Pathology, Contraindications & Pharmacology
Recognize risk, adapt thoughtfully, and know when to pause or refer.
Lesson 3 of 18
Inflammation & Tissue Repair
Inflammation is a coordinated protective response to tissue injury or harmful stimuli; it is not itself proof of infection. Acute inflammation can involve warmth, redness, swelling, pain, and reduced function. Repair progresses through overlapping processes, and timing varies by tissue and individual. Massage pressure over actively injured or inflamed tissue can aggravate symptoms.
Key points
- Vasodilation and increased local permeability help deliver immune mediators and fluid to injured tissue.
- Inflammation may be infectious or sterile, such as after a strain or other tissue injury.
- Hemostasis limits bleeding; inflammatory cleanup and proliferative repair follow in overlapping stages.
- Remodeling can continue for months as scar tissue reorganizes and tensile strength changes.
- Avoid aggressive work on fresh injury, marked heat, increasing swelling, or unexplained severe pain.
- Follow the client's medical guidance for post-injury care and return to activity.
Key terms
- Inflammation
- A protective tissue response to injury or harmful stimuli.
- Vasodilation
- Widening of blood vessels that increases local blood flow.
- Edema
- Excess fluid accumulation in tissue.
- Hemostasis
- Processes that stop bleeding after vessel injury.
- Remodeling
- Later reorganization and maturation of repaired tissue.
Memory tip
Heat, swelling, and fresh pain signal: reduce load, don't test the tissue.
Clinical note
Massage is not a substitute for acute injury assessment. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or accompanied by systemic signs, stop and refer.
Unit checkpoint
Lock it in: match the terms, then test yourself.