What Does P.O.L.I.C.E. Stand For?

So is there another action to take after a sudden injury like a ligament sprain or muscle strain? Some physical therapists are recommending the P.O.L.I.C.E. principle. The P.O.L.I.C.E. acronym is as follows:

Protection: During the first few days after an injury, you should certainly rest the injured joint, ligament, or muscle. After a few days, gentle motion can be started while you still maintain a level of protection for the injured area. During this time you may require some sort of assistive device, like crutches, to walk.

Optimum Loading: While you are protecting your injured body part, gentle motion can, and should, be started.

For example, after a shoulder injury or shoulder surgery, you should be able to progress from a few days of rest to passive ROM, active ROM, and finally, rotator cuff strengthening exercises.

This progressive loading of your injury can help promote optimal healing of the injury, and it can prevent delays in returning to normal due to joint and muscle tightness or muscle atrophy.

Ice: Applying ice may help to manage the swelling around your injured muscle or joint, and ice can help decrease some of the acute pain that you may be experiencing. Your PT can help you determine the best method of applying an ice to your injury. He or she can also teach you how to make your own ice pack.

Compression: While applying ice, compression can be added using an ACE bandage. You can also use a product like Ice Tape to cool and compress the injury at the same time.

Elevation: Elevation is simple for some body parts. An injured ankle or knee can be placed on a stack of pillows while you are lying down. An injury to your elbow or wrist requires that you elevate your entire arm on something. Your PT can help advise you on the best way to elevate your injury.

As you can see, the P.O.L.I.C.E. principle deviates slightly from the R.I.C.E. method. Sure, ice is still used, but there no rest component. Rather, optimal loading and movement are used. This creates early motion, decreases stiffness, and may help you quickly get moving again

How Physical Therapy Can Help

The P.O.L.I.C.E. principle is a simple method to try after acute injury, but a visit to your physical therapist may be necessary. He or she can first help you figure out the best protection for your injury.

For example, a shoulder injury may require the use of a sling initially, and a knee ligament injury may require a brace during the initial healing phases.

Your physical therapist can advise you on exactly how much protection your injured body needs, and he or she can tell you when it is time to stop protecting the injury and start using the injured body part.

Your physical therapist can also guide you in the "optimal loading" part of the P.O.L.I.C.E. principle. After an injury, you may be required to perform simple exercises and motions to allow your injured muscle or ligament to heal properly.

As your injury heals, your physical therapist can change your exercises to ensure that optimal loading and proper healing occurs.

When things are fully healed, you will be able to move freely and get back to normal activity without having to worry about stiffness or loss of strength that may come with a lengthy period of rest.

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