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.
Myofascial Chains of the Upper Limb: A Systematic Review of Anatomical Studies
This systematic review compiled research to determine if myofascial chains, previously identified in the trunk and lower limbs, also exist in the upper limb. Analyzing 13 anatomical dissection studies, the authors found…
3D volumetric MR arthrographic assessment of shoulder joint capacity in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis
This study used 3D MR arthrography to measure and compare shoulder joint volume in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) against a healthy control group. Researchers found that the patient group ha…
Structural Gender Dimorphism and the Biomechanics of the Gluteal Subcutaneous Tissue: Implications for the Pathophysiology of Cellulite
This study investigated gender differences in the subcutaneous tissue of the gluteal region to better understand the development of cellulite. Researchers found that men have more and stronger fibrous connections (septa…
Suboccipital Myodural Bridges Revisited: Application to Cervicogenic Headaches
This anatomical study investigated the connective tissue structures, known as myodural bridges, in the suboccipital region of 30 human fetuses. Researchers identified two types of these bridges connecting muscles at the…
The myodural bridge complex defined as a new functional structure
The myodural bridge is a known connective tissue link between the deep suboccipital muscles and the spinal cord's outermost covering, the dura mater. In this anatomical study, researchers examined its precise structure…
Existence and features of the myodural bridge in Gallus domesticus: indication of its important physiological function
In this anatomical animal study, researchers investigated the existence of the myodural bridge (MDB) in chickens. The MDB is a dense connective tissue that links muscles in the upper neck to the spinal dura mater. The i…
Age-related changes in leg proprioception: implications for postural control
This narrative review examines how aging affects proprioception—the body's sense of its own position and movement—and its implications for balance. To maintain an upright stance, the brain relies on signals from recepto…
Intra-articular effects of combined xenogenous serum rich in growth factors (SRGF) and vitamin C on histopathology grading and staging of osteoarthritis in rat model
This animal study investigated a potential treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) in rats. Researchers induced OA in the rats' knees and then treated them with intra-articular injections. One group received a combination of…
Imaging of ultraweak photon emission for evaluating the oxidative stress of human skin
This study explored a method for visualizing oxidative stress in human skin by imaging ultraweak photon emission (UPE), also known as biophotons. Researchers found that exposing skin to UV radiation increased the intens…
The neural basis of the senses of effort, force and heaviness
This narrative review explores how we sense effort, force, and heaviness during muscle contraction. Traditionally, these sensations were thought to originate in the brain from copies of motor commands. However, new evid…
Chronic low back pain influences trunk neuromuscular control during unstable sitting among persons with lower-limb loss
People with lower-limb loss are at a higher risk for chronic low back pain. This study investigated whether trunk postural control differs between those with and without pain in this population. Researchers had men with…
Role of Hyaluronan in Inflammatory Effects on Human Articular Chondrocytes
Some researchers have proposed that fragments of hyaluronan (HA), a key molecule in connective tissue, can trigger inflammation in cartilage. This study investigated that idea in human articular cartilage cells. Researc…
Anatomy, Fascia
This resource provides an overview of the anatomy of fascia. As the full text has not yet been reviewed, this summary is based on the title alone. The entry likely covers the structural and functional aspects of fascial…
Association of thoraco-lumbar fascia length in individuals with non-specific low back pain - an observational study
This observational study compared 31 people with non-specific low back pain to 31 healthy individuals to investigate the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF). Researchers measured TLF length by assessing lumbar spine rotation, an…
Effects of foam rolling on performance and recovery: A systematic review of the literature to guide practitioners on the use of foam rolling
This systematic review analyzed 49 studies to understand how foam rolling affects athletic performance and recovery. The authors found evidence that foam rolling can decrease muscle stiffness and improve range of motion…
Cranial osteopathy: Obscurantism and Enlightenment
In this reflective article, the authors discuss the controversial aspects of cranial osteopathy. They address common objections, such as the idea that the cranial bones are immobile in adults and that an operator's hand…
The diaphragm muscle manual evaluation scale
This technical report describes a new method for manually assessing the diaphragm's function, called the Manual Evaluation Diaphragm (MED) scale. The scale is designed to generate a value for the respiratory muscle's mo…
The effects of vibration-induced altered stretch reflex sensitivity on maximal motor unit firing properties
Researchers investigated how muscle vibration, which affects the stretch reflex, influences muscle strength and nerve signals during maximal effort. In a study with 24 participants performing maximal knee extensions, th…
Tissue Regeneration from Mechanical Stretching of Cell–Cell Adhesion
This narrative review explores how mechanical stretching can stimulate tissue regeneration and wound healing. Researchers have long known that cells respond to mechanical forces, but much of the focus has been on the co…
Lymphatic pump manipulation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
This narrative review examines the use of lymphatic pump manipulation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is characterized by persistent inflammation, and lymphatic techniques aim to red…
Where is your head? Perception of relative position of the head on a wielded object
This study explored how we perceive our body's position relative to an object we are holding or balancing. Researchers specifically tested this by having participants "wield" an object with their head, a body part not t…
A Systematic Review of the Morphology and Function of the Sacrotuberous Ligament
This systematic review examined existing research on the sacrotuberous ligament (STL) to clarify its anatomy and function. The STL is often implicated in conditions like pelvic girdle pain, but its exact role has been d…
Adhesive capsulitis: MRI correlation with clinical stages and proposal of MRI staging
This study investigated whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings can reflect the clinical stages of adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder. Researchers analyzed MRIs from 74 patients, looking for sp…
The Primo Vascular System as a Possible Exosomal Route Across the Body: Implications for Tumor Proliferation and Metastasis
This literature review proposes a possible link between the primo vascular system (PVS)—a network associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians—and the way cancer spreads. The theory is that exosomes, tiny vesi…
Innervation of the thoracolumbar fascia
This study, conducted primarily on rats, investigated the types of nerves in the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) to better understand its sensory roles. Researchers found only free nerve endings, many of which are associated…
Improving the New Definition of Fascial System
This narrative review proposes expanding the definition of the fascial system to include bone tissue. The author argues that bone, a specialized form of connective tissue, shares the same embryological origins as other…
Glut-1 explains the evolutionary advantage of the loss of endogenous vitamin C-synthesis
Unlike many animals, humans cannot produce their own vitamin C. This study explores a potential evolutionary advantage of this loss. Researchers compared red blood cells from humans and pigs (who can make vitamin C) and…
Evaluation of the Structure of Myodural Bridges in an Equine Model of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes
This animal study investigated myodural bridges—connective tissue links between small neck muscles and the spinal cord's outer covering (dura mater)—in horses. Researchers compared horses with a genetic connective tissu…
Biotensegrity or Fascintegrity
In this theoretical review, the authors question the popular "biotensegrity" model for describing the body's mechanics. They argue the model is incomplete because it fails to account for crucial factors like bodily flui…
Putative Primo-Vascular System in Rabbit Placenta
In this animal study, researchers investigated the primo vascular system (PVS), a proposed network that may play a role in transport, tissue regeneration, and cell migration. While the PVS has been detected in other rab…
Role of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in the development of frozen shoulder: human data and experimental analysis in a rat contracture model
This study investigated the biological processes behind frozen shoulder, a condition characterized by pain and stiffness. Researchers analyzed joint capsule tissue from both patients with frozen shoulder and from a rat…
Lipedema: A Call to Action!
This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of lipedema, a chronic and progressive disease primarily affecting women. It is characterized by a painful, abnormal distribution of fat in the limbs, which oft…
Trigger Points, Pressure Pain Hyperalgesia, and Mechanosensitivity of Neural Tissue in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
In this case-control study, researchers compared women with chronic pelvic pain to a healthy control group. They found that women with pelvic pain had significantly more myofascial trigger points in their low back, glut…
Quantifying muscle glycosaminoglycan levels in patients with post-stroke muscle stiffness using T1p MRI
This study is the first to quantify the amount of hyaluronan, a key component for gliding movements within fascia. Researchers measured hyaluronan in tissue samples from various human anatomical sites and found that the…
Experimental myofascial trigger point creation in rodents
This animal study investigated how myofascial trigger points might form. Researchers treated mice and rats with a substance that increases nerve signals to the muscles, mimicking a state of high neurotransmission. This…
Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications
This systematic review examined eleven clinical trials investigating the impact of oral collagen supplements on skin health. The findings suggest that collagen hydrolysates and peptides may improve skin elasticity, hydr…
Anterior capsular abnormality: another important MRI finding for the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder
This retrospective study investigated whether abnormalities in the shoulder's anterior joint capsule, seen on MRI scans, can help diagnose adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Researchers compared MRIs from 29 patient…
Educational Avenues for Promoting Dialog on Fascia
This article argues that fascia is a critically important, yet often overlooked, organ system in healthcare education. The author highlights fascia's diverse roles in pathology, fluid movement, proprioception, pain perc…
Fascia thickness, aging and flexibility: is there an association?
This study investigated how deep fascia thickness relates to age and flexibility in healthy women. Researchers compared a group of young women with a group of older women, using ultrasound to measure fascia thickness an…
Lipedema: friend and foe
Lipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by painful, disproportionate fat accumulation in the limbs of women, and is often misdiagnosed as obesity. In this review, researchers examined both the negative ('foe') and…
Fascial Nomenclature: An Update
This review article discusses the ongoing challenge of creating a single, comprehensive definition for fascia. The authors argue that different scientific and clinical fields view fascia through their own unique lenses,…
Not merely a protective packing organ? A review of fascia and its force transmission capacity
This review article examines fascia's role in transmitting force throughout the body. Traditionally seen as just a "packing" material, research now suggests fascia is an active tissue that connects muscles into a body-w…
Frontiers in fascia research
This article reviews recent developments in fascia research, emphasizing new ways to assess this highly variable tissue. Researchers note that fascia differs greatly between individuals in density, stiffness, and metabo…
Fractal fluctuations in muscular activity contribute to judgments of length but not heaviness via dynamic touch
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a progressive condition that often involves chest pain. This article analyzes the possible causes of this pain, focusing on a less frequently considered source: the fascia…
The influence of breathing on the central nervous system
This narrative review explores the diaphragm's extensive influence on the central nervous system. The authors discuss how the rhythm of our breath can physically move the brain, alter patterns of neural oscillation, and…
Treatment for cellulite
This brief review summarizes the scientific evidence for various treatments for cellulite, a condition present in 80% to 90% of post-pubertal women. The author examines the safety and efficacy of methods ranging from to…
New Proposal to Define the Fascial System
In this proposal, the authors suggest a new definition for the fascial system, noting that a universally accepted one does not yet exist. They argue for including the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) based on functio…
Lipedema—An update
This review provides an update on lipedema, a chronic condition affecting subcutaneous fat tissue in the limbs, almost exclusively in women. It typically appears during or after puberty and is characterized by symmetric…
Effectiveness of 3-dimensional shoulder ultrasound in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears
In this meta-analysis, researchers combined data from seven studies involving 282 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in diagnosing rotator cuff tears. The analysis found that 3D ultr…
Variations in Contents of Hyaluronan in the Peritumoral Micro-Environment of Human Chondrosarcoma
The micro-environment surrounding a tumor greatly influences its growth and response to therapy. This study focused on chondrosarcoma, a type of bone cancer resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation. Researchers quan…
Immediate effects of self-myofascial release on latent trigger point sensitivity: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
This randomized, placebo-controlled trial examined whether foam rolling could immediately reduce sensitivity in latent trigger points. Researchers compared 90 seconds of static compression, dynamic rolling, and a placeb…
The anatomical relationships of the tongue with the body system
In this review article, the authors examine the tongue's functions and its anatomical connections to the rest of the body. The tongue is not only essential for swallowing, breathing, and speaking, but it also affects po…
Pathobiology of cigarette smoke-induced invasive cancer of the renal pelvis and its prevention by vitamin C
In this animal study, researchers investigated how cigarette smoke might cause invasive cancer of the renal pelvis and if vitamin C could offer protection. They found that when guinea pigs were exposed to cigarette smok…
Morphological evidence of telocytes in human synovium
A relatively new type of cell, called a telocyte, has been found in many human tissues. This study was the first to look for and find these cells in the synovial membrane, which is the lining of our movable joints. Usin…
Mineralization can be an incidental ultrasonographic finding in equine tendons and ligaments
In this observational study on horses, researchers investigated the presence of mineralization, or calcium deposits, in tendons and ligaments using ultrasound. They found it was most common in the deep digital flexor te…
Biotensegrity and myofascial chains: A global approach to an integrated kinetic chain
This theoretical paper proposes a holistic way to understand human movement, contrasting it with the traditional approach of studying body parts in isolation. The authors suggest a model based on "biotensegrity," where…
Meaning of the Solid and Liquid Fascia to Reconsider the Model of Biotensegrity
This theoretical article proposes a reconsideration of the traditional biotensegrity model. The authors argue that fascia should be viewed as a system with both solid and liquid components, where blood and lymph constit…
Non-invasive Assessment of Lameness in Horses with Dorsal Spinous Process Impingement “Kissing spine”: A Case Study.
In this case study, researchers examined a horse with recurring lameness and "kissing spine" using three non-invasive techniques. Acoustic myography was used to assess muscle activity and locate the injury, while bioimp…
The myodural bridge in the common rock pigeon (Columbia livia): Morphology and possible physiological implications
In this anatomical study on pigeons, researchers investigated a connective tissue structure called the myodural bridge. Through dissections and tissue analysis of the suboccipital region where the skull meets the neck,…
The infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane: an anatomo-functional unit
This descriptive review summarizes evidence on the close relationship between the infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane in the knee. Anatomically, they are linked, as parts of the synovial membrane insert into…