Liquid Inflammation, Microcirculation, Breathing, Movement, and Manual Massage Therapy. TMJ, Neck, Pelvic Floor and Chronic Pain? Learn Some Anti-Inflammatory Tricks Here.
- Tara Lee Clasen
- Dec 29, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
We need inflammation!
Inflammation is best described as a “liquid experience.” Our bodies pack things in tightly, leaving little wiggle room. During an injury experience, or even after most manual therapy sessions, local inflammation rises.
After a manual therapy session, one reason pain can temporarily increase is that the liquid experience of inflammation takes up more room. Especially if an area was already holding excess inflammation, this can feel uncomfortable—to varying degrees. Nerve endings signal pain when they are soaking in liquid inflammation. And some of us will have an inner environment with more resources available to clear inflammation. The adaptive immune system coordinates the complex cascade of biochemicals that signal, produce, remove, and learn. The experience of inflammation — the amount and the intensity — is unique for many reasons (lifestyle, hormones, gut health, autoimmune issues, and more)!!!!
Our bodies use inflammation to communicate and regulate, drawing in helper cells. Inflammatory cells signal fibroblasts, and fibroblasts create healthy new tissue/collagen. Fibroblasts themselves act as anti-inflammatory mediators.
One of the many simplified explanations of how massage aids in creating healthy new tissues is that by creating positive inflammation—through for example, creating micro-tears in an already disrupted fascial network—the tissue will receive the helper cells it needs to rebuild a repaired fascial network.
When the protection and repair mechanisms are complete, the inflammation will naturally wind down.
The tissue itself is like a sponge; when we work on an area, the old cellular gunk and inflammation cells move out of the area. Like a sponge, the soft tissue will draw back in some of that gunk, but it will also draw in new healthy cells. Over time (multiple treatments), if systemic inflammation is not a significant problem, the area will become less and less sore. Manual therapy does not “detox” the body, but it alters many biochemicals and the brain’s relationship with pain and function.
It is the brain that is turning down pain signals. When sensory nerves are in a state of trauma, they generate a nociceptive signal—a warning signal—the brain uses that warning signal to tell you there is a problem and regulates the chemicals of inflammation and repair. If your central nervous system is already under stress—sympathetic or emotional stress—or if your immune system has been compromised —an injury or even manual therapy can be the catayst for a heighetned inflammatory response. This response can feel temporality uncomfortable.
I see many women under emotional stress for jaw, neck, and pelvic floor work, and whereas the post-treatment experiences and timelines vary, their systems can move through inflammation. Most women just experience relief; some have mild responses with mild soreness, but once in a while, because of the chemical environment in the local area, or a distributed immune response, a woman will experience above average soreness. Working directly on digestive health, immune health, and hormonal health will help some women’s processes.
And let’s not forget that it is the brain that is turning down pain signals. The brain uses that nociceptive warning signal to tell you there is a problem. When the brain decides the area is safer, the pain signals turn down. This safety can come from manual therapy and even proper fitness reducing local inflammation.
You need to move...
Everyone with myofascial spectrum disorders—or really just all of us—needs to pay attention to this: a lack of healthy movement, and a lack of healthy movement between soft tissue structures, will increase pain signaling. No, you shouldn’t force yourself to move through pain, as in your shoulder hurts, and you keep lifting heavy weights. That is not healing. And you shouldn’t drain yourself with fitness—especially if you are on the myofascial spectrum or are having trouble clearing inflammation. But pain can stem from a lack of fitness and a lack of muscle balance. Proper fitness boosts circulation of immune cells and strengthens the immune system’s ability to identify and prioritize triggers, which lessens the chances of the immune system overreacting. Moderate and consistent exercise also causes the body to release anti-inflammatory compounds, which also aids your immune system’s response. Exercise is a way to protect your tissues.
But it’s not just general exercise that aids in reducing pain signals. The slide and glide, or said another way, the lack of slide and glide between soft tissue structures—the available movement and glide between muscles, fascia, and nervous tissue—will create and determine the level of the pain signals you experience.
Manual therapy creates lubrication between soft tissue structures ( there is even a shift in the size a specific biochemical that can either glue or lubricate the body, more on this another day!) and so does foam rolling, and slide and glide fitness such as Pilates and yoga.
Healthy movement increases the space and therefore the circulation between structures. Microcirculation, increased blood flow, delivers nutrients and oxygen to the area in need. Nervous tissue becomes healthier, and will decrease pain signaling.
And as you can read about in this other post about inflammation: Neurogenic Inflammation, the Peripheral and Central Nervous Systems, Emotional and Immune System Stress, Collagen, Elastin, Fibroblasts, Inflammation Loops, and the Healing of Manual Therapy (Link HERE), increasing microcirculation to the area creates a host of biochemical changes. These changes include increasing fibroblasts, which create collagen and elastin, and giving fibroblasts the environment needed for them to fully fulfill their duties.
But for those of us in pain, movement can feel tricky. I implore you to find ways to feel safe in movement and gradually build up your fitness and "slide and glide"movements over time.
Your resting heart rate and your ability to take a deep breath influence inflammation.
You must consider your complete system (without being overwhelmed!). I am doing a lot of diaphragm work in the office right now—why? Because your ability to breathe influences every-single-system in your entire mind and body. It affects your vagus nerve, which communicates with your organs. It affects cellular waste, inflammation, and the regeneration of tissues.
Deep breathing isn’t just something you do once, on cue. Breathing fully means that during the day, as you subconsciously breathe, your body takes in a healthy amount of oxygen and receives the benefits of oxygen while also receiving the benefits of muscle movement.
Many women report feeling as if they can’t quite get a full breath, and after diaphragm manual therapy, they finally can. Sometimes, just feeling freer in the diaphragm and pelvic floor can shift the breath throughout the day. But for many women, the key is practice, consistency, and even using other vagus nerve techniques to stimulate relaxation. A relaxed nervous system assists the breath, and the breath stimulates a relaxed nervous system. All things working together at all times.
A point I would like to make here is that just being told to breathe doesn’t mean you can accomplish that. Just like being told to sit up straight doesn’t mean you physically can. It is important to acknowledge that so you don’t feel disappointed in yourself. These things take practice. And manual therapy will aid your practice.
The health of your overall physical structure, the mechanics of your body—the ribcage and forward head posture—affects your breath, which then affects your circulation, your nervous system, and influences your inflammation process.
By tuning into your pelvic floor, feeling it moving up and down, feeling the coordination of your diaphragm with your pelvic floor, your body receives what it needs.
This helps with chronic inflammation and—if you have inflamed neck pain pay attention here—the muscles of the neck work mechanically harder than they are supposed to when the breath is weak and shallow.
Below are some more thoughts on breathing, but don’t forget to keep working on that diaphragm and pelvic floor breath!
A quick note: I love herbs and supplements. And I will be getting some blog posts up regarding herbs and supplements and healing inflammation (there are a few immune-boosting recommendations at the end of this post). But as stressed in The Elemental Woman book, deep healing takes daily action. I would say, “You must start within,” but sometimes we need a boost. Herbs and supplements and manual therapy can be that boost. But when you can, you must sit down and breathe.
Breathing exercises lower inflammation in muscles:
Breathing exercises enhance oxygen delivery to tissues, aiding in recovery.
Breathing exercises decrease stress and promote relaxation, which lowers inflammation levels.
Deep breathing techniques can stimulate the vagus nerve, influencing anti-inflammatory responses.
Improved circulation from deep breathing may help in flushing out inflammatory markers.
Studies suggest that mindfulness and controlled breathing can reduce chronic inflammation.
Breathing exercises strengthen your relationship to your diaphragm and pelvic floor. Which in-turn enhances oxygen delivery during the day.
To improve your resting heart rate through breathing practices, consider these techniques:
Practice deep diaphragmatic breathing to enhance oxygen intake.
Incorporate box breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4 seconds.
Use the 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8.
Engage in mindfulness meditation to reduce stress and lower heart rate.
Do squeeze and release muscle exercises (another blog post another day).
Set aside time daily for breathing exercises to establish a consistent routine.
You may need to learn at-home care techniques for releasing the diaphragm and/or the pelvic floor.
Move slowly on your yoga mat while practicing breathing. Learn to pair movement and breath.
Supplements:
So, I am going to have other posts up that mention healing herbs and supplements. I would suggest watching out for those posts, and there will be a post on nettles. Looseleaf nettles can be useful for breaking inflammation cycles and are an affordable option.
I have been trying out many products, and there a few companies that you can really trust. BODYBIO is the real deal. Real liposomal vitamin C aids in immunity and hydrates fascia. Having a healthy gut boosts immunity and affects every part of your health. Here are BODYBIO supplements that may aid your process:
Use the code TLC at checkout and save 15%.
Use this link to head to their main website: https://bodybio.com/TLC
Click the pictures to head right to each product (but use TLC at checkout for the discount):
Want to Know More?
I have more posts coming soon,. Stay tuned!
Check out my books on health and wellness!
The Elemental Woman
A Conversation for the Modern Western Woman Inspired by the Healing Wisdom of the Ancient Eastern Sage
Food & Mood Journal
A tracking guide to connect the food you eat, the emotions you feel, and increase the feeling of deep self-love
Mindful Movement Journal
A tracking guide to connect the motions you make, the emotions you feel, and increase the feeling of deep self-love
Basic Ayurveda
The Elemental Woman Supplement Guide
About the author:
Since 2004, Tara Lee Clasen has been assisting women on their healing adventures. As a woman-focused physical medicine provider, also trained in Eastern medicine, she knows transformation is possible and knows that with reflection and self-love, your future is full of bright possibilities.
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Resources:
OOPS...these disappeared somehow but will try to get them back soon.
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