I've not gotten confirmation, but my impression is the piece says that a temporary increase in inflammation due to white blood cells activity prevents chronic pain. So that sounds to me like some kind of actual healing activity.

Hot PokerStars potentially kill infection. Heat is a well known means to help kill infection.

Exercise increases the rate at which lymph is returned to the circulatory system from the tissues. That's how the body takes out the trash.

Inflammation is poorly understood and I don't like these hand wavy hypotheses.