Introduction: Why Inflammation Matters More Than You Think
Inflammation is one of those words we hear all the time — on social media, in commercials, and at the doctor’s office. It often gets blamed for everything: pain, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, autoimmune disease, heart disease, and even cancer.
But what is inflammation really?
More importantly — why does it matter to you, even if you feel mostly healthy right now?
At Conquer Movement Physical Therapy in Wilmington, NC, we see inflammation show up every single day. It doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like:
- Ongoing joint or muscle pain that won’t fully go away
- Stiffness that feels worse in the morning
- Constant fatigue, even after sleeping
- Brain fog or trouble focusing
- Slow healing after workouts or injuries
- Trouble losing weight despite “doing everything right”
This article will break inflammation down in a simple, clear, and practical way — so you can understand what’s happening inside your body and what you can do about it to move, feel, and perform better.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is not bad. In fact, inflammation is essential for survival.
Acute (Healthy) Inflammation
Acute inflammation is your body’s emergency response system.
If you cut your finger, sprain your ankle, or get sick:
- The area becomes red
- It may swell
- It might feel warm or painful
This is your immune system doing its job. Blood flow increases, immune cells rush in, damaged tissue is cleaned up, and healing begins.
Once the job is done, inflammation is supposed to turn off.
Chronic (Systemic) Inflammation
Systemic inflammation is different.
Instead of being:
- Localized
- Short-lived
- Helpful
It is:
- Low-grade
- Body-wide
- Long-lasting
And most importantly — it often happens without obvious symptoms at first.
This is why systemic inflammation is often called “the silent killer.”
How Does Inflammation Actually Work?
Let’s simplify this using plain language and real-world examples.
Your Body Is Built on Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It makes up:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Fascia
- Skin
- Blood vessels
Every collagen structure is surrounded by a gel-like substance that has a huge surface area. This gel is very important because it can hold and release electrons.
Electrons are tiny charged particles that help keep your tissues stable and healthy.
What Happens When You’re Injured or Under Stress?
When tissue gets damaged — from injury, illness, poor diet, emotional stress, or toxins — your body sends in immune cells to help.
One of the main immune cells involved is called a neutrophil.
Step-by-Step: The Inflammation Process
- Tissue damage occurs
This could be from an injury, infection, or ongoing stress. - Neutrophils are dispatched
These white blood cells rush to the site of damage. - Phagocytosis begins
Neutrophils surround and “eat” damaged cells, bacteria, or pathogens. - Free radicals are released
As a byproduct of this cleanup process, neutrophils release reactive oxygen species, also known as free radicals.
What Are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are unstable molecules.
They are missing an electron, which makes them highly reactive. To stabilize themselves, they try to steal an electron from nearby cells.
Think of it like this:
A free radical is like a person who lost a shoe and is desperate to grab one from anyone nearby.
If a free radical steals an electron from a damaged cell, that’s helpful — it helps destroy tissue that needs to be removed.
If it steals an electron from a healthy cell, that cell becomes damaged.
Oxidative Stress: When the System Breaks Down
Normally, your body has enough electrons available to neutralize free radicals.
But when:
- Free radical production is too high
- Electron availability is too low
Free radicals spill into surrounding healthy tissue.
This is called oxidative stress.
The Chain Reaction
- A free radical damages a healthy cell
- That cell now becomes “injured”
- The immune system responds again
- More neutrophils are sent
- More free radicals are released
This creates a self-perpetuating loop.
Over time, this low-grade damage spreads quietly throughout the body.
Why Chronic Inflammation Often Goes Unnoticed
Systemic inflammation doesn’t usually cause sharp pain or obvious swelling.
Instead, it shows up as vague, frustrating symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Aches and stiffness
- Brain fog
- Poor recovery
- Digestive issues
- Mood changes
- Metabolic dysfunction
Because these symptoms develop slowly, many people think:
“This is just part of getting older.”
It’s not.
How Inflammation Drives Chronic Disease
Chronic inflammation places stress on every system in the body.
Over time, it contributes to:
- Joint degeneration and chronic pain
- Cardiovascular disease
- Insulin resistance and diabetes
- Autoimmune conditions
- Hormonal imbalance
- Neurological issues
Inflammation doesn’t create disease overnight.
It creates an environment where disease can develop.
What Is Causing Your Inflammation?
At Conquer Movement, we often explain inflammation using four main buckets.
Most people have root causes in more than one bucket, and these factors often interact with each other.
The Four Buckets of Inflammation
1. Metabolic Dysfunction
This includes:
- Blood sugar instability
- Insulin resistance
- Poor mitochondrial function
- Low energy production
When cells don’t produce energy efficiently, they become more vulnerable to damage.
2. Dietary Habits
Common inflammatory triggers include:
- Highly processed foods
- Excess sugar
- Industrial seed oils
- Food sensitivities
- Nutrient deficiencies
Food is information. What you eat tells your body whether it’s safe — or under threat. If you want a deeper dive into how nutrition impacts healing, recovery, and performance, check out our blog Nutrition: The Key to Faster Healing, Recovery, and Performance.
3. Lifestyle Choices
Lifestyle stressors matter more than most people realize:
- Poor sleep
- Chronic psychological stress
- Overtraining or under-moving
- Lack of recovery
If this sounds familiar, stress-driven inflammation is something we commonly see in active adults and busy professionals. We explore this connection more deeply in our article Hot Muscles & Full-Body Stress: Mastering Inflammation This Holiday Season.
Your nervous system and immune system are deeply connected.
4. Environmental Factors
These include:
- Toxins
- Chemicals
- Mold exposure
- EMF exposure
- Lack of time outdoors
Modern environments are very different from what the human body evolved for.
Genetic Predispositions
Your genetics do not doom you.
They influence how sensitive you may be to inflammation — but lifestyle and environment determine how those genes are expressed.
The Role of Grounding and Electrons
Your body requires a steady supply of electrons to neutralize free radicals.
One natural source of electrons is the Earth itself.
Direct contact with the ground — such as:
- Walking barefoot on grass or sand
- Spending time outdoors
Allows electrons to move into the body.
Without adequate grounding, free radicals are more likely to damage healthy tissue, fueling chronic inflammation.
When the body is well supplied with electrons, the inflammatory chain reaction can be reduced.
Why Physical Therapy Matters for Inflammation
Physical therapy isn’t just about treating pain.
At Conquer Movement, we look at:
- Movement quality
- Nervous system regulation
- Recovery capacity
- Lifestyle habits
Intentional movement improves:
- Blood flow
- Lymphatic drainage
- Mitochondrial health
- Stress resilience
All of which help turn inflammation down.
What You Can Do Starting Today
Small, consistent actions make a big difference:
- Move daily
- Prioritize sleep
- Eat whole, nutrient-dense foods
- Spend time outdoors
- Manage stress intentionally
- Address pain early instead of ignoring it
Final Thoughts
Inflammation is not the enemy.
Uncontrolled, chronic inflammation is.
When you understand what’s driving inflammation in your body, you can take meaningful steps toward long-term health.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re dealing with ongoing pain, stiffness, fatigue, poor recovery, or nagging injuries that just won’t resolve, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
A Discovery Call with Conquer Movement Physical Therapy is a chance to:
- Understand what may be driving your symptoms
- Learn if physical therapy is right for you
- Create a personalized plan focused on root causes
👉 Schedule your free Discovery Call today.
Dr. Matt Davis, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Conquer Movement Physical Therapy – Wilmington, NC