What does the "Immobilize" step in RICE involve?

The "Immobilize" step in RICE involves keeping the injured body part still to prevent further injury and facilitate healing. Immobilization helps to minimize movement and stabilize the injury, which is crucial especially in the initial phases after an injury occurs. This step is important because excessive movement can worsen damage to tissues or exacerbate pain, prolong recovery time, and lead to complications. By immobilizing the area, you help ensure that the surrounding muscles and ligaments are not further strained, allowing the body a better environment to heal effectively.

Other options, while they may have their own applications in first aid or rehabilitation, do not align with the essential purpose of immobilization in the context of RICE. Warm compresses might be useful for muscle relaxation or pain relief at a later stage, encouraging movement is counterproductive immediately after an injury, and applying pressure may be relevant in controlling bleeding but is not related to immobilization.