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.
Role of the immune system in vascular function and blood pressure control induced by faecal microbiota transplantation in rats
This animal study investigated the link between gut bacteria, the immune system, and blood pressure in rats. Researchers transplanted gut microbiota between spontaneously hypertensive rats and rats with normal blood pre…
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…
A prophylactic effect of local vibration on quadriceps muscle fatigue in non-athletic males: a randomized controlled trial study
This randomized controlled trial investigated whether local vibration could prevent muscle fatigue. Thirty healthy, non-athletic young men were divided into two groups: one received two minutes of vibration on their qua…
A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study
This randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of a drinkable nutraceutical containing 2.5g of collagen peptides, vitamins, and minerals on skin health in women aged 35 and older. Over twelve weeks,…
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…
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…
Fascial organisation of motor synergies: a hypothesis
This hypothesis paper explores how fascia helps organize movement through what are known as motor synergies. It suggests that instead of the brain controlling every muscle individually, the fascial system acts as a phys…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Dermatome and Fasciatome
This theoretical paper proposes a new distinction between the body's sensory maps, based on increased knowledge of fascial innervation. The authors define a "dermatome" as the area of skin and superficial fascia supplie…
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…
Active interfacial dynamic transport of fluid in a network of fibrous connective tissues throughout the whole body
Interstitial fluid, the fluid in the spaces between our cells, has long been thought to move only over short distances. This study proposes a different view, suggesting that a network of fibrous connective tissues acts…
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…
A comparative multi-site and whole-body assessment of fascia in the horse and dog: a detailed histological investigation
This animal study compared the microscopic structure of fascia in horses and dogs across multiple body regions. Researchers found that horse fascia is generally tight and dense, while dog fascia is looser and more simil…
Role of fasciae in nonspecific low back pain
Research increasingly links the thoracolumbar fascia to non-specific low back pain. This small case study explored the idea that pain could originate elsewhere in the body's continuous fascial network. Five patients wit…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Collagen changes in pelvic support tissues in women with pelvic organ prolapse
This narrative review summarizes research on how changes in collagen are linked to pelvic organ prolapse in women. Collagen is a critical component of the pelvic floor, providing essential supportive functions. Studies…
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…
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…
Sensitivity of the fasciae to sex hormone levels: Modulation of collagen-I, collagen-III and fibrillin production
Women experience myofascial pain more often than men, and evidence suggests fascia can be influenced by sex hormones. In this lab study, researchers examined how cells from human fascia lata responded to various levels…
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…
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…
Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum for the Treatment of Edematous Fibrosclerotic Panniculopathy (Cellulite): A Randomized Trial
This randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of an enzyme injection, collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH), for treating cellulite. Researchers treated 375 women with moderate to severe…
Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials
This meta-analysis of five randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluated the impact of oral collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms. The findings suggest that collagen may help reduce the overall disea…
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)…
Tentorium Cerebelli: Muscles, Ligaments, and Dura Mater, Part 1
In this narrative review, the authors describe the anatomy of the tentorium cerebelli, part of the reciprocal tension membranes that divide areas of the brain. They highlight its connections to the dura mater, ligaments…
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…
Induced lumbosacral radicular symptom referral patterns: a descriptive study
This observational study investigated actual pain patterns caused by irritating specific nerve roots in the lower back. Clinicians often use standard 'dermatome' maps to diagnose the source of radiating leg pain, but pa…
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…
An extravascular fluid transport system based on structural framework of fibrous connective tissues in human body
Researchers investigated a potential fluid transport system within the body's fibrous connective tissues, separate from blood and lymphatic vessels. Using fluorescent tracers in cadavers and MRI in volunteers, they visu…
The secret life of proteins
The traditional scientific view has long held that single protein molecules are electrical insulators. However, a recent discovery overturns this belief, suggesting instead that proteins are strong electrical conductors…
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…
The architecture and spatial organization of the living human body as revealed by intratissular endoscopy - An osteopathic perspective
This review article discusses research by Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau, who used endoscopy to visualize the internal architecture of the living body. His work reveals a continuous, body-wide multifibrillar network that t…
The plasma membrane as a mechanochemical transducer
In this review article, researchers describe how the plasma membrane, the cell's outer boundary, acts as a key sensor for mechanical forces. The membrane senses and responds to physical stresses from its environment, su…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Inter and Intra operator reliability of motor and palpation evaluation in fascial manipulation in individuals coxarthrosis
This study investigated the reliability of assessment methods used in Fascial Manipulation® (FM®) for individuals with hip osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis). Researchers tested whether different therapists, and the same the…
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…
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…
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…
8 natural supplements to help fight inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection, but when it becomes chronic, it can lead to long-term pain and tissue damage. This article reviews several natural supplements that may help the body manage chr…
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…
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 Different Vitamin C–Enriched Collagen Derivatives on Collagen Synthesis
This study investigated how three different forms of vitamin C-enriched collagen supplements affected markers of collagen synthesis in ten active men. Participants consumed either gelatin, hydrolyzed collagen, a gummy v…