#40: Can you avoid injury and what to do when it occurs?

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What really helps prevent injuries—and what should you do when one inevitably strikes? In this episode, I use my friend Tim’s pickleball injury as a jumping-off point to explore what the evidence actually says about ice, rest, NSAIDs, stretching, and more.

When Tim skipped his warm-up and pulled a calf muscle, it raised a question many of us face: was it avoidable? While ancient wisdom and modern influencers often shout conflicting advice, this episode sorts through the noise to uncover what’s evidence-backed, what’s outdated, and what might actually delay healing. For pain, yes, ice works—cooling slows nerve conduction and can help with comfort, as seen in this study of ankle injuries. But does it reduce inflammation in a helpful way? Possibly not. Some research suggests that vasoconstriction may hinder the delivery of reparative cells and removal of waste, as noted in this trial.

The evolution from RICE to PEACE to MEAT and even PEACE & LOVE reflects our shifting understanding. A meta-analysis of 22 randomized trials found no conclusive benefit of ice when added to compression or elevation. As for NSAIDs like ibuprofen, the Cochrane Review revealed no significant advantage over acetaminophen in pain relief or swelling reduction—and no clear evidence they speed up recovery.

What about rest? Surprisingly, prolonged rest may do more harm than good. The Deyo study and later NEJM data show that continued normal activity (within pain tolerance) results in faster recovery than either bed rest or structured exercises, at least for acute low back pain—offering insights that might extend to other strains or sprains.

Can you prevent injuries altogether? Static stretching (think toe touches) doesn’t show strong support in RCT reviews, and while a recent meta-analysis found a small reduction in muscle injuries, the impact was modest. Dynamic stretching remains inconclusive according to current evidence.

The takeaway? When treatments or prevention strategies are studied over and over yet results remain ambiguous, it likely means any real benefit is small—a principle I call “Dr. Bobby’s Law of Many Studies.” Compare that with fall prevention in older adults: 66 RCTs involving 47,000 people showed strength and balance training significantly reduces falls by 20–30%. When something works, it tends to show up clearly and consistently.

Takeaways:
If you’re injured, ice and NSAIDs can ease discomfort—but don’t count on them to speed up healing. Resting too much may slow recovery; try gentle movement instead. Stretching might help a bit with prevention, but don’t expect miracles. Evidence