many common sprains and strains, people should be cautious about automatically using anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, but not abandon them in every case. The reason is the same one driving the rethink on ice: early inflammation is now seen as an important part of tissue repair, not just something to suppress. Frameworks such as “PEACE and LOVE” advise avoiding anti-inflammatory measures in the acute phase because they may blunt the body’s healing response. Research cited in recent reviews suggests NSAIDs can reduce pain and swelling, but may also interfere with aspects of soft-tissue healing, especially if used early, at high doses, or for prolonged periods. That does not mean NSAIDs are useless or banned. They still provide short-term pain relief and can help people function. The evidence is more nuanced than a blanket stop order, and concerns are stronger in some settings than others, including bone healing and certain tendon injuries. For routine sprains and strains, many experts now favor protection, compression, elevation, and early gentle movement over complete rest, icing, and reflexive anti-inflammatory use. For mild injuries, alternatives such as acetaminophen for pain, relative rest, compression, and gradual loading may be preferable. If pain is severe, swelling is marked, weight-bearing is difficult, or symptoms persist, medical advice matters because the injury may need imaging or a tailored treatment plan.

Q: If ice delays healing for sprains, what is the new first-aid essential you need at home?

The key home essential is not a replacement gadget for ice, but a **compression wrap or elastic bandage**, used alongside **early, gentle movement** rather than prolonged rest. The shift in sports-medicine advice is away from the old RICE formula and toward frameworks such as **POLICE** and **PEACE and LOVE**, which emphasize protection, compression, and “optimal loading” — meaning controlled, pain-limited movement soon after injury. Researchers and clinicians, including UC Davis professor Keith Baar, argue that icing may reduce pain but can also blunt the inflammatory response that helps tissue repair. That makes a **compression bandage** especially useful to keep at home. It helps manage swelling and support the joint while you begin careful movement, such as light range-of-motion exercises, instead of complete immobilization. The newer guidance also stresses avoiding routine use of anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen in the very early phase, because they may interfere with healing. The practical takeaway is that for a typical sprain, home care now centers on **protecting the area, wrapping it, and reintroducing gentle movement as tolerated**. Ice may still be used briefly for pain relief if needed, but it is no longer the centerpiece of treatment. If pain is severe, you cannot bear weight, or swelling and instability are significant, medical evaluation is still important.

2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 1

Keith Baar, a University of California at Davis physiology professor, is promoting a new approach to sprains and strains that rejects the long-standard use of ice.
The method also challenges the common advice to rely on rest and ibuprofen, recasting soft-tissue injury care around a different recovery strategy.
The shift marks a break from years of conventional sports-medicine practice and puts Baar’s treatment model at the center of a broader rethink of how minor injuries should be managed.

Sources

The Washington Post5h ago

Keith Baar Introduces New Ice-Excluding Sprain and Strain Treatment Method

YouTube5h ago

The Truth About Tendon Healing & Injury Recovery with Professor Keith Baar - YouTube

With ice now considered harmful, should we also stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs for common injuries?

If ice delays healing for sprains, what is the new first-aid essential you need at home?

The 'PEACE & LOVE' method uses optimism to heal. How much does mindset truly affect physical recovery?

Rethinking Injury Recovery: How Dr. Keith Baar’s Protocol Outperforms RICE for Tendons and Ligaments

Overview

For years, the RICE protocol—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation—was the standard for treating tendon and ligament injuries. However, Dr. Keith Baar’s research at UC Davis challenges this approach, showing that traditional methods like rest and ice may actually slow healing. By growing engineered ligaments from surgery remnants, his team can closely study how these tissues respond to exercise, nutrition, and drugs. Their findings reveal that controlled mechanical loading and proper nutrition, rather than passive rest, are key to faster and stronger recovery. This marks a major shift in how injuries should be managed for better long-term results.

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