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Protection.
When athletes suspect an injury, they should immediately stop doing whatever activity has caused the injury. Continued activity could cause further injury, delay healing, increase pain, and stimulate bleeding.

Rest.
In addition to discontinuing activity as needed, rest includes reducing weight bearing. If a leg is injured, the athlete should use a cane or crutch to minimize stress on the limb.

Ice.
An ice pack should be applied to the affected area as soon as possible after injury. Apply ice, alternating 5 to 10 minutes on and 5 to 10 minutes off for several cycles per treatment. The entire process should be repeated at least three times daily for the first two to three days after injury. Wrap the ice in a protective barrier such as a thin towel to prevent direct contact with the skin. Use ice with caution for those with circulatory deficiency or sensation deficits. Once skin tone turns pink for light-skinned athletes or darker for dark-skinned athletes, remove the ice to avoid over cooling or triggering ice burn. These changes in skin tone indicate that proper level of cooling has been achieved. If skin turns blue or white, remove ice immediately to prevent serious harm.

Compression.
Apply compression to the injures area to reduce swelling. Elastic wraps, special boots, air casts, and splints can be used. Compression must be performed carefully to assure that circulation is not compromised. If the athlete feels throbbing in the limb, the wrapping is probably too tight. Begin compression immediately or after the injury and apply ice through the wrapping. Taping and bracing to compress a joint are also useful for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Elevation.
Finally, when possible, the limb should be elevated above the level of the heart to allow gravity to reduce swelling by returning fluids toward the heart. Elevation is obviously impractical in the case of a back injury but is appropriate for an arm or leg injury. At night, position a pillow for elevation to assist in the drainage of extra fluid from the affected area.

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