Question

in 1978, dr. gabe mirkin came up with the
ice\ (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) protocol and began using this method to treat soft tissue injuries like ankle sprains. in the next few decades, rice became the go - to method prescribed by orthopedists and physical therapists for athletes recovering from such injuries. however, in 2015, mirkin himself publicly stated that complete rest and ice may actually delay healing, as both had been shown to reduce beneficial blood flow to the injury. therefore, ______ which choice most logically completes the text? choose 1 answer: a the rice protocol may not be as effective as previously thought. b it is common for doctors to change their minds about treatment protocols. c using the rice protocol for soft tissue injuries may lead to additional damage.

Explanation:

The text first describes RICE as a popular treatment, then mentions Mirkin's statement that two key components may delay healing. This implies a re - evaluation of its effectiveness. Option A directly follows from this as it suggests the protocol may not be as effective as once thought. Option B is too general about doctors changing minds. Option C goes too far as the text only mentions delayed healing, not additional damage.

Answer:

A. the RICE protocol may not be as effective as previously thought.