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.
- A++2023
Change in gliding properties of the iliotibial tract in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome
Tina J Wang, Antonio Stecco, Robert Schleip, Carla Stecco, Carmelo PirriThis study used ultrasonography to examine the gliding properties of the iliotibial tract (ITT) in individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). Researchers found that the shear strain, which represents ho…
fasciashear strainultrasonographyEhlers–Danlos syndromeIliotibial tract - A++2020
Ultrasound imaging of a scar on the knee: Sonopalpation for fascia and subcutaneous tissues
Carmelo Pirri, Antonio Stecco, Caterina Fede, Raffaele De Caro, Carla Stecco, Levent ÖzçakarPersistent pain from surgical or trauma-related scars is a common and sometimes debilitating problem. In this article, the authors describe the use of ultrasound imaging to provide an objective diagnosis for debilitatin…
fasciapainscarultrasonographyknee - A++2020
Fascia and soft tissues innervation in the human hip and their possible role in post-surgical pain
Caterina Fede, Andrea Porzionato, Lucia Petrelli, Chenglei Fan, Carmelo Pirri, Carlo Biz, Raffaele De Caro, Carla SteccoResearchers investigated the nerve supply to various soft tissues in the human hip to better understand persistent pain after hip replacement surgery. Analyzing tissue samples from patients and cadavers, they measured t…
fasciapaininnervationproprioceptionSoft tissue - A++2019
The architecture and spatial organization of the living human body as revealed by intratissular endoscopy - An osteopathic perspective
Colin ArmstrongThis review article discusses research by Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau, who used endoscopy to visualize the internal architecture of the living body. His work reveals a continuous, body-wide multifibrillar network that t…
fasciaextracellular matrixosteopathyCollagen fibersFibrillar network - A++2018
Bone is fascia
Stephen LevinThis entry, based on its title alone, proposes a conceptual link between bone and fascia. Without an abstract or full text, the specific arguments made by the author remain unclear. The title 'Bone is fascia' suggests a…
fascia - A++2017
Biological effects of direct and indirect manipulation of the fascial system. Narrative review
Giovanni Parravicini, Andrea BergnaThis narrative review explores the biological effects of manual fascial therapies. While osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is clinically effective, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The authors…
fasciaMyofascial releaseManual TherapyMyofascial manipulation - A++2016
Ultra-weak photon emission in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes: evidence for a non-invasive diagnostic tool
Meina Yang, Wenyu Ding, Yanli Liu, Hua Fan, Rajendra P Bajpai, Jialei Fu, Jingxiang Pang, Xiaolei Zhao, Jinxiang HanAll 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…
fasciaphoton emissionbiological systemspathological statesUE - A++2015
The Effects of Vibration and Muscle Fatigue on Trunk Sensorimotor Control in Low Back Pain Patients
Jean-Alexandre Boucher, Jacques Abboud, François Nougarou, Martin C Normand, Martin DescarreauxThis 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…
fascialow back painmuscle fatiguevibration - A++2014
Spatiotemporal Imaging of Glutamate-Induced Biophotonic Activities and Transmission in Neural Circuits
Rendong Tang, Jiapei DaiThis 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…
fasciabiophotonsultraweak photons - A++2014
New perspective in cell communication: Potential role of ultra-weak photon emission
Ankush Prasad, Claudio Rossi, Stefania Lamponi, Pavel Pospíšil, Alberto FolettiThis 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…
fasciabiophotonsUltra-weak photon emissioncellular interactionbiocommunication - A++2013
Squeeze film lubrication for non-Newtonian fluids with application to manual medicine
Hans Chaudhry, Bruce Bukiet, Max Roman, Antonio Stecco, Thomas FindleyResearchers 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…
fasciaHyaluronic acidmassage therapyvibrationsmanual manipulation - A++2013
Vibration Induced Osteogenic Commitment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells is Enhanced by Cytoskeletal Remodeling but not Fluid Shear
Gunes Uzer, Suphannee Pongkitwitoon, M Ete Chan, Stefan JudexThis 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…
fasciaBonedifferentiationProliferationvibrations - A++2013
Implementation of Matrix Rhythm Therapy and Conventional Massage in Young Females and Comparison of Their Acute Effects on Circulation
Ferruh Taspinar, Ummuhan Bas Aslan, Nuran Sabir, Ugur CavlakThis 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…
fascia - A++2013
Mathematical Analysis of the Flow of Hyaluronic Acid Around Fascia During Manual Therapy Motions
Max Roman, Hans Chaudhry, Bruce Bukiet, Antonio Stecco,Thomas FindleyThis 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…
hyaluronanfasciaManual Therapyfluid flowvibration - A++2012
Lymphatic and interstitial flow in the tumour microenvironment: linking mechanobiology with immunity
Melody A Swartz, Amanda W LundThis 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…
fasciacancerstiffnessmechanobiologymicroenvironment - A++2011
Review of Evidence Suggesting That the Fascia Network Could Be the Anatomical Basis for Acupoints and Meridians in the Human Body
Yu Bai, Jun Wang, Jin-Peng Wu, Jing-Xing Dai, Ou Sha, David Tai Wai Yew, Lin Yuan, Qiu-Ni LiangThis 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,…
fasciaacupunctureacupoints - A++2010
Biophotons as neural communication signals demonstrated by in situ biophoton autography
Yan Sun, Chao Wang, Jiapei DaiThis in vitro study on rat nerve tissue explored whether biophotons—extremely weak light emitted by living cells—could act as signals in the nervous system. Researchers stimulated one end of a spinal nerve root with var…
fasciabiophotonsultraweak photonsneural communication - A++2009
Imaging of Ultraweak Spontaneous Photon Emission from Human Body Displaying Diurnal Rhythm
Masaki Kobayashi, Daisuke Kikuchi, Hitoshi OkamuraThe human body emits an extremely faint light, about 1000 times dimmer than what our naked eyes can detect. This phenomenon, known as ultraweak photon emission, is thought to be linked to the body's energy metabolism. U…
fasciabiophotonsultraweak photonsdiurnal rhythm - A++2009
Bonghan Circulatory System as an Extension of Acupuncture Meridians
Kwang-Sup SohThis article describes the Bonghan circulatory system (BHS), a network proposed in the 1960s to correspond with classical acupuncture meridians. After a long period of being overlooked, researchers have recently develop…
fasciacanceracupuncture meridianbonghan corpusclebonghan duct - A++2008
Humoral phototransduction: Light transportation in the blood, and possible biological effects
F Grass, S KasperIn this theoretical paper, researchers propose a model called 'humoral phototransduction' to explain how light might affect the body beyond the eyes. They observed that blood plasma, and particularly the protein albumin…
fasciabiophotonsultraweak photonshumoral phototransduction - A++2006
Quantum Events of Biophoton Emission Associated with Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies: A Descriptive Pilot Study
Marius Hossu, Ronald RupertThis descriptive pilot study investigated biophoton emission (BPE), an ultra-low level of light emitted by living organisms that may reflect overall health status. Researchers measured BPE from the neck and lower back o…
fasciaManual Therapybiophotonsultraweak photons