The Management of Soft Tissue Injuries – a PEACE and LOVE approach

I just realised again how amazing the Physiopedia Volunteer Community is. A few days ago, one of our awesome volunteers posted a question in our communication channels about the latest evidence on the treatment of acute injuries and what we are currently using in our clinics and practices. Do we still use the RICE regime or POLICE and what about the M.E.A.T protocol?

Another awesome volunteer highlighted the new acronyms and approach suggested to optimally manage soft tissue injuries – Peace and Love. Whereas the approaches of RICE and POLICE focus on the acute management of a soft tissue injury, PEACE and LOVE encompasses the full range of soft tissue injury management from immediate care to the subsequent management and rehabilitation.

These management acronyms suggested by Dubois and Esculier in the British Journal of Sports Medicine Blog in 2019 and again in an editorial in 2020 highlights the importance of patient education and addressing psychosocial factors as well in our treatment of our clients with soft tissue injuries.

The PEACE acronym and approach addresses the immediate care following an injury.

P for Protection,
E for Elevation,
A for Avoid anti-inflammatory modalities,
C for Compress and
E for Educate.

The LOVE acronym and approach addresses the subsequent management and rehabilitation.
L for Load,
O for Optimism,
V for Vascularisation and
E for Exercise.

Many of us know and are aware of the evidence supporting these approaches, but isn’t it sometimes easier to fall back on our familiar ways or the ways that we have been taught and just reach for the ice pack when treating an acute ankle sprain or hamstring injury?

Check Out The Awesome PEACE & LOVE Physiopedia Page

This discussion amongst the Physiopedia volunteers on evidence on the treatment of acute soft tissue injuries just made me realise again that we as physios should never become complacent in our treatments just because it is what we were taught, or it is what we know. We should always ask questions and be willing to learn new things and always aim for evidence-based treatments in the care of our clients.

The Physiopedia community is an awesome place to learn and make a difference in our profession. If you would like to become involved with Physiopedia and its amazing volunteers let us know or how about getting involved with our One Page Project? I can promise you that this community will make you feel right at home with a touch of “peace and love.”

You can read a longer version of the Peace and Love idea that was posted on the BJSM blog.