HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING GUIDE: Peace & Love Edition

Dec 17

We’re all used to seeing references to peace and love during the holiday season. What’s new is that PEACE & LOVE is also the updated mnemonic and approach to treating musculoskeletal injuries. For years RICE was the standard model. It focused on Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. It helped at the time, but we now know that relying on those steps alone can slow recovery, especially in the first twelve weeks after an injury. The PEACE & LOVE method gives your body what it actually needs to heal: smart protection early on and gradual and confident movement exercises as symptoms improve. Like our holiday sentiments of PEACE & LOVE, this approach offers a clearer and more supportive path than the older model ever did. Check out the tips below and learn how to support your recovery with PEACE & LOVE.

Graphic for The Knee Joint blog titled “Holiday Gift Giving Guide: Peace & Love,” outlining the PEACE & LOVE recovery method and highlighting essential tools for successful recovery from musculoskeletal injuries.

PEACE focuses on early protection and supporting your natural healing timeline:

Protect: Modify activity and avoid movements that sharply increase pain.
Elevation: Keep the injured limb above your heart when possible.
Avoid anti-inflammatories and ice: Inflammation is part of healing, so let your tissue do its job unless ice is absolutely necessary.
Compression: Use an ACE wrap or compression sleeve to reduce swelling.
Education: Trust your body’s healing process and let nature take its course before adding passive treatments and medical interventions.

LOVE guides the active phase of recovery as symptoms settle:

Load: Gradually return to normal activities as your body tolerates more.
Optimism: A positive and confident mindset conditions your brain, preparing it for recovery.
Vascularisation: Choose pain free cardio to encourage circulation.
Exercise: Use corrective movements to restore mobility, strength, and proprioception.

Because orthopedist and physical therapy appointments often take four to six weeks to secure, we recommend a few simple tools that can help you start your recovery now.

1. PROTECT tissue and joint:

Try an ASO brace for an ankle sprain. BUY

A hinged knee brace for a knee sprain. **BUY**

A heel lift for an Achilles strain. **BUY**

**2. ELEVATION helps reduce swelling:** Use a wedge **BUY**

**3. Compression**: Sleeves and ACE wraps can mobilize swelling, provide comfort, and make it easier to return to recreational activities and sports a little faster. **BUY**

You can explore additional potential gifts for your JOUR-KNEE by reviewing our curated Amazon list https://a.co/0785rkv And, if you’re still not sure where to start or want guidance tailored to your specific injury, please reach out to schedule an assessment. We are here to support your healing journey and help you get back to moving with confidence again fast!

P.S. If you’d like to see the Holiday Gift Giving Guide, Peace & Love edition, in action on YouTube, take a look. Danielle Sartori, Doctor of Physical Therapy, demonstrates the items discussed above and shares more about their correct use.