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.
Ultra-weak photon emission of hands in aging prediction
This study, for which a full summary is not yet available, appears to investigate the relationship between ultra-weak photon emissions from the hands and the biological aging process. The title suggests researchers expl…
Can fascia’s characteristics be influenced by manual therapy
This theoretical essay investigates the fundamental properties of collagen, a key component of fascia. The author explores how manual therapy might relate to the necessity of maintaining collagen's strength under load.…
Myofascial triggerpoint release (MTR) for treating chronic shoulder pain: A novel approach
This study evaluated a specific manual therapy, myofascial trigger point release (MTR), for chronic shoulder pain. Twenty-three participants received four 10-minute sessions over two weeks, applied only to their more pa…
Reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Researchers investigated the gut microbiome and blood markers of inflammation in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Compared to healthy controls, individuals with ME/CFS had reduced…
Whole-Body and Local Muscle Vibration Immediately Improve Quadriceps Function in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
This randomized crossover trial investigated the immediate effects of vibration on quadriceps function in individuals with a prior anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Twenty participants performed isometric…
Ultra-weak photon emission in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes: evidence for a non-invasive diagnostic tool
All living organisms emit extremely faint light, known as ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). This study investigated whether these light emissions differ between healthy individuals and people with type 2 diabetes. Resea…
The effect of an active vibration stimulus according to different shoulder joint angles on functional reach and stability of the shoulder joint
This study investigated how active vibration exercise with a Flexi-Bar at different shoulder angles affected shoulder joint function and stability in 30 healthy male students. Participants were divided into three groups…
Effects of matrix rhythm therapy on primary lymphedema: a case report
This case report investigated the effects of Matrix Rhythm Therapy on a 36-year-old woman with primary lymphedema in her left leg. She received 20 sessions of the therapy over four weeks, applied to the affected leg, sp…
Estrogen and Pelvic Organ Prolapse
This narrative review explores the relationship between estrogen and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition where pelvic organs descend from their normal positions. Research suggests that low estrogen levels, particul…
Microbiota-dependent sequelae of acute infection compromise tissue-specific immunity
A single acute infection can have long-term consequences for tissue-specific immunity, even after the pathogen is cleared. This study found that following a gut infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, sustained infl…
Three Case Reports of Successful Vibration Therapy of the Plantar Fascia for Spasticity Due to Cerebral Palsy-Like Syndrome, Fetal-Type Minamata Disease
This series of case reports describes the long-term effects of vibration therapy on lower-limb spasticity in three patients with fetal-type Minamata disease, a condition with symptoms similar to cerebral palsy. Research…
Amelioration of estrogen deficiency-induced obesity by collagen hydrolysate
This animal study on rats investigated how collagen hydrolysate supplementation might affect the weight gain often associated with estrogen deficiency, similar to menopause. Researchers found that rats receiving collage…
Fascial hierarchies and the relevance of crossed-helical arrangements of collagen to changes in shape; part II: The proposed effect of blood pressure (Traube-Hering-Mayer) waves on the fascia
Periodic changes in blood pressure, known as Traube-Hering-Mayer waves, are linked to respiration and nervous system activity. While complex and not fully understood, they can provide valuable clinical information. This…
Efficacy and tolerability of an undenatured type II collagen supplement in modulating knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Over a 180-day period, 191 volunteers received either 40 mg of UC…
Telocytes in regenerative medicine
This 2015 review article summarizes research on telocytes, a distinct type of cell found in the connective tissue of many organs. These cells form a complex 3D network and are thought to play a key role in guiding stem…
Size Matters: Molecular Weight Specificity of Hyaluronan Effects in Cell Biology
This narrative review summarizes current knowledge about hyaluronan, a molecule whose biological effects are dependent on its size. Unlike many other molecules, hyaluronan's signaling properties are determined not by ch…
BioTensegrity Fascia and the fallacy of biomechanics, Part 2.
In this conceptual article, the second in a series, the author introduces BioTensegrity as an alternative to classical biomechanics. He argues that traditional models of animal and human movement, which date back to the…
BioTensegrity Fascia and the fallacy of biomechanics. Part 1
This conceptual article introduces Biotensegrity as an emerging model for understanding human anatomy. It challenges traditional biomechanics by viewing the body as a continuous tensional network in which fascia plays a…
Glycine improves biochemical and biomechanical properties following inflammation of the achilles tendon
This animal study investigated the effect of the amino acid glycine on inflamed Achilles tendons in rats. Researchers induced inflammation and then fed one group of rats a diet supplemented with 5% glycine. After 22 day…
Influence of different intensities of vibration on proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells
In this laboratory study, researchers investigated how low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration affects stem cells from the human periodontal ligament, the tissue that holds teeth in the jaw. The results suggest that vib…
Meralgia paresthetica caused by entrapment of the lateral femoral subcutaneous nerve at the fascia lata of the thigh: a case report and literature review
This case report and literature review describe an unusual presentation of meralgia paresthetica, a condition causing numbness and pain in the outer thigh. While the condition typically involves nerve entrapment at the…
Neurovisceral phenotypes in the expression of psychiatric symptoms
This narrative review explores the idea that vulnerability to anxiety may be rooted in inherent physical differences in how the body is regulated. The authors focus on conditions like joint hypermobility, Postural Tachy…
The Effects of Vibration and Muscle Fatigue on Trunk Sensorimotor Control in Low Back Pain Patients
This study compared trunk muscle control between people with chronic low back pain (cLBP) and healthy individuals. Researchers found that the cLBP group was less accurate at reproducing a specific amount of force with t…
Effects of plant sterols derived from Aloe vera gel on human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and on skin condition in Japanese women
This study investigated how plant sterols from Aloe vera gel affect the skin, using both laboratory tests on human skin cells (fibroblasts) and a clinical trial with women. In the lab, these sterols were found to stimul…
Estrogen inhibits lysyl oxidase and decreases mechanical function in engineered ligaments
This lab study investigated why women are more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than men, focusing on the role of estrogen. Researchers used human ACL cells to create engineered ligaments in a la…
Fruit, vegetable and vitamin C intakes and plasma vitamin C: cross-sectional associations with insulin resistance and glycaemia in 9-10 year-old children
This cross-sectional study of over 2000 children in the UK examined the relationship between vitamin C and risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that higher levels of vitamin C in the blood were associated…
Vibration therapy: clinical applications in bone
This review article explores vibration therapy as a way to mimic the positive effects of physical activity on bone and muscle, especially for frail individuals who cannot exercise. Animal and human studies suggest that…
Role of reactive oxygen species in ultra-weak photon emission in biological systems
This narrative review explores the connection between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the faint light, or ultra-weak photon emission, that living organisms naturally produce. The authors explain that normal metabolic…
Ultraweak photon emission as a non-invasive health assessment: a systematic review
This systematic review explores the use of ultraweak photon emission (UPE) as a non-invasive tool for assessing human health. By analyzing 56 studies, researchers found that measuring light particles emitted by the body…
Low-intensity vibration improves angiogenesis and wound healing in diabetic mice
This animal study investigated if whole-body low-intensity vibration (LIV) could improve chronic wound healing in diabetic mice. Mice with surgical wounds received either 30 minutes of daily vibration or a sham treatmen…
Ingested hyaluronan moisturizes dry skin
This review article summarizes research on how oral hyaluronan (HA) supplements may influence skin hydration levels. Studies suggest that a daily intake of 120–240 mg of hyaluronic acid can contribute to increased moist…
Towards whole-body ultra-weak photon counting and imaging with a focus on human beings: A review
In this review article, the authors describe the history and development of research into ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), the faint light naturally emitted by the human body. The scientific understanding of this pheno…
Biophoton signal transmission and processing in the brain
This narrative review explores an alternative theory of how brain cells communicate. The traditional view is that the nervous system uses bioelectrical and chemical signals, but these models struggle to explain higher b…
Antioxidants, inflammation and cardiovascular disease
This narrative review explores the links between inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The authors explain that chronic immune activation in CVD leads to high levels of reactive oxygen specie…
Highly sensitive imaging for ultra-weak photon emission from living organisms
This review article describes research on ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), also known as biophotons, which is faint light spontaneously emitted from living organisms. This light emission is associated with metabolic pr…
The role of collagen crosslinks in ageing and diabetes - the good, the bad, and the ugly
This narrative review explores how glucose in the body can bind to proteins like collagen, a process called glycation. This process creates crosslinks that can change the mechanical properties and function of connective…
Ultra-weak photon emission from biological samples: Definition, mechanisms, properties, detection and applications
This review article summarizes the current understanding of ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), a faint light naturally produced by living organisms. This light, a form of chemiluminescence, is generated during normal met…
The Role of Functional Foods in Cutaneous Anti-aging
This narrative review examines how functional foods and oral supplements may influence skin aging by addressing oxidative stress and inflammation. Research suggests that compounds such as carotenoids, aloe vera, red gin…
Age- and diabetes-related nonenzymatic crosslinks in collagen fibrils: Candidate amino acids involved in Advanced Glycation End-products
Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) are harmful crosslinks that form in collagen with aging and in diabetes, making tissues stiffer. However, the exact location of these crosslinks has been unclear. In this theoretic…
Spatiotemporal Imaging of Glutamate-Induced Biophotonic Activities and Transmission in Neural Circuits
This study on mouse brain tissue investigated biophotons, which are ultra-weak light emissions from biological systems. Researchers found that applying the neurotransmitter glutamate caused a significant and long-lastin…
New perspective in cell communication: Potential role of ultra-weak photon emission
This 2014 narrative review explores how cells might communicate with each other. Beyond chemical signals and direct contact, the authors discuss evidence for communication via electromagnetic radiation, specifically ult…
Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of daily collagen peptide supplementation in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Participants received either porcine or bovine collagen, or a place…
Squeeze film lubrication for non-Newtonian fluids with application to manual medicine
Researchers used a mathematical model to investigate how manual therapy affects the fluid in and around fascia. The model focused on hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural lubricant in connective tissue. The results suggest th…
Mathematical Analysis of the Flow of Hyaluronic Acid Around Fascia During Manual Therapy Motions
This study used a mathematical model to simulate how different manual therapy techniques affect the flow of hyaluronic acid (HA) within fascia. The researchers compared constant sliding, perpendicular vibration, and tan…
Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview
This narrative review provides an overview of Vitamin C's many roles in the body. It is essential for developing and maintaining connective tissues, and plays a key part in bone formation, wound healing, and gum health.…
Vibration Induced Osteogenic Commitment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells is Enhanced by Cytoskeletal Remodeling but not Fluid Shear
This laboratory study investigated how mechanical vibrations encourage stem cells to develop into bone cells. Researchers tested two potential mechanisms: the force of fluid moving across the cells (fluid shear) and cha…
Ascorbate supplementation inhibits growth and metastasis of B16FO melanoma and 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitamin-C deficient mice
This animal study investigated how Vitamin C (ascorbate) supplementation affects cancer growth in mice that, like humans, cannot produce their own. Researchers injected melanoma or breast cancer cells into two groups of…
The application of matrix rhythm therapy as a new clinical modality in burn physiotherapy programmes
This study investigated the use of Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MRT) as part of a physiotherapy program for patients with upper extremity burn injuries. A group of patients received a treatment protocol that included whirlpoo…
Implementation of Matrix Rhythm Therapy and Conventional Massage in Young Females and Comparison of Their Acute Effects on Circulation
This randomized controlled trial compared the acute effects of Matrix Rhythm Therapy and conventional massage on lower leg blood circulation in young, healthy women. Fifteen participants received a single 30-minute sess…
Cell-to-cell signaling through light: just a ghost of chance?
This paper examines the physical feasibility of cell-to-cell communication via weak light signals, often referred to as biophotons. The researchers analyze whether electromagnetic signaling is possible when considering…
Air ions and mood outcomes: a review and meta-analysis
This review and meta-analysis examined 33 studies to investigate how air ions affect human psychological states. The authors found no consistent effects of positive or negative ionization on anxiety, general mood, relax…
INTERSTITIAL FLUID AND LYMPH FORMATION AND TRANSPORT: PHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATION AND ROLES IN INFLAMMATION AND CANCER
This 2012 review explores the interstitium, the fluid-filled space surrounding our cells that contains interstitial fluid (IF). Formed by filtration from blood capillaries and cleared by lymphatic vessels, IF and its fl…
Lymphatic and interstitial flow in the tumour microenvironment: linking mechanobiology with immunity
This review explores how tumors interact with the lymphatic system to grow and spread. Increased fluid flow from a tumor to nearby lymph nodes does more than just transport cancer cells. This flow also creates mechanica…
Diet-Induced Dysbiosis of the Intestinal Microbiota and the Effects on Immunity and Disease
This 2012 narrative review explores the connection between diet, gut microbes, and the immune system. The gastrointestinal tract must balance tolerance for harmless bacteria and food with responsiveness to pathogens. An…
Vitamin C transport and its role in the central nervous system
This review article explores the critical role of vitamin C in the central nervous system. Although it circulates in the blood at low concentrations, neurons in the brain and spinal cord maintain very high levels of the…
Fluid Flow along Venous Adventitia in Rabbits: Is It a Potential Drainage System Complementary to Vascular Circulations?
In this animal study on rabbits, researchers investigated a potential fluid drainage system within the body's connective tissue. By injecting tracers, they visualized pathways along the loose connective tissue surroundi…
Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging
This narrative review examines the relationship between nutrition and skin aging, focusing on how specific nutrients may protect against damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The authors describe how antioxidants such…
Review of Evidence Suggesting That the Fascia Network Could Be the Anatomical Basis for Acupoints and Meridians in the Human Body
This narrative review explores the idea that the body's fascia network could be the physical structure behind traditional Chinese medicine's (TCM) meridians and acupoints. The authors examine anatomical, physiological,…
Vibration therapy of the plantar fascia improves spasticity of the lower limbs of a patient with fetal-type Minamata disease in the chronic stage
This case report describes a treatment for spasticity in a patient with fetal-type Minamata disease. Researchers used a hand-held vibration massager applied directly to the patient's plantar fascia and hamstrings. After…
Optimizing an Intermittent Stretch Paradigm Using ERK1/2 Phosphorylation Results in Increased Collagen Synthesis in Engineered Ligaments
This study on engineered ligaments explored how different stretching patterns affect tissue development. Researchers used a bioreactor to apply cyclic stretch, measuring cellular responses by tracking a key protein call…