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.
Sensitivity of the Fasciae to the Endocannabinoid System: Production of Hyaluronan-Rich Vesicles and Potential Peripheral Effects of Cannabinoids in Fascial Tissue
This laboratory study investigated how fascial cells respond to cannabinoids. Researchers isolated fibroblast cells from human fascia lata and treated them with a substance that activates cannabinoid receptor 2. The tre…
Ultrasound imaging of a scar on the knee: Sonopalpation for fascia and subcutaneous tissues
Persistent pain from surgical or trauma-related scars is a common and sometimes debilitating problem. In this article, the authors describe the use of ultrasound imaging to provide an objective diagnosis for debilitatin…
Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths
In this 2020 review article, the authors examine evidence that vitamin D could reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections, including influenza and COVID-19. They propose that vitamin D works through several mechani…
Evaluation of scapular mobilization and comparison to pectoralis minor stretching in individuals with rounded shoulder posture: A randomized controlled trial
This randomized controlled trial investigated treatments for rounded shoulder posture in 52 healthy students. Researchers compared the effects of scapular mobilization, pectoralis minor self-stretching, and a combinatio…
Mechanical stimulation of human dermal fibroblasts regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines: potential insight into soft tissue manual therapies
This lab study investigated how mechanical forces, similar to those in manual therapy, affect human skin cells. Researchers first applied a repetitive strain to cultured dermal fibroblasts to simulate an overuse injury,…
Recent advances in the anti-aging effects of phytoestrogens on collagen, water content, and oxidative stress
This narrative review examines how phytoestrogens, plant-derived compounds that mimic human estrogen, may influence skin aging processes. Research suggests these molecules can help counteract the decline in collagen and…
Virtual reality in the rehabilitation process for individuals with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome: A systematic review
This systematic review compiled research on virtual reality (VR) as a rehabilitation tool for children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Researchers analyzed five high-quality studies and found that VR training, bo…
Ultrasound Imaging of the Fascial Layers
This publication, for which a full summary is not yet available, appears to discuss using ultrasound to visualize the body's fascial layers. Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive technique that provides real-time views o…
Effect of breakfast on weight and energy intake: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether regular breakfast consumption affects body weight and energy intake in adults from high-income countries. The findings suggest that individuals who skipped break…
Active Contractile Properties of Fascia
This narrative review explores how fascia, often seen as a passive tissue, can actively contract. Researchers point to the presence of cells called myofibroblasts within the fascia, which give it the ability to change i…
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…
Fascial neuromodulation: an emerging concept linking acupuncture, fasciology, osteopathy and neuroscience
This conceptual paper presents a model called "fascial neuromodulation" to explain how therapies like acupuncture might work. The author suggests that mechanical signals through the fascial network can influence the ner…
Daily oral dosing of vitamin D3 using 5000 TO 50,000 international units a day in long-term hospitalized patients: Insights from a seven year experience
This observational study followed long-term hospitalized patients over seven years to evaluate the safety of high daily doses of vitamin D3. Patients received supplements ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 international units…
Hyaluronan/collagen hydrogels containing sulfated hyaluronan improve wound healing by sustained release of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor
This study investigated a new type of hydrogel designed to improve wound healing. Researchers combined collagen and hyaluronan (HA), a natural component of connective tissue, with a growth factor that stimulates skin ce…
Tentorium Cerebelli: the Bridge Between the Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Part 2
This article, the second in a series, describes the tentorium cerebelli—a meningeal structure related to the skull, nervous system, and cervical spine. The authors discuss its complex relationships, including its neurol…
The fascial breath
This narrative review proposes a new way of understanding the diaphragm muscle, moving beyond a purely mechanical view. The authors argue that the diaphragm is not just covered by fascia but is fundamentally a fascial t…
Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations After the Ingestion of Dairy and Collagen Proteins, in Healthy Active Males
This study investigated how blood amino acid levels changed in healthy, active men after they consumed either collagen or dairy proteins. Researchers found that the different protein sources led to distinct amino acid p…
The Endocannabinoid/Endovanilloid System in Bone: From Osteoporosis to Osteosarcoma
Bone is a dynamic tissue, whose homeostasis is maintained by a fine balance between osteoclast (OC) and osteoblast (OB) activity. The endocannabinoid/endovanilloid (EC/EV) system's receptors are the cannabinoid receptor…
New Insights of Uterine Leiomyoma Pathogenesis: Endocannabinoid System
This study investigated the role of the endocannabinoid system in the development of uterine leiomyomas, commonly known as fibroids. Researchers analyzed tissue samples and found that the expression of specific receptor…
Development of a biotensegrity focused therapy for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse: A retrospective case series
This retrospective case series explores a new biotensegrity-focused therapy for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Challenging the common view that POP is caused by weak tissue, this approach hypothesizes that the condition i…
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…
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…
Modeling and simulation of musculoskeletal system of human lower limb based on tensegrity structure
Researchers created a computer model of the human lower limb's musculoskeletal system using tensegrity principles, which balance tension and compression. Using an established muscle model (the Hill model), they simulate…
Photo-crosslinked gelatin-hyaluronic acid methacrylate hydrogel-committed nucleus pulposus-like differentiation of adipose stromal cells for intervertebral disc repair
This animal study on rats investigated a new strategy for repairing degenerated intervertebral discs using stem cells. Researchers combined adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) with a special light-activated hydrogel ma…
The Other Side of the Fascia: Visceral Fascia, Part 2
This editorial, part two of a series, argues for including certain internal organs (viscera) within the definition of fascia. From an osteopathic perspective, the authors suggest that understanding these organs as fasci…
Characterization of bony changes localized to the cervical articular processes in a mixed population of horses
This observational cross-sectional study characterized bony changes in the cervical articular processes of 55 horses without primary complaints of neck pain. The researchers found that 72% of the examined joints exhibit…
The Stomach’s Communication with Its Related Acupoints, and the “Intelligent Tissue” Hypothesis
This study explores the "intelligent tissue" hypothesis, which suggests that an organ's functional state is reflected in real-time at specific acupuncture points. By monitoring electrical impedance at six stomach-relate…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Is It All About the Fascia? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Prevalence of Extramuscular Connective Tissue Lesions in Muscle Strain Injury
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined how often connective tissue is damaged in athletic muscle strains. Researchers analyzed 16 imaging studies and found that lesions to the fascia and tendons are highly pr…
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…
The Awareness of the Fascial System
In this theoretical article, the authors propose a new way of looking at the fascial system, drawing on concepts from quantum physics. They suggest that fascial cells can sense, remember, and even anticipate mechanical…
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…
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,…
Adhesive capsulitis: review of imaging findings, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment options
This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as "frozen shoulder." This debilitating condition, characterized by progressive pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint,…
Fascial Nomenclature: Update on Related Consensus Process
The term "fascia" is increasingly used across different health-oriented fields, but often inconsistently, which causes confusion. To address this, the Fascia Research Society established a Fascia Nomenclature Committee.…
Distinct fibroblast subsets drive inflammation and damage in arthritis
This study in mice investigated the role of fibroblasts, a type of connective tissue cell, in arthritis. Researchers identified two distinct subsets of fibroblasts with different functions. One type, located in the syno…
Role of fasciae around the median nerve in pathogenesis of carpal tunnel syndrome: microscopic and ultrasound study
This study investigated the connection between the median nerve and its surrounding fascia in carpal tunnel syndrome. Using microscopic analysis of tissue samples and ultrasound imaging of both healthy subjects and pati…
Stress Relaxation and Targeted Nutrition to Treat Patellar Tendinopathy
This case study outlines the rehabilitation of a professional basketball player with patellar tendinopathy. The athlete undertook a program combining gelatin ingestion with heavy isometric loading of the patellar tendon…
A History of Fascia
This historiographic review surveys how the anatomical term "fascia" has been portrayed throughout history. The authors found that its meaning has varied considerably during the 400 years the term has been used in Engli…
Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Pelvic Fascia
This anatomical review describes the pelvis not as a rigid, static base, but as a dynamic structure. Applying a biotensegrity model, the authors explain how the pelvic bones are suspended within a complex web of tension…
Cell Biology: Function Guides Form of Auditory Sensory Cells
This study describes how the sensory cells in our ears get their specific shape. These cells have bundles of tiny hair-like structures called stereocilia, arranged like a staircase in rows of decreasing height. The proc…
Fascial Entrapment Neuropathy
This narrative review explores how fascia can contribute to nerve entrapment syndromes, which cause pain, sensory abnormalities, and weakness. The authors describe how nerves are surrounded by a microenvironment of conn…
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…
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…
Effects of season long participation on ACL volume in female intercollegiate soccer athletes
This study investigated how a competitive season affects the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in female collegiate soccer players. Researchers used MRI scans to measure ACL volume in 17 athletes before and after their s…
The Other Side of the Fascia: The SmoothMuscle Part 1
This theoretical article challenges the standard definition of fascia. Traditionally, fascia is considered connective tissue originating from two embryonic layers, the mesoderm and ectoderm. The authors propose expandin…
The Fascial Connections of the Pectineal Ligament
This anatomical study investigated the detailed fascial connections of the pectineal ligament using dissection and analysis of ten human specimens. Researchers found the ligament acts as a connective tissue junction bet…
Role of a natural integrator based on lipoic acid, palmitoiletanolamide and myrrh in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis
This study investigated a nutritional supplement for endometriosis-related pain. Sixty women with ovarian endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain took a supplement containing alpha-lipoic acid, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)…
Vitamin C administration in the critically ill: a summary of recent meta-analyses
This 2019 publication is a summary of recent meta-analyses on the topic of vitamin C administration for critically ill patients. As the full text has not yet been reviewed, a detailed summary of its findings is not avai…
Evaluation of hyaluronan content in areas of densification compared to adjacent areas of fascia
This entry is currently a title only, so a full summary is not available. Based on the title, the researchers appear to have evaluated and compared the hyaluronan content in areas of fascial densification with the conte…
High Cortisol and the Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of the Literature
This literature review examines the relationship between the stress hormone cortisol and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The research suggests that chronically elevated cortisol levels may have deleterious…
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…
High-dose vitamin C suppresses the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells via inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition
This study on breast cancer cells in the lab and in mice explored how different doses of vitamin C affect cancer cell behavior. Researchers found that low and medium doses of vitamin C seemed to encourage cancer cells t…
Hyaluronan: molecular size-dependent signaling and biological functions in inflammation and cancer
This narrative review explores how hyaluronan (HA), a key component of the extracellular matrix, functions differently depending on its molecular size. Large, high-molecular weight HA has different biological properties…
Extracellular matrix composition of connective tissues: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis compiled data to quantify the protein composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in various human connective tissues. Researchers analyzed data from studies on bone, adipose t…
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…