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.
Mineralization can be an incidental ultrasonographic finding in equine tendons and ligaments
In this observational study on horses, researchers investigated the presence of mineralization, or calcium deposits, in tendons and ligaments using ultrasound. They found it was most common in the deep digital flexor te…
The Equine Hindlimb Proximal Suspensory Ligament: an Assessment of Health and Function by Means of Its Damping Harmonic Oscillator Properties, Measured Using an Acoustic Myography System: a New Modality Study
This study in horses explored a new method called acoustic myography (AMG) to help diagnose injuries in the proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) of the hindlimb. Researchers used a device to record sound signals from the…
Oral Intake of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Improves Hydration, Elasticity, and Wrinkling in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of daily low-molecular-weight collagen peptide (LMWCP) supplementation on the skin of 64 women. Over 12 weeks, researchers measured skin hydr…
Fascial tissue research in sports medicine: from molecules to tissue adaptation, injury and diagnostics: consensus statement
This consensus statement reviews the current state of knowledge on fascial tissue in sports medicine. It describes fascia as a body-wide network of connective tissue that integrates all body systems and is crucial for m…
Low intensity vibration increases cartilage thickness in obese mice
This animal study investigated if a high-fat diet affected cartilage thickness in mice and if low-intensity vibration (LIV) could offer protection. Contrary to expectations, the high-fat diet alone did not significantly…
Anatomy of the fasciae and fascial spaces of the maxillofacial and the anterior neck regions
This narrative review simplifies the complex anatomy of the fascia in the face, jaw, and front of the neck. The author organizes the region into four distinct portions based on their relationship to a key fascial layer,…
Low-Intensity Vibration Improves Muscle Healing in a Mouse Model of Laceration Injury
In this animal study, researchers investigated if low-intensity vibration (LIV) could improve healing of lacerated calf muscles in mice. The mice were divided into groups that received daily vibration treatment and a co…
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…
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…
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…
Exclusion zone and heterogeneous water structure at ambient temperature
This study investigates how water interacts with hydrophilic surfaces to form "exclusion zones" (EZ)—regions where water is more structured and dense than bulk water. Researchers found that water can form three-dimensio…
Biotensegrity and myofascial chains: A global approach to an integrated kinetic chain
This theoretical paper proposes a holistic way to understand human movement, contrasting it with the traditional approach of studying body parts in isolation. The authors suggest a model based on "biotensegrity," where…
Fractal fluctuations in muscular activity contribute to judgments of length but not heaviness via dynamic touch
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a progressive condition that often involves chest pain. This article analyzes the possible causes of this pain, focusing on a less frequently considered source: the fascia…
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…
Orientation and property of fibers of the myodural bridge in humans
The myodural bridge is a fibrous connection between the deep suboccipital muscles of the neck and the spinal dura mater, the tough outer covering of the spinal cord. In this anatomical study, researchers investigated th…
The myodural bridge in the common rock pigeon (Columbia livia): Morphology and possible physiological implications
In this anatomical study on pigeons, researchers investigated a connective tissue structure called the myodural bridge. Through dissections and tissue analysis of the suboccipital region where the skull meets the neck,…
Ascorbic acid in cancer treatment: let the phoenix fly
This review article discusses the renewed interest in Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as a potential anti-cancer agent. When administered intravenously, Vitamin C can reach much higher concentrations in the body than when tak…
The myodural bridges’ existence in the sperm whale
In this anatomical animal study, researchers examined tissue from a sperm whale to see if it possessed a myodural bridge, a connection between the neck muscles and the dura mater previously identified in humans. The inv…
Depression and anxiety in patients with chronic heart failure
In this review article, the authors discuss the connection between chronic heart failure (CHF), mental health, and diaphragm function. CHF is a serious, progressive condition often accompanied by depression and anxiety.…
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…
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…
Anatomical and Functional Relationships Between External Abdominal Oblique Muscle and Posterior Layer of Thoracolumbar Fascia
This study investigated the anatomical connection between the external abdominal oblique muscle (EO) and the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) in the low back. Using both cadaveric dissection and CT scans, researchers found a…
Not merely a protective packing organ? A review of fascia and its force transmission capacity
This review article examines fascia's role in transmitting force throughout the body. Traditionally seen as just a "packing" material, research now suggests fascia is an active tissue that connects muscles into a body-w…
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…
A New Concept of Biotensegrity Incorporating Liquid Tissues: Blood and Lymph
This conceptual article proposes an update to the biotensegrity model, which traditionally focuses on the solid structures of the fascial system. The authors argue that "liquid tissues" like blood and lymph should also…
Therapeutic potentials of superoxide dismutase
This narrative review explores the therapeutic potential of superoxide dismutases (SODs), a group of enzymes that serve as a crucial antioxidant defense against oxidative stress in the body. The author discusses the rol…
The Impedance Profile of Acupuncture Points
This study investigated real-time electrical impedance (resistance) at acupuncture points in a single subject. The researcher observed that when impedance decreased at the center of a point, it often increased at a loca…
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…
Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits
This narrative review explores resveratrol, a natural polyphenol found in grape skins, red wine, and various plants. Research suggests that this compound possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiop…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
A review of the impact of pregnancy and childbirth on pelvic floor function as assessed by objective measurement techniques
This narrative review examines how pregnancy and childbirth affect the pelvic floor, based on studies using objective measurement tools like ultrasound and MRI. The authors found that pregnancy, particularly the first,…
Morphological evidence of telocytes in human synovium
A relatively new type of cell, called a telocyte, has been found in many human tissues. This study was the first to look for and find these cells in the synovial membrane, which is the lining of our movable joints. Usin…
A fundamental critique of the fascial distortion model and its application in clinical practice
This narrative review critiques the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), a manual therapy approach based on the idea that all musculoskeletal complaints stem from distortions of fascia. The author investigated the scientific…
Effect of Stretching on Thoracolumbar Fascia Injury and Movement Restriction in a Porcine Model
In this animal study on pigs, researchers investigated the effect of stretching on the thoracolumbar fascia after injury and movement restriction. An injury combined with restricted movement led to reduced fascial mobil…
Fascial preadipocytes: another missing piece of the puzzle to understand fibromyalgia?
In this review paper, the authors discuss fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition whose cause remains uncertain. While often linked to changes in the central nervous system, research also points to peripheral nerve damag…
Hyaluronan in adipogenesis, adipose tissue physiology and systemic metabolism
This narrative review summarizes research on hyaluronic acid (HA), a sugar molecule abundant in the body's extracellular matrix. The functions of HA are largely dictated by its molecular size, and it is commonly used as…
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…
The Receptor for Hyaluronan- Mediated Motility (CD168) promotes inflammation and fibrosis after acute lung injury
In this animal study, researchers investigated the role of a specific receptor, RHAMM, in the body's response to acute lung injury. Using mouse models, they compared outcomes in mice that lacked the RHAMM receptor to th…
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…
Bone turnover markers after the menopause: T-score approach
This study investigated how bone turnover changes in women before and after menopause by measuring specific markers for bone formation (PINP) and bone resorption (CTX). The researchers found that bone turnover increases…
Stretching Reduces Tumor Growth in a Mouse Breast Cancer Model
In this mouse study, researchers investigated the effect of daily stretching on breast cancer tumors. Mice with implanted tumor cells were divided into two groups, with one group receiving gentle stretching for 10 minut…
Muscle spindles of the rat sternomastoid muscle
This animal study on rats examined the sternomastoid muscle in the neck, which has a unique structure. Researchers found it has two distinct regions: a superficial "white" part with fast-twitch fibers and a deep "red" p…
Fasciae of the musculoskeletal system: normal anatomy and MR patterns of involvement in autoimmune diseases
This review article describes the fascial system as a three-dimensional continuum of connective tissue found throughout the body. The authors review the normal anatomy of fascia and its appearance on magnetic resonance…
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…
Effects of Plantar Vibration on Bone and Deep Fascia in a Rat Hindlimb Unloading Model of Disuse
This animal study investigated how disuse affects deep fascia and bone, and whether vibration could counteract these effects. Researchers used a rat model where hindlimbs were unloaded for 21 days to simulate disuse, wh…
Female hormones: do they influence muscle and tendon protein metabolism?
This narrative review examines how female sex hormones, particularly estrogen, influence the metabolism of proteins in muscles and tendons. After menopause, declining hormone levels are associated with accelerated muscl…
Pathobiology of cigarette smoke-induced invasive cancer of the renal pelvis and its prevention by vitamin C
In this animal study, researchers investigated how cigarette smoke might cause invasive cancer of the renal pelvis and if vitamin C could offer protection. They found that when guinea pigs were exposed to cigarette smok…
The different distribution of enzymatic collagen cross-links found in adult and children bone result in different mechanical behavior of collagen
This computational study explored how molecular bonds called collagen cross-links affect bone mechanics differently in children and adults. Using models based on real bone samples, researchers simulated how collagen fib…
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…
Assessment of pain quality reveals distinct differences between nociceptive innervation of low back fascia and muscle in humans
This study explored whether pain from low back muscles is perceived differently than pain from the overlying fascia. Researchers used electrical stimulation in 16 healthy participants, who then described the induced pai…
Effectiveness of 3-dimensional shoulder ultrasound in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears
In this meta-analysis, researchers combined data from seven studies involving 282 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in diagnosing rotator cuff tears. The analysis found that 3D ultr…
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…
Chest pain in patients with COPD: the fascia’s subtle silence
In this article, the authors discuss potential causes of chest pain in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They highlight that chest pain is common in COPD and propose that an often-overlooked so…
Effects of local vibration therapy on various performance parameters: a narrative literature review
This narrative literature review examines how local muscle vibration (LMV) affects performance parameters such as strength, power, and range of motion. By applying vibrations directly to a specific muscle or tendon, LMV…
Anatomy of the Superficial Fascia System of the Breast: A Comprehensive Theory of Breast Fascial Anatomy
This study investigated the three-dimensional fascial structure of the breast through 12 cadaver dissections and clinical observations during surgery. The researchers identified a closed system of fascia and fat that su…