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.
Skin, fascias, and scars: symptoms and systemic connections
This review article explores how skin, fascia, and scars are interconnected and can affect the entire body. The authors describe the skin as an organ that communicates with the nervous system and other structures. When…
Chiropractic Management of Pubic Symphysis Shear Dysfunction in a Patient With Overactive Bladder
This case report describes the chiropractic care of a 24-year-old woman with an overactive bladder, specifically frequent nighttime urination that disrupted her sleep. A physical examination revealed a shear dysfunction…
A decorin-deficient matrix affects skin chondroitin/dermatan sulfate levels and keratinocyte function
This study in mice investigated how the absence of a proteoglycan called decorin affects skin structure and function. Researchers found that mice lacking decorin had an altered composition of other sugar molecules (chon…
Vitamin C in the Treatment and/or Prevention of Obesity
In this 2014 narrative review, the authors examine the relationship between vitamin C and obesity. Obesity is often linked to oxidative stress, which can lead to other health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular dise…
The cervical myodural bridge, a review of literature and clinical implications
This literature review examines the cervical myodural bridge, a soft tissue connection between deep suboccipital muscles and the dura mater surrounding the spinal cord. This bridge appears to anchor the spinal cord and…
Primary frozen shoulder: brief review of pathology and imaging abnormalities
This narrative review examines the underlying pathology of primary frozen shoulder, a condition causing spontaneous pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. The authors summarize evidence indicating that the main issue…
Fat Connected with the Primo Vascular System
This research entry is currently available as a title only, so a detailed summary is not yet possible. The title, "Fat Connected with the Primo Vascular System," suggests an investigation into the relationship between a…
Hyaluronan Synthase 2 Protects Skin Fibroblasts against Apoptosis Induced by Environmental Stress
Skin fibroblasts need to manage environmental stress, such as UV radiation. This study on mouse cells investigated how hyaluronan (HA) and the enzymes that produce it help fibroblasts survive. Researchers found that cel…
Mechanotransduction and extracellular matrix homeostasis
Connective tissues are dynamic, constantly adapting even at rest. Cells within these tissues continually sense mechanical cues from their environment through a process called mechanotransduction. In response, they maint…
Treatment of Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome according to the Fascial Distortion Model: A Prospective Case Control Study
This prospective case-control study investigated the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) for treating medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), or shin splints. Researchers applied targeted manual techniques to the lower leg fas…
Clinical Relevance of Fascial Tissue and Dysfunctions
Fascia is a continuous network of connective tissue that supports the entire body. Traditionally seen as a passive structure, recent research shows it plays a more active role. Fascia contains contractile elements that…
Antioxidants in health and disease
This narrative review summarizes research on antioxidants published since 2010. The main role of antioxidants is to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are linked to conditions like cardiovascular disease, c…
Lumbopelvic muscle activation patterns in three stances under graded loading conditions: Proposing a tensegrity model for load transfer through the sacroiliac joints
Researchers investigated how lumbopelvic muscles activate to stabilize the sacroiliac (SI) joints under different loads. They compared muscle activity in 30 men during two-legged and one-legged standing while holding we…
Definition of the To Be Named Ligament and Vertebrodural Ligament and Their Possible Effects on the Circulation of CSF
In this cadaver study, researchers investigated connective tissue structures in the upper neck of 30 human specimens. They identified two specific ligaments, the 'to be named ligament' (TBNL) and the vertebrodural ligam…
Specific Sizes of Hyaluronan Oligosaccharides Stimulate Fibroblast Migration and Excisional Wound Repair
Hyaluronan (HA) is a molecule important for wound healing, and its effects appear to depend on its size. In this study using cell cultures and animal models, researchers investigated how specific, small fragments of HA…
The effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent sports injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 25 studies to evaluate which types of exercise best prevent sports injuries. The analysis included over 26,000 participants and data on more than 3,400 injuries. Researc…
Contractile elements in muscular fascial tissue – implications for in-vitro contracture testing for malignant hyperthermia
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but serious reaction to general anesthesia, diagnosed using a test on a skeletal muscle biopsy. Since muscle samples also contain fascia, which has contractile cells called myofibro…
Uptake and intracytoplasmic storage of pigmented particles by human CD34+ stromal cells/telocytes: endocytic property of telocytes
Researchers investigated whether a specific type of connective tissue cell, called a telocyte, could absorb foreign particles. They examined human colon tissue that had been injected with India ink as a surgical marker.…
Ultrasound Elastography: The New Frontier in Direct Measurement of Muscle Stiffness
This 2014 review article describes ultrasound elastography, a technology that can directly measure the mechanical properties of tissue, such as muscle stiffness. The authors suggest that its real-time measurements can a…
Biotensegrity of the extracellular matrix: physiology, dynamic mechanical balance, and implications in oncology and mechanotherapy
This 2014 review article explores the concept of biotensegrity, a principle where cells and tissues maintain structural integrity through a balance of tension and compression. This dynamic mechanical balance involves th…
Whey protein hydrolysate augments tendon and muscle hypertrophy independent of resistance exercise contraction mode
This study investigated the effects of resistance training combined with either whey protein or a placebo on muscle and tendon growth. Twenty-two participants performed 12 weeks of knee extension training, using eccentr…
Sensory findings after stimulation of the thoracolumbar fascia with hypertonic saline suggest its contribution to low back pain
This experimental study investigated the role of the thoracolumbar fascia as a potential source of low back pain. Researchers injected a pain-inducing saline solution into the fascia, back muscles, and subcutaneous tiss…
Purine receptor mediated actin cytoskeleton remodeling of human fibroblasts
This laboratory study investigated how certain molecules, called purines, affect human fibroblast cells. Previous research has shown that acupuncture can trigger the release of purines like ATP. The researchers exposed…
Complete Obstetric Anal Sphincter Tear and Risk of Long-term Fecal Incontinence: A Cohort Study
This cohort study followed women for over 20 years to assess the long-term effects of complete anal sphincter tears during childbirth. Researchers compared 125 women who experienced such a tear with 238 women who gave b…
Cellulite's aetiology: a review
In this literature review, researchers examined the underlying causes of cellulite. They found that cellulite is a complex phenomenon with many interacting factors, rather than a single cause. The research points to wom…
Metabolic control of hyaluronan synthases
This narrative review explores how a cell's energy and nutritional status regulate the production of hyaluronan (HA), a key component of the extracellular matrix. HA is synthesized by enzymes called HAS, which require s…
Primo Vascular System: Past, Present, and Future
As only the title of this article was available, this summary is necessarily limited. The title, "Primo Vascular System: Past, Present, and Future," suggests this is a review article. It likely covers the history of the…
Training principles for fascial connective tissues: Scientific foundation and suggested practical applications
Conventional sports training often emphasizes muscles, cardiovascular conditioning, and coordination, yet most overload injuries occur within the body's connective tissue network, or fascia. This review article proposes…
Hyaluronan: A Simple Polysaccharide with Diverse Biological Functions
This review paper describes hyaluronan (HA), a simple sugar molecule found abundantly throughout the body's connective tissues. Despite its simple structure, HA has a surprising array of biological functions. It helps o…
Direct magnetic resonance (MR) shoulder arthrography: posterior approach under ultrasonographic guidance and abduction (PAUGA
This study evaluated a specific technique, called PAUGA, for injecting contrast dye into the shoulder joint before an MRI scan (MR arthrography). Researchers used ultrasound to guide a needle from the back of the should…
Human skeletal muscle ascorbate is highly responsive to changes in vitamin C intake and plasma concentrations
This study investigated how vitamin C intake affects its concentration in human skeletal muscle. Researchers gave 36 men either half a kiwifruit or two kiwifruits daily for six weeks, as kiwifruit is a rich source of vi…
Histological analysis of the rectus capitis posterior major’s myodural bridge
This cadaver study investigated a small tissue bridge between a suboccipital muscle (rectus capitis posterior major) and the dura mater, the protective covering of the spinal cord. Using microscopic analysis on tissue f…
Fascia Research Congress Evidence from the 100 year perspective of Andrew Taylor Still
This review paper examines research from the first three International Fascia Research Congresses through the perspective of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathic medicine. Over a century ago, Still described…
Anatomic connections of the diaphragm: influence of respiration on the body system
This review article explains why the diaphragm muscle is a critical crossroads of information for the entire body. The authors describe its extensive anatomical, fascial, and neurological connections, which link it to s…
Heparan sulfate in the nucleus and its control of cellular functions
This narrative review discusses the roles of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) inside the cell nucleus. These molecules are typically found on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix, where they help regula…
Nociception originating from the crural fascia in rats
This animal study investigated how the crural fascia, the connective tissue around the lower leg muscles, might be a source of pain signals in rats. Researchers found that this fascia is densely populated with nerve fib…
Plantar fascia anatomy and its relationship with Achilles tendon and paratenon
This study investigated the detailed anatomy of the plantar fascia and its connection to the Achilles tendon. Dissections of human cadavers revealed that the fascia is more closely linked to the paratenon (the tendon's…
A Randomized Steady-State Bioavailability Study of Synthetic versus Natural (Kiwifruit-Derived) Vitamin C
This randomized study investigated whether the body absorbs vitamin C from kiwifruit as effectively as from a synthetic supplement. Thirty-six young men received either half a kiwifruit or an equivalent dose (50 mg) vit…
A pilot study of myofascial release therapy compared to Swedish massage in Fibromyalgia
This small pilot study compared the effects of myofascial release (MFR) and Swedish massage on women with fibromyalgia. Participants received either MFR or Swedish massage for 90 minutes weekly over four weeks. While bo…
The Primo Vascular System as a New Anatomical System
This review paper proposes the existence of a "primo vascular system" (PVS) as the physical, anatomical basis for the meridian system of traditional Eastern medicine. According to the authors, this previously unknown sy…
Cellular Control of Connective Tissue Matrix Tension
This review article explores how fibroblasts, the cells within connective tissue, actively help regulate tissue tension. Traditionally, the mechanical properties of connective tissue have been attributed to its passive…
Visceral and Somatic Disorders: Tissue Softening with Frequency-Specific Microcurrent
This review article explores a technique called Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM), which uses microampere-level electrical currents to treat various health conditions. A consistent finding is a rapid and palpable so…
Telocytes: ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and electrophysiological characteristics in human myometrium
This study identifies a specific cell type, telocytes, within the muscular wall of both the pregnant and non-pregnant human uterus. Researchers found that these cells have a different structure depending on whether the…
Histological examination of the human obliquus capitis inferior myodural bridge
This cadaver study examined the connection between a deep neck muscle, the obliquus capitis inferior (OCI), and the dura mater, the tough outer layer covering the spinal cord. Researchers dissected tissue from eight cad…
Dosed Myofascial Release in Three-Dimensional Bioengineered Tendons: Effects on Human Fibroblast Hyperplasia, Hypertrophy, and Cytokine Secretion
This laboratory study investigated how different amounts and durations of simulated myofascial release (MFR) affect lab-grown human tendon tissue. Researchers applied varying degrees of stretch for different lengths of…
Applications and Emerging Trends of Hyaluronic Acid in Tissue Engineering, as a Dermal Filler, and in Osteoarthritis Treatment
This narrative review summarizes knowledge about hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring polymer found in the body's connective tissues and fluids. The authors describe how HA contributes to the structural propertie…
Helical Structure of the Cardiac Ventricular Anatomy Assessed by Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Multiresolution Tractography
In this animal study, researchers used advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer modeling to visualize the complex fiber structure of the heart muscle in dogs. They developed an automated method to trace th…
Earthing (Grounding) the Human Body Reduces Blood Viscosity—a Major Factor in Cardiovascular Disease
This small study investigated how direct physical contact with the earth, known as 'grounding' or 'earthing', affects blood properties. Ten healthy participants were grounded for two hours using conductive patches on th…
Molecular assembly and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix: A fibrous protein perspective
This review article examines the extracellular matrix (ECM), the dynamic network of molecules surrounding our cells. The authors focus on fibrous proteins like collagen and elastin, which form the structural backbone of…
Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage
This study investigated how massage therapy affects skeletal muscle at a cellular level after exercise-induced damage. Researchers took muscle biopsies from 11 young men after an intense workout; one leg received 10 min…
CTGF is a central mediator of tissue remodeling and fibrosis and its inhibition can reverse the process of fibrosis
Fibrosis is a process of excessive connective tissue formation, leading to scarring and stiffness in organs. A protein called Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) plays a central role in driving this process. This res…
A RHAMM Mimetic Peptide Blocks Hyaluronan Signaling and Reduces Inflammation and Fibrogenesis in Excisional Skin Wounds
In this animal study, researchers investigated how to reduce scarring during skin wound healing. They developed a peptide, P15-1, designed to interfere with signals from fragmented hyaluronan, a molecule involved in inf…
Hyaluronic acid, A key molecule in skin aging
This review article discusses the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) in skin aging. The authors explain that youthful skin's plumpness and resilience are largely due to its high water content, which HA is uniquely able to ret…
A theoretical framework for the role of fascia in manual therapy
This theoretical paper explores why different types of manual therapy, such as soft tissue work and joint manipulation, often seem to produce similar results. The authors compare these approaches based on their effects…
Human myometrium – the ultrastructural 3D network of telocytes
This study examined a relatively new type of cell, the telocyte, within the human myometrium, the muscular layer of the uterus. Using advanced microscopy, researchers visualized these cells and their very long extension…
Mechanical properties of human patellar tendon at the hierarchical levels of tendon and fibril
Researchers investigated how the mechanical properties of the whole human patellar tendon compare to its individual collagen fibrils. They tested whole tendons in living subjects and then tested isolated fibrils from th…
Strain hardening of fascia: Static stretching of dense fibrous connective tissues can induce a temporary stiffness increase accompanied by enhanced matrix hydration
This study investigated why fascia sometimes gets stiffer after being stretched and then rested, a phenomenon called strain hardening. Researchers stretched fascia samples from mice and pigs, finding that after a 15-min…
Mathematical model of fiber orientation in anisotropic fascia layers at large displacements
Researchers developed a mathematical model to better understand how collagen fibers within fascia change their orientation when the tissue is stretched. The model suggests that fibers already angled away from the direct…
An MRI Study of Symptomatic Adhesive Capsulitis
This study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the shoulders of 60 patients with clinically diagnosed adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) to 60 healthy control subjects. Researchers found significant diff…
The thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations
This overview paper examines the anatomy and function of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF), the complex sheet of connective tissue in the lower back. The authors describe its multiple layers, which separate and connect the…