If you have received a soft tissue injury, your medical professional might tell you to manage it with peace and love. No, they’re not joking! P.E.A.C.E and L.O.V.E. is the most recent recommendation for managing a soft tissue injury.
Those who’ve had a soft tissue injury in the past are probably familiar with the R.I.C.E principle (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). While this is still relatively good advice for managing this kind of injury, P.E.A.C.E and L.O.V.E incorporates immediate injury treatment and future management.
Before we explain what each of the letters in P.E.A.C.E and L.O.V.E .stand for, we will briefly touch on what a soft tissue injury is.
What is a soft tissue injury?
Soft tissues play a vital role within our bodies, including surrounding, protecting, and supporting our organs, moving fluids between body parts, and offering shape and structure to our body.
Examples of soft tissue include muscles and tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, nerves, fat, and fascia.
Soft tissue injuries are common among both those who are very active and those who aren’t.
Types of soft tissue injuries
- Sprains
- Strains
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Contusions
Managing a Soft Tissue Injury with P.E.A.C.E and L.O.V.E.
The P.E.A.C.E and L.O.V.E. principle focuses on the short-term treatment of a soft tissue injury and the long-term outcomes and management of a condition.
What does PEACE stand for?
P (Protect)
- Protect the injured area from painful movements or those that could cause further damage. It is important to note that some movement is usually better than complete rest.
E (Elevate)
- Excessive swelling at the injury site can have negative effects. Keeping the area elevated above the heart can help to minimise swelling.
A (Avoid anti-inflammatories)
- Inflammation is a vital part of healing – it allows the damaged tissue to gain the nutrients required to heal.
C (Compression)
- Compressing the area can help to minimise swelling.
E (Education)
- Understanding the condition and the healing process will help you to make better decisions during your immediate and long-term recovery.
What does LOVE stand for?
L (Load)
- Soft tissue, such as muscle, tendon, and ligament, needs to be loaded to heal properly. Tissue relies on force and load being applied to it to adapt to the demands of its specific role. It is important both that the tissue is not loaded too quickly or heavily but also not underloaded.
O – (Optimism)
- The brain plays a huge role in the outcome of rehabilitation. Pessimistic expectations can negatively influence outcomes and prognosis of an injury. It is crucial to stay optimistic about outcomes after an injury but stay realistic.
V (Vascularisation)
- Injuries need blood flow to heal well. Cardiovascular exercise is a great way to optimise healing outcomes.
E (Exercise)
- After an injury, you are likely to have a reduction in mobility, strength, and joint awareness. Targeted exercises are essential to restoring mobility, strength, and proprioception to return to previous activity and prevent future injuries.
Seeing a Physio for Your Soft Tissue Injury
In many cases, a physiotherapist can help with further treatment and management of your soft tissue injury.
Seeing a physio and having them tailor an injury management and rehabilitation plan can help reduce the recovery period and minimise the likelihood of an injury reoccurring.
If you’re ready to find out more or make an appointment for personalised advice and treatment, please reach out to our teams at Ashgrove, Samford and Moorooka today.