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.
Cannabis sativa L. extract and cannabidiol inhibit in vitro mediators of skin inflammation and wound injury
This in vitro study investigated how Cannabis sativa extract and its component cannabidiol (CBD) affect inflammation in human skin cells. Researchers found that both the extract and pure CBD reduced the release of sever…
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…
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…
Future Aspects for Cannabinoids in Breast Cancer Therapy
This scientific review explores how cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, may influence breast cancer beyond their established role in palliative care for pain and nausea. Research suggests that cannabinoids might decelera…
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…
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…
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…
Rehabilitation and nutrition protocols for optimising return to play from traditional ACL reconstruction in elite rugby union players: A case study
This case report followed two professional rugby players undergoing rehabilitation after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. In addition to a standard rehabilitation program, they received specific suppl…
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…
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…
Platelet decoys inhibit thrombosis and prevent metastatic tumor formation in preclinical models
Platelets are crucial for blood clotting but can also contribute to thrombosis and cancer metastasis. In this preclinical study, researchers created modified human platelets, called "platelet decoys," that retained thei…
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…
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…
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…
TMEM2: a missing link in hyaluronan catabolism identified?
Hyaluronan (HA) is a large molecule in our connective tissues that is broken down and replaced very quickly. Scientists have long understood that large HA molecules are first chopped into smaller pieces on the surface o…
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…
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…
Blocking around the transversalis fascia: behind the scene
This cadaver study investigated the anatomy of the transversalis fascia, a thin layer of connective tissue in the abdominal wall, to understand its role in certain nerve blocks. Through dissection and microscopic analys…
Modelling Cell Origami via a Tensegrity Model of the Cytoskeleton in Adherent Cells
Researchers created a computer model to better understand "cell origami," a technique where the natural pulling forces of cells are used to fold tiny structures. This model represents the cell's internal framework, or c…
Where is your head? Perception of relative position of the head on a wielded object
This study explored how we perceive our body's position relative to an object we are holding or balancing. Researchers specifically tested this by having participants "wield" an object with their head, a body part not t…
Biotensegrity or Fascintegrity
In this theoretical review, the authors question the popular "biotensegrity" model for describing the body's mechanics. They argue the model is incomplete because it fails to account for crucial factors like bodily flui…
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…
Drinking hydrogen water enhances endurance and relieves psychometric fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of drinking hydrogen-infused water (H2 water) before exercise. Across two experiments involving both untrained and trained participants on…
Local Vibration Stimuli Induce Mechanical Stress-Induced Factors and Facilitate Recovery From Immobilization-Induced Oxidative Myofiber Atrophy in Rats
This study on rats investigated whether local vibration could help muscles recover after being immobilized. Researchers put a cast on one hindlimb of the rats for a week to induce muscle atrophy. After removing the cast…
Specific Collagen Peptides in Combination with Resistance Training Improve Body Composition and Regional Muscle Strength in Premenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of combining resistance training with a daily intake of 15 grams of specific collagen peptides in premenopausal women. Over 12 weeks, participants trained three…
Myofascial Chains of the Upper Limb: A Systematic Review of Anatomical Studies
This systematic review compiled research to determine if myofascial chains, previously identified in the trunk and lower limbs, also exist in the upper limb. Analyzing 13 anatomical dissection studies, the authors found…
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…
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…
Bone Tissue is an Integral Part of the Fascial System
This review article proposes that bone tissue should be considered an integral part of the fascial system, a departure from the current definition. The authors support this by highlighting the shared embryological origi…
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…
Fasting-Mimicking Diet Modulates Microbiota and Promotes Intestinal Regeneration to Reduce Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathology
This study investigates how cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) affect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in both mice and humans. In animal models, FMD cycles reduced intestinal inflammation, encouraged the growth o…
Global Expression Profiling Identifies a Novel Hyaluronan Synthases 2 Gene in the Pathogenesis of Lower Extremity Varicose Veins
Researchers investigated the genetic factors behind varicose veins by comparing vein tissue from patients with and without the condition. They found that the gene hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) was significantly less acti…
New Proposal to Define the Fascial System
In this proposal, the authors suggest a new definition for the fascial system, noting that a universally accepted one does not yet exist. They argue for including the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) based on functio…
Metabolic acidosis and the role of unmeasured anions in critical illness and injury
In this review article, the authors discuss metabolic acidosis, a common condition in critically ill patients that is associated with increased mortality. A significant component of this acidosis can be caused by so-cal…
Negative Air Ions and Their Effects on Human Health and Air Quality Improvement
This review paper examines the research on negative air ions (NAIs) and their effects on human health and air quality. Used for over a century in air cleaning, NAIs are associated with improved psychological health and…
Immediate effects of self-myofascial release on latent trigger point sensitivity: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
This randomized, placebo-controlled trial examined whether foam rolling could immediately reduce sensitivity in latent trigger points. Researchers compared 90 seconds of static compression, dynamic rolling, and a placeb…
Release of fascial compartment boundaries reduces muscle force output
In this animal study, researchers investigated how the fascial sheets that enclose muscles affect their function. They surgically removed the fascia from a wing muscle in wild turkeys to see how it changed the muscle's…
Variations in Contents of Hyaluronan in the Peritumoral Micro-Environment of Human Chondrosarcoma
The micro-environment surrounding a tumor greatly influences its growth and response to therapy. This study focused on chondrosarcoma, a type of bone cancer resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation. Researchers quan…
Effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate infusion on mortality in septic patients with metabolic acidosis
This retrospective database study investigated whether sodium bicarbonate infusion affected mortality in septic patients with metabolic acidosis. The researchers found no overall survival benefit in the general populati…
Subcutaneous adipose tissue therapy reduces fat by dual X-ray absorptiometry scan and improves tissue structure by ultrasound in women with lipoedema and Dercum disease
This small study investigated a non-surgical therapy for subcutaneous adipose tissue in seven women with lipoedema or Dercum disease. Over four weeks of treatment, participants experienced significant reductions in weig…
Improvement of Functional Ankle Properties Following Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides in Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability
This randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of specific collagen peptides on athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Fifty athletes received either a daily collagen supplement or a placebo f…
Fascial well-being: Mechanotransduction in manual and movement therapies
This article discusses mechanotransduction, the process by which cells in connective tissue sense and respond to mechanical forces like stretch, compression, and shear. Specialized cells such as fibroblasts communicate…
Comparison of vibration rolling, nonvibration rolling, and static stretching as a warm-up exercise on flexibility, joint proprioception, muscle strength, and balance in young adults
This study compared the immediate effects of three warm-up techniques in young adults: vibration rolling, non-vibration rolling, and static stretching. Researchers measured changes in lower-body flexibility, joint posit…
Low-frequency vibrotherapy considerably improves the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in patients with lipedema: A two-armed, randomized, controlled pragmatic trial
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of adding low-frequency vibrotherapy to manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) for 30 women with stage 2–3 lipedema. Participants were randomly assigned to receive eithe…
Small leucine-rich proteoglycans and matrix metalloproteinase-14: Key partners?
This narrative review summarizes research on a family of proteins called small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs). These proteins are important regulators of the extracellular matrix and have been identified as potentia…
Lipedema—An update
This review provides an update on lipedema, a chronic condition affecting subcutaneous fat tissue in the limbs, almost exclusively in women. It typically appears during or after puberty and is characterized by symmetric…
Effect of Health-Promoting Agents on Exclusion-Zone Size
This experimental study investigated how various health-promoting agents affect the formation of "exclusion zone" (EZ) water, often referred to as the fourth phase of water. Researchers found that substances such as hol…
Lipedema
A detailed summary of this 2018 publication by Caitriona Canning and John R. Bartholomew is not yet available. The work is titled simply 'Lipedema,' suggesting it may be a general overview or review of the condition. Wi…
From mechanobiology to developmentally inspired engineering
This review article, based on a lecture, explores the field of mechanobiology, which studies the central role of physical forces in development and physiology. The author reviews 40 years of his laboratory's foundationa…
Emerging Therapies for Spastic Movement Disorders
Spasticity following a central nervous system injury can cause muscle stiffness, partly due to secondary changes in muscles and connective tissue. The 'hyaluronan hypothesis' suggests that an accumulation of hyaluronan,…
Evidence is stronger than you think: a meta-analysis of vitamin C use in patients with sepsis
This commentary presents a meta-analysis of research on using vitamin C to treat sepsis. It builds upon two previous reviews by pooling their data for a combined statistical analysis. The aggregated results indicated a…
Quantification of hyaluronan in human fasciae: variations with function and anatomical site
This study quantified for the first time the amount of hyaluronan (HA), a key lubricant, in human fascia from different parts of the body. Since HA is essential for the smooth gliding between fascial layers, understandi…
Equine Manual Therapies in Sport Horse Practice
Manual therapies can provide diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for assessing and managing neuromuscular coordination and strength in sport horses. This review describes various techniques, including active and passi…
Endogenous systems involved in exercise-induced analgesia
This narrative review describes the phenomenon of exercise-induced analgesia, which is the pain-relieving effect of physical activity. Studied since the 1970s, this effect is seen in both endurance and resistance exerci…
Meaning of the Solid and Liquid Fascia to Reconsider the Model of Biotensegrity
This theoretical article proposes a reconsideration of the traditional biotensegrity model. The authors argue that fascia should be viewed as a system with both solid and liquid components, where blood and lymph constit…
The influence of breathing on the central nervous system
This narrative review explores the diaphragm's extensive influence on the central nervous system. The authors discuss how the rhythm of our breath can physically move the brain, alter patterns of neural oscillation, and…
Neuroinflammation and central sensitization in chronic and widespread pain
Chronic pain is partly maintained by central sensitization, a state where the nervous system becomes hypersensitive. This review discusses how neuroinflammation—inflammation in the nervous system—contributes to this pro…
The anatomical relationships of the tongue with the body system
In this review article, the authors examine the tongue's functions and its anatomical connections to the rest of the body. The tongue is not only essential for swallowing, breathing, and speaking, but it also affects po…
Morphometric and dynamic measurements of muscular fascia in healthy individuals using ultrasound imaging: a!summary of the discrepancies and gaps in the current literature
This narrative review examined existing research on using ultrasound to measure muscular fascia in healthy people. The authors found that while ultrasound is a useful tool, the research is concentrated on a few specific…
Measuring the Human Ultra-Weak Photon Emission Distribution Using an Electron-Multiplying, Charge-Coupled Device as a Sensor
Living systems, including humans, emit an extremely faint light called ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). This light is thought to be a byproduct of metabolic processes, particularly those involving reactive oxygen speci…