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.
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…
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…
Fascia—Current knowledge and future directions in physiatry: Narrative review
In this 2014 narrative review, the authors discuss fascia from the perspective of physiatry, or rehabilitation medicine. They note that while fascia is part of the body's connective tissue, its definition is unclear in…
Hyaluronan: Biosynthesis and signaling
This 2014 narrative review discusses hyaluronan (HA), a key component of the extracellular matrix. Beyond its structural role in tissue hydration and architecture, HA is an active signaling molecule. The authors highlig…
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…
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…
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…
Crosstalk between fibroblasts and inflammatory cells
This narrative review describes how fibroblasts, traditionally seen as passive cells that produce extracellular matrix, are increasingly understood as active key players in the immune system. The authors provide an over…
Identification and signature profiles for pro-resolving and inflammatory lipid mediators in human tissue
Researchers developed a method to identify and measure specific molecules in human blood and lymphoid tissues called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). These molecules are known to actively help resolve inflamm…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Hyaluronic acid production and molecular weight improvement by redirection of carbon flux towards its biosynthesis pathway
Researchers investigated how to optimize the production of hyaluronic acid (HA) in bacteria. In the bacterium *Streptococcus zooepidemicus*, HA production competes for the same nutrients as other processes like cell gro…
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…
The resolution of inflammation
This article summarizes a discussion from a scientific conference on how to turn off undesirable inflammation. There is a growing appreciation that the resolution of inflammation, much like its initiation, is an active…
Vitamin C further improves the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 on acute hypoglycemia-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in type 1 diabetes
Acute low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in people with type 1 diabetes can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to the lining of blood vessels. This study investigated whether the hormone GLP-1 and vitamin C co…
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…
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…
Cytoskeletal remodeling of connective tissue fibroblasts in response to static stretch is dependent on matrix material properties
This study investigated how fibroblasts, the cells within connective tissue, change shape in response to static stretching. Researchers compared fibroblasts in loose (areolar) and dense connective tissues, as well as ce…
Stress and Matrix-Responsive Cytoskeletal Remodeling in Fibroblasts
In loose connective tissue, fibroblasts change shape in response to static stretch, which helps the tissue relax. This study investigated whether this response depends on the cell itself or its surrounding environment,…
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…
Vitamin C Is an Essential Factor on the Anti-viral Immune Responses through the Production of Interferon-α/β at the Initial Stage of Influenza A Virus (H3N2) Infection
This animal study investigated how vitamin C affects the immune response to influenza A virus (H3N2). Researchers used mice that, like humans, cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. When these mice were made vitamin C-d…
Local vitamin-C Injection Reduced Tendon Adhesion in a Chicken Model of Flexor Digitorum Profundus Tendon Injury
This animal study investigated whether vitamin C could reduce scar tissue formation after a tendon injury. Researchers injured a flexor tendon in chickens and then injected either vitamin C or a saline solution at the s…
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…
Fascial Components of the Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) involves muscle pain and other symptoms linked to trigger points, but the role of fascia is often overlooked. This review summarizes recent research into the biology of fascia to better un…
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…
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…
Vitamin C intake, circulating vitamin C and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis of prospective studies
This meta-analysis combined data from multiple prospective studies to investigate the link between vitamin C and stroke risk. The researchers found that people with higher dietary intake of vitamin C had a lower risk of…
Understanding mechanotransduction and biotensegrity from an adaptation perspective
This article, for which only the title is available, appears to be a conceptual exploration of mechanotransduction and biotensegrity. Mechanotransduction is the process by which cells sense and respond to mechanical for…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
What Lies Beneath: Sub-Articular Long Bone Shape Scaling in Eutherian Mammals and Saurischian Dinosaurs Suggests Different Locomotor Adaptations for Gigantism
This study explored why giant dinosaurs were more common than giant mammals by examining their joint structures. Researchers compared the long bones of large mammals like elephants and rhinos with those of saurischian d…
Of Mice, Men and Elephants: The Relation between Articular Cartilage Thickness and Body Mass
This study investigated how articular cartilage adapts to body size across different mammals. Researchers analyzed cartilage from the knee joints of 58 species, ranging from mice to elephants. They found that while cart…
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…
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…
The myofibroblast matrix: implications for tissue repair and fibrosis
This review explores the role of myofibroblasts and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissue repair and fibrosis. The ECM is not just a passive scaffold for cells, but an active tissue with its own bioactive properties.…
Reduced adipose tissue lymphatic drainage of macromolecules in obese subjects: a possible link between obesity and local tissue inflammation?
Researchers compared lymphatic drainage from abdominal fat tissue in lean and obese men. They measured drainage before and after the men consumed a glucose drink, which mimics the body's response to a meal. In lean men,…
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…
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…
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…
CCN2: a mechanosignaling sensor modulating integrin-dependent connective tissue remodeling in fibroblasts?
Mechanical tension is essential for the function and health of connective tissue. In skin fibroblasts, the protein integrin β1 plays a key role in adhesion and in regulating healing and fibrosis (scarring). This theoret…
Cranial nerves XIII and XIV: nerves in the shadows
This narrative review discusses two often-overlooked cranial nerves: the terminal nerve (XIII) and the intermediate nerve (XIV). The authors note that while these nerves have been known for over a century, they are freq…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
R-Spondin 1 promotes vibration-induced bone formation in mouse models of osteoporosis
This animal study on mice investigated how mechanical signals, like vibration, can stimulate bone growth. Researchers identified proteins secreted by mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) in response to vibration. They fo…
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…
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…
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…
History of Bioelectrical Study and the Electrophysiology of the Primo Vascular System
This review paper summarizes the history of research on the bioelectrical properties of the primo vascular system (PVS), also known as the Bonghan system. This system has been proposed as a novel circulatory system in t…
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…