RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. This is the standard method for treating a sore joint.  Make sure to rest the joint and use crutches if you are not able to bear weight. Apply ice to the joint to limit swelling. Applying ice is recommended for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours for the first 48 hours or until swelling is improved. You can use a sealed bag of ice, chemical ice pack, frozen peas, frozen meat, or any other cold object. If you leave ice on 1 location for more than 30 minutes, you risk longterm damage to your body part. Putting a towel between your skin and the ice can make it more comfortable, but will decrease the benefits of icing. The smaller the window of time is between onset of soreness and application of ice, the sooner the soreness will be alleviated. Use a compressive device such as an elastic bandage to limit swelling and inflammation. Elevate the ankle above the heart to increase blood and lymphatic drainage back to the heart.   Also the use of NSAIDS is warranted to reduce inflammation. Wrap your sore ankle with a warm object for 10-15 minutes once a day to increase blood circulation and decrease joint stiffness. Warmth can increase muscle flexibility and relaxation.  You can use a warm water bottle, towel, or electric blanket. If you use a hot object, you risk burning or irritating your skin in addition to irritating damaged muscles around your ankle. Placing a towel between your skin and the warm object can make it more comfortable and better regulate the heat of the object. Also try massaging the rest of your foot and calf to relax the other parts of your body that might be contributing to your sore ankle.  Ask someone else to massage your feet, but give yourself a massage if no one else can do so. Place a tennis ball underneath your sore foot and roll it around. Apply your weight gently so that you do not slip and fall, but enough to mimic a massage.  Know the physiology of the foot well before performing deep and intense massages. While sitting, use the muscles in your shin and top of foot to make a right angle and bring your toes upward. Count to 10. Then lower your foot to make a straight line with your shin and top of foot. Count to 10. Repeat 10 times in 1 day. While sitting, curl your foot inwards so that your outer ankle is close to the ground and you can see the side of your big toe. This stretches out your ankle. Count to 10. Repeat 10 times in 1 day. While sitting, curl your foot outwards so that your big toe and heel are touching the ground, but you are using your ankle and outer foot to lift your pinky toe off the ground. This exercises your ankle muscles. Count to 10. Repeat 10 times in 1 day. Stand on the edge of a stair, drop your ankles down a few inches to stretch the back of your foot and calf. Hold this position for a count of 10. Slowly and steadily rise back up to your starting position. Repeat 10 times in 1 day.

Summary: Use the RICE treatment method. Consider applying heat. Massage your sore ankle gently to relax the muscles around it. Stretch your ankle up and down. Stretch your ankle in. Stretch your ankle out. Stretch with stairs.


Write a final paragraph sending your friend or loved one best wishes. The last paragraph is usually lighter in tone than the body, but it should match the general feel of the entire letter. Try to  end the letter on a note that will leave your friend with positive feelings.  Reiterate the purpose of the letter. For example, if you invited your friend to come to a party, write, "I hope you can come!" If you simply wanted to wish your friend a happy season, write, "Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!" or something to that effect. Encourage your friend to write back. If you'd like a response, write, "Hope to hear from you soon," or, "Please write back!" The closing you choose should be in keeping with the feel of your letter, whether it is traditional or more casual in tone. Like the salutation, it should be determined by your relationship with the recipient. Follow the closing by signing your name.  If you want to write a formal closing, consider "Sincerely," "Warmly," or "Best wishes." If your letter is more casual in tone, try "Yours," "Take care," or "Cheers." For a more intimate closing, choose "Love," "Much love," or "Thinking of you." A postscript, or PS, is often included at the end of friendly letters as a way to add information that isn't important enough to merit its own paragraph in the body of the letter. You could also write a playful joke, or leave it out altogether. In any case, make sure it matches your letter's tone and leaves your recipient with the feeling you want him or her to have.

Summary: Wrap it up. Write a closing. Consider including a postscript.


No matter which type of braid you decide to use for this hairstyle, you can choose to make your braid either very tight or a little looser. If you want your finished hairstyle to look very polished, try to make your braids tight, but if you want it to be a little messier and more casual, make them looser. You can always loosen you braids up a little later on, but you can't make them tighter without redoing them. You can use any kind of braid you want with this hairstyle, but a classic three-strand braid is the most popular. This is also one of the easiest braids to create.  Start your classic braid by dividing the piece of hair that you want to braid into three equal sections. Use your fingers to keep these sections separated as you work.  Cross the left-most section of hair over the center section so that it is now between the two other sections. Then cross the rightmost section over the center section. Each time you cross a section over, it will become the center section. Continue following this pattern until you reach the bottom of the braid. Then use an elastic hair tie to secure the braid in place and move on to your next braid. For an interesting twist to this look, you can braid each section of your hair into fishtail braids instead of classic three-strand braids. These braids may look complicated, but they're really quite easy.  To start your fishtail braid, divide the portion of hair that you want to braid into two halves. Use one of your index fingers to keep the two halves divided. Next begin braiding by taking a very small section from the outside of one half and crossing it over to join the other half. Alternate back and forth, taking a small section from the outside of each half, until you reach the bottom of your braid. Secure the end with a small elastic hair tie to keep the braid in place, and then move on to your second braid. Another simple way to change up the look of this style is to use a rope braid. This is a simple braid that actually involves more twisting than braiding.  Get started by diving the section of hair that you want to braid into two equal halves. Hold each half in one hand. Next start twisting both of the strands individually. This will be easier to do if you are holding each section at the very bottom. Once each piece is twisted, started twisting them around each other by wrapping one section on top of the other, then underneath and around. Continue doing this until you reach the end of the hair, and then secure with an elastic band. When you're done, move on to your second braid.
Summary: Decide how tight you want your braid to be. Use a classic braid. Consider a  fishtail braid. Try a  rope braid.