From the Guidelines
Inflammation is a crucial component of the healing process, and its complete suppression can potentially interfere with the natural healing process. When considering the role of inflammation in healing, it's essential to understand that inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or infection, serving as the first step in the healing process 1. The inflammatory response brings increased blood flow, immune cells, and healing factors to the affected area, clearing away damaged tissue and pathogens while setting the stage for repair. Key aspects of the healing process include:
- Increased blood flow to the affected area
- Arrival of immune cells to fight off infections
- Delivery of healing factors to initiate repair Without this controlled inflammatory response, wounds would not heal properly, infections could spread unchecked, and tissue regeneration would be compromised. However, the inflammatory response should be balanced—too little prevents proper healing, while excessive or chronic inflammation can damage tissues and delay recovery 1. This balance is critical, as evidenced by the use of anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen, which should be used judiciously during healing to manage pain and excessive inflammation without completely suppressing the natural healing process, especially in the early stages of injury recovery. As noted in the treatment of spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, abrogation of inflammation is presumably important to achieve the primary goal of maximizing long-term health-related quality of life and social participation 1. The body naturally transitions from the inflammatory phase to repair and remodeling phases as healing progresses, highlighting the importance of a balanced inflammatory response in achieving optimal outcomes.
From the Research
Role of Inflammation in Healing
- Inflammation is the body's non-specific response to injury or infection, helping to maintain homeostasis and promote tissue repair 2.
- It is characterized by the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways involving cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, with mast cells and pattern recognition receptors playing a role in initiating inflammatory responses 2.
- Inflammation is essential for the healing process after musculoskeletal injury, but unless it is controlled early, it can significantly hamper rehabilitation 3.
Importance of Inflammation Resolution
- The resolution of inflammation is critical for restoring tissue homeostasis and preventing chronic diseases 4, 5.
- Persistent inflammation can lead to various diseases, including cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, and musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopaenia 2, 6, 5.
- Understanding the mechanisms of inflammation and its resolution is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies 4, 5.
Inflammation as a Double-Edged Sword
- While inflammation is necessary for healing, excessive or prolonged inflammation can lead to tissue damage and disease progression 2, 6.
- Chronic inflammation can accelerate cancer emergence from premalignant lesions and contribute to the development of various inflammatory and metabolic diseases 6.
- Controlling inflammation and promoting its resolution are essential for preventing and managing chronic diseases 3, 4.