Research.
Every peer-reviewed study on fascia in one place — graded for strength of evidence, summarised in plain language for clinicians, researchers, and curious patients.
We grade studies from A to 1A+++ using the Fascia Research Database rubric — 1A+++ is the strongest.
- 1A+2019
Fascia Is Able to Actively Contract and May Thereby Influence Musculoskeletal Dynamics: A Histochemical and Mechanographic Investigation
Robert Schleip, G Gabbiani, Jan Wilke, I Naylor, B Hinz, A Zorn, Heike Jäger, R Breul, S Schreiner, Werner KlinglerThis study investigated whether fascia can actively contract, challenging the traditional view of it as a passive tissue. Researchers examined human and rat fascial samples for the presence of contractile cells called m…
Connective tissuestiffnessmyofibroblastscontractilitycontracture - 1A+2018
Effect of Stretching on Thoracolumbar Fascia Injury and Movement Restriction in a Porcine Model
H M Langevin, J Bishop, R Maple, G J Badger, J R FoxIn this animal study on pigs, researchers investigated the effect of stretching on the thoracolumbar fascia after injury and movement restriction. An injury combined with restricted movement led to reduced fascial mobil…
fasciaConnective tissueStretchingManual TherapyMovement Therapy - 1A+2014
The Medium of Haptic Perception: A Tensegrity Hypothesis
Michael T Turvey, Sérgio T FonsecaIn this theoretical paper, the authors propose a new hypothesis for how our sense of touch, or haptic perception, works. Unlike other senses that have a clear medium (like air for sound), the haptic system lacks one. Th…
fasciaConnective tissuecytoskeletonhaptic systemmultifractal tensegrity - 1A+2014
Painful Connections: Densification Versus Fibrosis of Fascia
P G Pavan, Antonio Stecco, R Stern, Carla SteccoIn this review article, the authors describe two types of fascial changes that can cause pain: densification and fibrosis. Densification is described as a reversible alteration in the viscosity of the loose connective t…
hyaluronanfasciafibrosisdensificationConnective tissue - 1A+2014
Peripheral Mechanisms Contributing to Spasticity and Implications for Treatment
Antonio Stecco, Carla Stecco, P RaghavanThis narrative review explores how changes in connective tissue might contribute to spasticity following a central nervous system injury. The authors suggest that the initial injury can alter the turnover of hyaluronic…
fasciaConnective tissueStrokeCerebral palsyHypertonia - 1A+2012
Stretching of the Back Improves Gait, Mechanical Sensitivity and Connective Tissue Inflammation in a Rodent Model
S M Corey, M A Vizzard, N A Bouffard, G J Badger, H M LangevinIn this rodent study, researchers investigated how stretching affects inflammation in the connective tissue of the low back. They first induced local inflammation, which resulted in altered gait, increased mechanical se…
fasciaConnective tissueStretchingManual TherapyMovement Therapy - 1A+2008
Tissue Stretch Decreases Soluble TGF-β1 and Type-1 Procollagen in Mouse Subcutaneous Connective Tissue: Evidence From Ex Vivo and In Vivo Models
N A Bouffard, K R Cutroneo, G J Badger, S L White, T R Buttolph, H P Ehrlich, D Stevens-Tuttle, H M LangevinThis study on mice investigated how brief, static stretching affects connective tissue healing after an injury. Researchers used two models: tissue samples cultured outside the body (ex vivo) and live mice with minor su…
fasciaConnective tissueStretchingManual TherapyMovement Therapy