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.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AwvV87ryOvdUlyj-PBPhiMGpiWQenN8T&authuser=camilla%40atlasbalans.com&usp=drive_fs
This dissection study on 44 horses investigated the deep myofascial kinetic lines, which are continuous chains of connective tissue and muscle. Researchers verified the existence of a Deep Ventral Line (DVL) in horses,…
Fasting-mimicking diet prevents high-fat diet effect on cardiometabolic risk and lifespan
This animal study on mice investigated how periodic cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) affect health when consuming a high-fat, high-calorie diet. Researchers found that five days of FMD every month reduced the ac…
The challenges of chronic pain and fatigue
In this review article, the authors explore the challenges of chronic pain and fatigue, two common and frequently overlapping symptoms. They discuss possible underlying biological associations, including connective tiss…
Time-Restricted Eating, Intermittent Fasting, and Fasting-Mimicking Diets in Weight Loss
This literature review examines the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE), intermittent fasting (IF), and fasting-mimicking diets (FMD) on weight loss. While these interventions are popular for their potential health…
Physical Agent Modalities in Early Osteoarthritis: A Scoping Review
This scoping review investigated the role of physical agent modalities in treating early osteoarthritis (EOA). Researchers searched for studies on treatments like TENS, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), ultrasoun…
Evidence for continuity of interstitial spaces across tissue and organ boundaries in humans
Researchers investigated whether the fluid-filled spaces within our connective tissues, known as the interstitium, are isolated within organs or form a continuous network throughout the body. By tracking particles like…
Estrogenic Effect of Salvia officinalis Extract on Reproductive Function of Female Mice and Identification of Its Phenolic Content
This animal study on mice investigated whether sage (Salvia officinalis) extract could serve as a natural alternative to estrogen replacement therapy. Researchers found that sage contains phytoestrogens, specifically qu…
Potential Nociceptive Role of the Thoracolumbar Fascia: A Scope Review Involving In Vivo and Ex Vivo Studies
This scoping review compiles research on how the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) in the lower back contributes to pain perception. By examining both animal and human studies, the authors find that the fascia is richly suppli…
Vitamins, the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal health in humans
This narrative review explores how various vitamins influence the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal health in humans. The research suggests that vitamins such as A, B, C, D, and E may increase the diversity of benefic…
The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review
This systematic review evaluated 15 randomized controlled trials on how collagen peptide supplementation interacts with exercise to affect joint health and recovery. The findings suggest that collagen may be most effect…
Neural Coding of Vibration Intensity
This study investigated how the brain processes different intensities of vibration using electroencephalography (EEG). Researchers applied no, low, or high-intensity vibration to participants' index fingers while measur…
Myofascial pain in females and personalized care: The key role played by sex hormones
Based on its title, this publication appears to explore the relationship between sex hormones and myofascial pain specifically in females. The authors suggest that hormonal factors play a key role in this type of pain.…
Fascia and Tensegrity The Quintessence of a Unified Systems Conception
This theoretical paper proposes a new way of viewing the human body, moving beyond the traditional mechanical model of parts and levers. The author suggests the body is better understood as a unified system based on ten…
Fascia Focused Manual Therapy Interventions-Proposed Treatment for Post-COVID Syndrome
This report proposes that fascia-focused manual therapies may be an appropriate treatment for patients with post-COVID syndrome. The author suggests that many of the long-term symptoms following COVID-19, such as soft t…
Low frequency weak electric fields can induce structural changes in water
This study investigated how weak, low-frequency electric fields affect the structure of different types of water, including "exclusion zone" (EZ) water. Researchers found that exposure to these fields, even without dire…
Effect of vibration therapy on physical function in critically ill adults (VTICIA trial): protocol for a single-blinded randomised controlled trial
This is a protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effect of vibration therapy for critically ill adults. The researchers plan to enroll 188 intensive care unit (ICU) patients and randomly…
Menopause, Ultraviolet Exposure, and Low Water Intake Potentially Interact with the Genetic Variants Related to Collagen Metabolism Involved in Skin Wrinkle Risk in Middle-Aged Women
This observational study of 128 middle-aged women examined how genetic variants related to collagen metabolism interact with lifestyle factors to influence wrinkle development. Researchers found that women with a high p…
Cannabinoids in the landscape of cancer
This narrative review explores how cannabinoids—including plant-derived, endogenous, and synthetic versions—interact with cancer in laboratory and animal models. The research suggests that these compounds may inhibit tu…
Menopause and the Skin: Old Favorites and New Innovations in Cosmeceuticals for Estrogen-Deficient Skin
This narrative review explores how the decline in estrogen levels during menopause significantly impacts skin health and structural integrity. The loss of estrogen leads to reduced collagen and elastin production, along…
Endocannabinoids and the Gut-Brain Control of Food Intake and Obesity
This narrative review explores how the endocannabinoid system in the upper gastrointestinal tract regulates gut-brain communication to control food intake and energy balance. Research suggests that these lipid-derived s…
Soft Tissue Manipulation May Attenuate Inflammation, Modulate Pain, and Improve Gait in Conscious Rodents With Induced Low Back Pain
This animal study on rodents explored how instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM) affects pain, gait, and inflammation in cases of low back pain. The researchers found that the treatment suggests an ability…
Gut microbiota composition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional immune responses in patients with COVID-19
Researchers investigated the link between the gut microbiome and the severity of COVID-19. In this cohort study, they analyzed stool and blood samples from 100 patients and compared them to individuals without COVID-19.…
Fascial thickness and stiffness in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Researchers investigated fascial changes in people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a condition often associated with widespread pain. They used ultrasound and elastography to compare fascial thickness an…
The Emerging Science of Interoception: Sensing, Integrating, Interpreting, and Regulating Signals within the Self
This review article presents a unified framework for interoception, the process by which the body senses, interprets, and regulates its internal signals. The authors propose an expanded definition that includes bidirect…
Variant connective tissue (joint hypermobility) and dysautonomia are associated with multimorbidity at the intersection between physical and psychological health
This study investigated the links between joint hypermobility, autonomic nervous system dysfunction (dysautonomia), and anxiety in adults with mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. Researchers found that this…
Altering Dynamics of Autonomic Processing Therapy (ADAPT) trial: a novel, targeted treatment for reducing anxiety in joint hypermobility
This paper describes the protocol for a clinical trial investigating a new therapy for anxiety in people with joint hypermobility. The proposed therapy, called ADAPT, combines bio-behavioral training with cognitive appr…
Connecting brain and body: Transdiagnostic relevance of connective tissue variants to neuropsychiatric symptom expression
This narrative review explores the growing evidence linking joint hypermobility, a common connective tissue variant, with a range of psychiatric conditions. The authors summarize the well-established connection to anxie…
Fascial Nomenclature: Update 2021, Part 1
This review article discusses the need for clear, scientifically grounded terminology for the fascial system. The authors, representing the FORCE organization, emphasize the importance of an impartial approach to fascia…
Beyond bones: The relevance of variants of connective tissue (hypermobility) to fibromyalgia, ME/CFS and controversies surrounding diagnostic classification: an observational study
This observational study investigated the link between hypermobility, fibromyalgia, and ME/CFS. Researchers found a significant overlap in symptoms between fibromyalgia and ME/CFS in the patient group. A large majority…
A Closer Look at the Cellular and Molecular Components of the Deep/Muscular Fasciae
This narrative review describes fascia as a complex and dynamic connective tissue network. This network is composed of different cell types, an extracellular matrix, and nerve fibers. Each component plays a specific rol…
Evidence of a new hidden neural network into deep fasciae
In this study on mice, researchers examined the nerve networks within two different types of deep fascia: the thoracolumbar fascia (in the lower back) and the gluteal fascia (around the buttock muscles). They found that…
Fascia Mobility, Proprioception, and Myofascial Pain
The body's fascial network is a crucial, yet often overlooked, component of the musculoskeletal system. Its ability to allow muscles and other tissues to slide past one another is essential for healthy movement and may…
Hyaluronan and the Fascial Frontier
This narrative review explores the role of hyaluronan (HA) in the body's fascial system. HA is a key component of the extracellular matrix, widely used in products from skin creams to joint injections for its ability to…
Fascial or Muscle Stretching? A Narrative Review
In this narrative review, the authors explore what actually happens in the body during stretching. While it's traditionally been assumed that stretching acts on muscles and tendons, this analysis of tissue mechanics sug…
Parameter-Dependency of Low-Intensity Vibration for Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice
In this animal study on diabetic mice, researchers investigated how different settings of low-intensity vibration affect wound healing. The mice were exposed to various combinations of vibration frequency and accelerati…
Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Piezo1 Activated by Matrix Stiffness Regulates Oxidative Stress-Induced Senescence and Apoptosis in Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
This study investigates how the mechanical environment of the intervertebral disc influences cellular health during disc degeneration. Researchers found that as the central part of the disc (nucleus pulposus) becomes st…
Reconnecting the Brain with the Rest of the Body in Musculoskeletal Pain Research
In this commentary, the author argues that musculoskeletal pain research is often siloed into separate specialties like neuroscience, physical therapy, orthopedics, and rheumatology. This separation creates gaps in know…
Nutrition Provides the Essential Foundation for Optimizing Mental Health
This review article explores the critical link between nutrition and mental health, written to guide psychologists in their clinical practice. The authors outline how a whole-foods diet supports brain function through v…
Psychological and biological resilience modulates the effects of stress on epigenetic aging
Chronic stress is linked to negative health outcomes, and this study explored its connection to accelerated biological aging. Researchers evaluated 444 adults, measuring their cumulative stress, biological age using an…
Cannabinoids in Breast Cancer: Differential Susceptibility According to Subtype
This narrative review explores how different subtypes of breast cancer respond to cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Research suggests that estrogen receptor-negative cells may be more susceptible to these compounds than ho…
Decoding the silent walk of COVID-19: Halting its spread using old bullets
This 2021 review article explores the strategy of using existing drugs to combat the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus. The authors describe how SARS-CoV-2 affects multiple organ systems, creating a significant therapeut…
Hyaluronic Acid in Postmenopause Vaginal Atrophy: A Systematic Review
This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid as a treatment for vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. By analyzing five primary studies, researchers found that hyaluronic acid appears to offe…
Vascular Stiffness in Aging and Disease
This narrative review examines how vascular stiffness, particularly in the aorta, increases with age and contributes to various cardiovascular diseases. Research suggests that stiffness often progresses more significant…
Therapeutic potential of astaxanthin and superoxide dismutase in Alzheimer's disease
This narrative review explores how the combination of astaxanthin and the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) may help protect the brain in Alzheimer's disease. Oxidative stress is a key factor in the disease's progressio…
Is "Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness" a False Friend? The Potential Implication of the Fascial Connective Tissue in Post-Exercise Discomfort
This narrative review explores the theory that delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) may originate in the connective tissue (fascia) rather than the muscle fibers themselves. While traditional explanations like lactic ac…
Temporomandibular Myofascial Pain Syndrome-Aetiology and Biopsychosocial Modulation. A Narrative Review
This case report examined the effectiveness of Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) in treating a 23-year-old woman with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and postural imbalances. By addressing muscle chains and spinal alig…
The Molecular Targets of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Cancer and Inflammation
This narrative review examines how cannabinoids influence inflammation and cancer by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system. The researchers describe how endogenous, plant-derived, and synthetic compounds ta…
The Effects of Cannabis on Female Reproductive Health Across the Life Course
This narrative review examines how cannabis affects female reproductive health throughout life, from fertility to menopause. While endocannabinoid receptors are present in the reproductive tract, human research remains…
Resveratrol Ameliorates Aortic Calcification in Ovariectomized Rats via SIRT1 Signaling
This animal study on rats investigated how the phytoestrogen resveratrol affects aortic calcification following menopause. Researchers found that resveratrol, similar to estrogen, reduced calcium deposition in arterial…
Intermittent and periodic fasting, longevity and disease
This narrative review explores how intermittent fasting (IF) and periodic fasting (PF) may influence longevity and healthspan by acting on cellular aging processes. The authors describe how fasting periods ranging from…
Fasting-mimicking diet blocks triple-negative breast cancer and cancer stem cell escape
This study investigates how a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) affects triple-negative breast cancer and its stem cells. Researchers found that FMD lowers blood glucose and inhibits growth signaling in cancer stem cells, wh…
The multiple effects of fecal microbiota transplantation on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) patients with anxiety and depression behaviors
This study investigated the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) who also experience anxiety and depression. The results suggest that FMT may alleviate both…
Cell-to-Cell Communication by Host-Released Extracellular Vesicles in the Gut: Implications in Health and Disease
This narrative review explores how small sacs called extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as messengers between cells in the gastrointestinal tract. These vesicles transport proteins, lipids, and genetic material that influ…
Changes in fecal short-chain fatty acids following fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
This clinical study investigated how fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) affects short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Researchers found that levels of butyric acid increase…
Direct impact of commonly used dietary emulsifiers on human gut microbiota
This laboratory study examined how 20 common dietary emulsifiers affect human gut microbiota using an ex vivo model. The researchers found that several additives, particularly carrageenans and various gums, altered bact…
Prevalence and risk factors for menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women: a community-based cross-sectional study
This community-based cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of menopausal symptoms among over 6,000 middle-aged Chinese women. The findings indicate that symptoms are most prevalent during the menopausal transiti…
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid markedly alleviates liver fibrosis and inflammation in mice
This study investigated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9-THCA), the non-psychoactive precursor to THC, for its effects on liver fibrosis and inflammation in mice and cell cultures. The researchers found that Δ9-THCA r…
A Systematic Review of Fibromyalgia and Recent Advancements in Treatment: Is Medicinal Cannabis a New Hope?
This systematic review explores the use of medicinal cannabis as a treatment for fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The researchers explain that fibromya…
Implementation Science Methodologies for Complementary and Integrative Health Research
This narrative review from the NCCIH describes the importance of implementation science in bridging the gap between clinical research and real-world medical practice. Even when therapies like acupuncture or yoga are sho…
Dynamic changes of intestinal flora in patients with irritable bowel syndrome combined with anxiety and depression after oral administration of enterobacteria capsules
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) via oral capsules on patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) and comorbid anxiety and depression. The findings s…