Hyaluronan homeostasis and its role in pain and muscle stiffness
Adam Amir, Soo Kim, Antonio Stecco, Michael P Jankowski, Preeti Raghavan
The balance of hyaluronan in muscles and fascia is important for lubrication and may be linked to pain and stiffness when disrupted.
Hyaluronan (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan that consists of single-chain polymers of disaccharide units of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. It is a chief constituent of the extracellular matrix. About 27% of the total HA in the body is expressed in the skeleton and connective tissue, while 8% is expressed in muscles. In physiological conditions, HA functions as a lubricant and viscoelastic shock absorber. Additionally, HA is part of complex cellular signaling which modulates nociception and inflammation. This study aims to understand the role that HA plays in the musculoskeletal system, specifically in muscles and the surrounding fascia. This review is also intended to further understand HA homeostasis and the process of its synthesis, degradation, and clearance from the local tissue. The authors examined muscle pain and stiffness as pathological conditions associated with HA accumulation.
The first episode of the English podcast “The Fascia Guide”. The Fascia Guide is a podcast about the living body, about new research and a new perspective on health, pain and what…
The episode was first published on the Swedish podcast Fasciaguiden on June 4, 2025. In this unique episode, we meet Professor Gerald Pollack — one of the world’s most influential…