Icing Injuries – Great article from Joshua Stone, Athletic Medicine

http://stoneathleticmedicine.com/2014/09/icing-injuries-are-we-evidence-based/

Highlights:

Mechanotransduction and cellular signaling:
Abrahams, et al., 2013: Tendinopathy is a result of gene polymorphism, not inflammation.
Load stimulates mRNA to be sent to the endoplasmic for gene transcription and proteogenesis.
The new proteins repair damaged tissue and become the new collagen, the new bone, and the new muscle.
Durieux, et al., (2009): Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is regulated through load. FAK governs repair of striated muscle.
Flück, et al., (2008): tenascin-C, a protein responsible for tissue remodeling is expressed only in damaged tissue and regulated by mechanical load.
Load is why we get bigger when we lift heavy weights. Load is why bone stimulators heal fractures. Load is why we heal tendons and ligaments.
Why ice inhibits inflammation:
Nick DiNubile: “Seriously, do you honestly believe that your body’s natural inflammatory response is a mistake?”
Inflammation is the first physiological process in the repair and remodeling of tissue. Without it, nothing after can happen.
Macrophages release the hormone Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) into the damaged tissues, which helps muscles and other injured parts heal.
Ice prevents the body from releasing IGF-1.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to have tissue repair or remodeling without inflammation.
The godfather of RICE, Dr. Gabe Mirkin
The man, who coined the term RICE, says he was wrong.
Rest does not stimulate tissue repair. Rest causes tissue to waste and can cause abnormal gene transcription of collagen tissue.
Ice delays healing.
Anything that reduces your immune response will also delay muscle healing, such as cortisone-type drugs, pain-relieving medicines like NSAIDS, immune-suppressants and applying cold packs or ice.