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.
Applied Myo-Fascial Advances in Veterinary Medicine and Practice
This review article summarizes recent advances in veterinary medicine with a focus on myofascia. It presents findings on the structure and function of these interconnected tissues, highlighting the benefits of treating…
Non-invasive Assessment of Lameness in Horses with Dorsal Spinous Process Impingement “Kissing spine”: A Case Study.
In this case study, researchers examined a horse with recurring lameness and "kissing spine" using three non-invasive techniques. Acoustic myography was used to assess muscle activity and locate the injury, while bioimp…
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…
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…
The infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane: an anatomo-functional unit
This descriptive review summarizes evidence on the close relationship between the infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane in the knee. Anatomically, they are linked, as parts of the synovial membrane insert into…
What Is the Point? The Problem with Acupuncture Research That No One Wants to Talk About
In this 2018 commentary, the authors address a persistent criticism of acupuncture research: the unclear scientific basis for "acupuncture points." They argue that the acupuncture research community has not paid enough…
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…
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…
Elevated expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 associates with decreased survival in diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas
Astrocytomas are the most common type of brain tumor in adults. In this retrospective study, researchers investigated hyaluronan, a key component of the brain's extracellular matrix, and its related enzymes in 163 tumor…
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…
Various stem cells in acupuncture meridians and points and their putative roles
This narrative review explores the connection between acupuncture points and an anatomical network known as the Primo Vascular System (PVS). Formerly called the Bong-Han system, the PVS consists of microscopic vessels a…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Combined vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine therapy for patients with severe pneumonia who were admitted to the intensive care unit: Propensity score-based analysis of a before-after cohort study
This cohort study investigated a combination therapy of vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine for ICU patients with severe pneumonia. Researchers compared a group receiving the treatment to a control group from the pr…
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…
Sweet, yet underappreciated: Proteoglycans and extracellular matrix remodeling in heart disease
In this review article, the authors discuss the role of proteoglycans in heart disease. Remodeling of the heart's extracellular matrix, which is common in several cardiac diseases, can lead to fibrosis and impaired func…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Low Back Pain: The Potential Contribution of Supraspinal Motor Control and Proprioception
This narrative review explores how motor control—the brain's management of posture and movement—adapts in people with low back pain. While these movement adaptations may reduce pain in the short term, they can sometimes…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Treatment for cellulite
This brief review summarizes the scientific evidence for various treatments for cellulite, a condition present in 80% to 90% of post-pubertal women. The author examines the safety and efficacy of methods ranging from to…
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…
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…
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…
Biotensegrity-Anatomy for the 21st Century Informing Yoga and Physiotherapy Concerning New Findings in Fascia Research
This short article discusses how a new view of anatomy, called biotensegrity, is changing our understanding of the human body. This perspective focuses on fascia as a continuous, interconnected network that creates a un…
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…
Cannabis sativa L. and Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoids: Their Chemistry and Role against Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cancer
This narrative review explores the chemical properties and health effects of non-psychoactive compounds found in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), focusing primarily on cannabidiol (CBD). The research suggests that CBD acts as…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Vitamin C – A new player in regulation of the cancer epigenome
This narrative review explores the emerging role of vitamin C in cancer treatment, particularly in relation to epigenetics. The authors note that vitamin C is crucial for enzymes that help regulate gene expression, and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…