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+2012
The effect of menopause on the skin and other connective tissues
J Calleja-Agius, M BrincatThis narrative review examines how menopause and the resulting decline in estrogen affect the body's connective tissues, particularly the skin. Research suggests that skin collagen levels drop significantly following me…
collagenageingskin tissuemenopauseoestrogen - A+2012
Nutritional regulation of muscle protein synthesis with resistance exercise: strategies to enhance anabolism
Tyler A Churchward-Venne, Nicholas A Burd, Stuart M PhillipsIn this 2012 review article, the authors discuss how nutrition can regulate muscle protein synthesis, especially when combined with resistance exercise. Consuming protein (amino acids) stimulates muscle building, an eff…
MusclenutritionhypertrophyAnabolic intramuscular signaling - A+2012
The role of stromal cells in the persistence of chronic inflammation
A J Naylor, A Filer, C D BuckleyThis review article explores why chronic inflammation often persists in specific anatomical locations. The authors highlight that stromal cells, particularly the fibroblasts that define a tissue's architecture, are like…
inflammationfasciafibroblastchronicpersistence - A+2011
Why does chronic inflammation persist: An unexpected role for fibroblasts
C D BuckleyThis 2011 review explores why chronic inflammation persists. Traditionally, research has focused on immune cells, but this text highlights the crucial role that stromal cells, particularly fibroblasts, play in sustainin…
inflammationfasciafibroblast - A+2011
Change in knee osteoarthritis cartilage detected by delayed gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging following treatment with collagen hydrolysate: a pilot randomized controlled trial
T E McAlindon, M Nuite, N Krishnan, R Ruthazer, L L Price, D Burstein, J Grif!th, K FlechsenharThis pilot randomized controlled trial investigated if collagen hydrolysate supplements could affect knee cartilage in people with mild osteoarthritis. Using a specialized MRI technique (dGEMRIC), researchers tracked ch…
MRIosteoarthritisMagnetic resonance imagingCartilageDelayed gadolinium enhanced - A+2011
The Alkaline Diet: Is There Evidence That an Alkaline pH Diet Benefits Health
Gerry K SchwalfenbergThis 2011 review examined the published medical literature to evaluate the health benefits of an alkaline diet. The author looked at studies on the body's pH and its connection to bone health, muscle function, back pain…
Metabolic acidosisalkaline dietmetabolic syndrom - A+2011
Diet-induced metabolic acidosis
María M Adeva, Gema SoutoThe typical Western diet, high in animal products and low in fruits and vegetables, can lead to a state of chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis. This means the body becomes slightly more acidic, a situation that can wo…
Metabolic acidosisAmmonium ionsCitrateInsulin resistance - A+2011
The presence of physiological stress shielding in the degenerative cycle of musculoskeletal disorders
Mark Driscoll, L BlyumThis theoretical paper discusses how mechanical stimulation is essential for tissue health, a concept known as mechanical homeostasis. When this process is flawed, it can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal…
Fascia; Musculoskeletal; Cerebral palsy; Remodeling; Stress shielding - A+2010
Tendon and ligament fibrillar crimps give rise to left-handed helices of collagen fibrils in both planar and helical crimps
Marco Franchi, Vittoria Ottani, Rita Stagni, Alessandro RuggeriTendons and ligaments have a wavy structure known as a "crimp," which straightens out as the tissue is stretched. This study on rat tissue used various microscopy techniques to examine the 3D shape of the individual col…
collagen handedness; fibrillar crimp; helical crimps; ligament; planar crimps; tendon - A+2010
The straight line hypothesis elaborated: Case reference obesity, an argument for acidosis, oxidative stress, and disease conglomeration
Shoma BerkemeyerThis review article brings together existing research to explain how obesity may be linked to oxidative stress. The author proposes that a proton imbalance, or acidosis, could be a key mechanism. This imbalance may inhi…
Oxidative stressobesityacidosisproton imbalance - A+2009
The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system
STEPHEN W PORGESThe Polyvagal Theory describes the autonomic nervous system from an evolutionary perspective. It focuses on a key phylogenetic shift in the vagus nerve that occurred between reptiles and mammals. This change created a l…
vagus nervepolyvagalfighy and flightfreezeparasympathetic system - A+2009
Increased pain from muscle fascia following eccentric exercise: animal and human findings
William Gibson, Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Toru Taguchi, Kazue Mizumura, Thomas Graven-NielsenThis study, combining animal and human experiments, investigated the source of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after eccentric exercise. Researchers induced DOMS in participants' tibialis anterior muscle, then inje…
fasciahypertonic salineExperimental painDeep tissueEccentric exercise - A+2007
Breathing exercises with vagal biofeedback may benefit patients with functional dyspepsia
INA E HJELLAND, SVEN SVEBAK, ARNOLD BERSTAD, GEIR FLATAB, TRYGVE HAUSKENFunctional dyspepsia (FD) is often associated with low vagus nerve tone. This study investigated whether breathing exercises with biofeedback could help. Forty patients with FD were divided into two groups; one group pr…
Biofeedbackbreathing exercisesfunctional dyspepsiavagal tone - A+2006
Dynamic Shear Stimulation of Bovine Cartilage Biosynthesis of Proteoglycan 4
Gayle E Nugent, Nicole M Aneloski, Tannin A Schmidt, Barbara L Schumacher, Michael S Voegtline, Robert L SahThis laboratory study on cartilage from young cows investigated how mechanical forces affect the production of a key lubricating molecule, proteoglycan 4 (PRG4). Researchers applied different types of loads to cartilage…
ProteoglycansCartilagePRG4dynamic shear stressstatic compression - A+2005
Coordinated collagen and muscle protein synthesis in human patella tendon and quadriceps muscle after exercise
Benjamin F Miller, Jens L Olesen, Mette Hansen, Simon Dossing, Regina M Crameri, Rasmus J Welling, Henning Langberg, Al…Researchers investigated how strenuous exercise affects protein synthesis in both muscle and tendon. In this study, healthy young men performed one-legged kicking exercises, and biopsies were taken over the next 72 hour…
Muscletendonexercisecollegen syntes - A+2005
Human Bone Collagen Synthesis Is a Rapid, Nutritionally Modulated Process
John A Babraj, Kenneth Smith, Daniel J R Cuthbertson, Peter Rickhuss, James S Dorling, Michael J RennieResearchers developed a new method to directly measure bone collagen synthesis in young, healthy men. Contrary to previous assumptions, the results showed that bone collagen formation is a surprisingly rapid process, ev…
metabolismnutritionmatrix proteinstable-isotope tracerproline - A+2005
Nutraceutical Therapies for Degenerative Joint Diseases: A Critical Review
ROBERT GOGGS, ANNE VAUGHAN-THOMAS, PETER D CLEGG, STUART D CARTER, JOHN F INNES, ALI MOBASHERI, MEHDI SHAKIBAEI, WOLFGA…This 2005 critical review examines the role of nutrition in managing degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis. The authors suggest that while nutritional factors are crucial for cartilage health, dietary programs…
articular cartilagenutritionosteoarthritisnutraceuticalVitamin C - A+2003
Effects of insulin lispro and chronic vitamin C therapy on postprandial lipaemia, oxidative stress and endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
M Evans, R A Anderson, J C Smith, N Khan, J M Graham, A W Thomas, K Morris, D Deely, M P Frenneaux, J S Davies, A ReesPeople with type 2 diabetes often experience impaired blood vessel function and high levels of fat in their blood after eating, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This study investigated whether insulin…
Oxidative stressendotheliumdiabetesinsulinpost-prandial lipaemia. - A+2003
Stress shielding of patellar tendon: effect on small-diameter collagen fibrils in a rabbit model
Tokifumi Majima, Kazunori Yasuda, Takamasa Tsuchida, Kunio Tanaka, Kiyoshi Miyakawa, Akio Minami, Kozaburo HayashiIn this animal study, researchers investigated the effects of mechanical unloading, or "stress shielding," on the patellar tendon in rabbits. The scientists completely released the tendon from its normal stress for thre…
Stress shielding · Patellar tendon · Collagen fibril diameter · Ultrastructure - A+2000
Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease
R W MoskowitzThis narrative review examines the role of collagen hydrolysate in the management of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Research suggests that a daily intake of 10 grams of pharmaceutical-grade collagen hydrolysate may he…
supplementationOsteoporosishydrolysate collagenosteartrithis - A+1997
Mechanical Loading and TGF-b Regulate Proteoglycan Synthesis in Tendon
James R Robbins, Stephen P Evanko, Kathryn G VogelTendons can develop cartilage-like properties in areas subjected to compressive loading. In this study on fetal bovine tendon tissue, researchers investigated how mechanical compression affects the cells. They found tha…
load forcetissue transition