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.
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Structural and functional analysis of two small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans, fibromodulin and chondroadherin
Fibromodulin and chondroadherin are small proteins that help organize the extracellular matrix. This study examined their 3D structure and how they interact with collagen. Researchers found that while their overall shap…
The myodural bridge existing in the Nephocaena phocaenoides
The myodural bridge is a connection between a small neck muscle and the spinal cord's outer covering (the dura mater) previously identified in humans. In this anatomical animal study, researchers investigated whether a…
Theoretical study of aerobic vitamin C loss kinetics during commercial heat preservation and storage
This theoretical study presents a mathematical model to describe how vitamin C is lost in food during commercial heat processing and storage. The model accounts for the degradation of two forms of the vitamin, ascorbic…
Molecular insights into prolyl and lysyl hydroxylation of fibrillar collagens in health and disease
This narrative review provides an updated overview of the complex process of creating mature collagen. The formation of collagen fibrils from precursor molecules involves many enzymes and chaperones in a series of steps…
Resveratrol supplementation reduces pain experience by postmenopausal women
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated whether resveratrol supplementation could reduce pain and improve well-being in postmenopausal women. Over 14 weeks, participants taking 75 mg of resv…
Reconnecting the Body in Eastern and Western Medicine
Details for this 2017 publication, titled 'Reconnecting the Body in Eastern and Western Medicine' by Helene M. Langevin and Rosa N. Schnyer, have not yet been summarized. The title suggests a discussion comparing and in…
Spontaneous photon emission: A promising non-invasive diagnostic tool for breast cancer
In this animal study, researchers investigated if ultra-weak light emission from the body, called spontaneous photon emission (SPE), could detect breast cancer. They measured light from the skin of mice with breast canc…
Resveratrol Treatment Normalizes the Endothelial Function and Blood Pressure in Ovariectomized Rats
This animal study on rats investigated how resveratrol affects blood pressure and vascular function during estrogen deficiency, mimicking post-menopausal conditions. Researchers found that a lack of estrogen led to high…
Resveratrol regulates body weight in healthy and ovariectomized rats
This animal study on rats investigated how the plant compound resveratrol affects body weight in both healthy subjects and those who had undergone ovariectomy, a model for menopause. The results suggest that resveratrol…
Microscopic anatomy of the visceral fasciae
Researchers examined the microscopic structure of visceral fascia—the connective tissue surrounding internal organs—from eight cadavers. They analyzed samples from the thorax, abdomen, and around organs like the heart,…
Oscillations of ultra-weak photon emission from cancer and noncancer cells stressed by culture medium change and TNF-alfa
All cells spontaneously emit a very faint light, known as ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). This study investigated how this light emission changes when different types of human cells, both cancerous and non-cancerous,…
Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (a.k.a. Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome Type III and Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type): Clinical Description and Natural History
This 2017 review summarizes the clinical understanding of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), thought to be the most common hereditary disorder of connective tissue. It is primarily characterized by musculoskelet…
Stretching Reduces Skin Thickness and Improves Subcutaneous Tissue Mobility in a Murine Model of Systemic Sclerosis
This animal study investigated the effects of stretching on systemic sclerosis, a condition that causes skin inflammation and fibrosis. Using a mouse model of the disease, researchers found that ten minutes of daily str…
Measuring ultra-weak photon emission as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for detecting early-stage type 2 diabetes: A step toward personalized medicine
This study investigated whether ultra-weak photon emission (UPE)—a very faint light emitted by the body—could help identify different subtypes of pre-diabetes. Researchers had practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medici…
Spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission in correlation to inflammatory metabolism and oxidative stress in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis
In this animal study, researchers investigated a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis using two techniques: metabolomics (the analysis of metabolic products) and ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), which measures extremely…
Massage therapy research review
This review summarizes research showing beneficial effects of massage therapy for a wide range of conditions, including prenatal depression, pain syndromes, autoimmune conditions, and issues related to aging. The author…
Cellulite: a review with a focus on subcision
This narrative review examines cellulite, a common skin condition characterized by altered skin topography that primarily affects women on their buttocks and thighs. The authors discuss the potential underlying causes a…
EFFECT OF MATRIX RHYTHM THERAPY (MRT) COMBINED WITH PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTION IN FROZEN SHOULDER – A CASE REPORT
This case report describes the treatment of a 52-year-old man with a painful and stiff right shoulder, diagnosed as frozen shoulder. His condition also involved tendinosis, bursitis, and osteoarthritic changes. The pati…
Concurrent validity of pain scales in individuals with myofascial pain and fibromyalgia
Researchers investigated the reliability of two common tools for measuring pain: the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where patients rate pain from 0 to 10, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The study included 60 part…
Human mesenchymal stem cells secrete hyaluronan-coated extracellular vesicles
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to help with tissue repair, partly by releasing tiny packages called extracellular vesicles (EVs). This study investigated the connection between these EVs and hyaluronan (HA), a…
Piezoelectric material – A promising approach for bone and cartilage regeneration
This paper outlines a novel hypothesis for regenerating bone and cartilage, two weight-bearing tissues that are challenging to repair. Current treatments for damage from trauma or diseases like osteoarthritis have signi…
Quantitative tissue parameters of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in healthy subjects using a handheld myotonometer
This study examined the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in over 150 healthy adults using a handheld device called a MyotonPRO. The goal was to establish baseline normal values for tissue…
Evaluation of fascial manipulation in carpal tunnel syndrome
Details for this study are not yet available. The research, published in 2017, appears to evaluate the effectiveness of Fascial Manipulation® for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Without an abstract, further details abo…
The deep fascia and retinacula of the equine forelimb - structure and innervation
This study investigated the deep fascia and its reinforcements (retinacula) in the equine forelimb using anatomical dissection and microscopic analysis. The researchers found that horse fascia is structurally similar to…
Hypovitaminosis C and vitamin C deficiency in critically ill patients despite recommended enteral and parenteral intakes
This study investigated vitamin C levels in 44 critically ill patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). Researchers found that most patients had low vitamin C levels (hypovitaminosis C), and one-third were severely defi…
Vitamin C for preventing atrial fibrillation in high risk patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 15 trials to see if vitamin C could prevent atrial fibrillation in high-risk patients. The analysis, involving over 2000 subjects, found inconsistent results depending o…
Vitamin C and Immune Function
This narrative review explores the crucial role of Vitamin C in the human immune system. As a potent antioxidant, it supports various functions in both the innate and adaptive immune responses, from strengthening the sk…
Calcium Signaling in Interstitial Cells: Focus on Telocytes
This narrative review describes current knowledge on calcium signaling in a group of cells called interstitial cells, with a special focus on telocytes. These cells and their calcium signals are important for generating…
Fibromyalgia and microglial TNF-α: Translational research using human blood induced microglia-like cells
Researchers are investigating the role of brain immune cells called microglia in fibromyalgia. This study used a new technique to create microglia-like cells from the blood of people with fibromyalgia and healthy indivi…
Evidence of both systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia patients, as assessed by a multiplex protein panel applied to the cerebrospinal fluid and to plasma
This study investigated signs of inflammation in people with fibromyalgia (FM). Researchers analyzed 92 different inflammation-related proteins in both blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid from 40 FM patients, comparing…
Telocytes heterogeneity: From cellular morphology to functional evidence
This review discusses telocytes, a recently identified type of cell found throughout the connective tissue (stroma) of vertebrates. They are characterized by extremely long, thin extensions called telopodes, which form…
X-Rays Effects on Cytoskeleton Mechanics of Healthy and Tumor Cells
This study investigated how X-ray radiation affects the internal structure, or cytoskeleton, of both healthy cells and tumor cells in a lab setting. Researchers exposed both cell types to different doses of radiation an…
Proinflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress Decrease the Transport of Dopamine Precursor Tyrosine in Human Fibroblasts
This laboratory study investigated how inflammation and oxidative stress affect the transport of the amino acid tyrosine in human fibroblasts, a type of connective tissue cell. Tyrosine is a crucial precursor for the ne…
The Application of Acoustic Myography in Canine Muscle Function and Performance Testing
This animal study on 11 Labrador dogs used acoustic myography (AMG) to measure muscle activity during walking and trotting. Researchers focused on two muscles, the m. gluteus superficialis and m. longissimus lumborum, t…
Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor
This cadaver study investigated the connection between a small neck muscle (Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor, RCPMi) and the spinal dura mater. Researchers used both microscopic analysis and biomechanical testing to clari…
What's in a name: Myofascial Release or Myofascial Induction?
This commentary discusses two terms for a similar manual therapy technique: Myofascial Release (MFR) and Myofascial Induction Therapy (MIT). The author notes that while the techniques are virtually identical, the names…
Early versus Delayed Rehabilitation after Acute Muscle Injury
This research entry, titled "Early versus Delayed Rehabilitation after Acute Muscle Injury," is currently awaiting a detailed summary. The title suggests it explores the optimal timing for starting rehabilitation follow…
Don’t Forget the Abdominal Wall: Imaging Spectrum of Abdominal Wall Injuries after Nonpenetrating Trauma
Abdominal wall injuries from non-penetrating trauma are relatively common but are often overlooked in the emergency department. This can happen because more severe, distracting injuries draw attention away, or because t…
Ultra-weak photon emission as a dynamic tool for monitoring oxidative stress metabolism
This laboratory study investigated a method for measuring oxidative stress, a process linked to many diseases. Researchers used a technique called ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) to monitor human cells in a dish after…
Muscle strength and stiffness in resistance exercise: Force transmission in tissues
Researchers used a mathematical model to estimate how forces are transmitted through the quadriceps muscle during isometric resistance exercises. They specifically looked at how knee angle affects muscle stiffness, stre…
The significance of closed kinematic chains to biological movement and dynamic stability
Biomechanical research has long focused on the body as a system of levers, but this review highlights the importance of "closed kinematic chains" (CKCs). These are continuous mechanical loops that couple multiple parts…
Bi component T1p and T2 Relaxation Mapping of Skeletal Muscle In-Vivo
Researchers evaluated a specific MRI technique for creating more detailed images of skeletal muscle. Using what is known as T1ρ and T2 relaxation mapping on the calf muscles of healthy volunteers, they were able to dist…
Electric Nutrition: The Surprising Health and Healing Benefits of Biological Grounding (Earthing)
This narrative review summarizes research on grounding (earthing), which involves direct physical contact with the Earth's surface. The authors suggest that grounding may provide a form of "electric nutrition" with pote…
The indeterminable resilience of the fascial system
This commentary proposes a model of fascia not as layers, but as a network of polyhedral microvacuoles of connective tissue. These structures connect the body's systems and can change shape in response to tension, allow…
The Lumbodorsal Fascia as a Potential Source of Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review
This narrative review examines the role of the lumbodorsal fascia as a potential source of low back pain. Research shows this fascia contains pain-sensing nerve endings, which may be morphologically altered in people wi…
The nature and biology of basement membranes
This review article discusses the nature and biology of basement membranes. These are thin, flexible sheets of tissue that line and separate different structures in the body. Once thought to be just passive scaffolding,…
Identification of a new subset of lymph node stromal cells involved in regulating plasma cell homeostasis
This study investigated how antibody-producing plasma cells are supported within lymph nodes. Researchers identified a specific type of connective tissue cell, a medullary fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC), that forms a…
S100A4 in cancer progression and metastasis: A systematic review
This systematic review examines the role of the protein S100A4 in cancer progression and metastasis. S100A4 is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a key process that allows cancer cells to spread. The aut…
The universal existence of myodural bridge in mammals: an indication of a necessary function
The myodural bridge is a connective tissue structure linking one of the deep, upper neck muscles to the spinal dura mater. This anatomical study investigated whether this structure, known in humans, also exists in other…
Minimizing Injury and Maximizing Return to Play: Lessons from Engineered Ligaments
Musculoskeletal injuries are a primary reason for time away from sports, partly because our understanding of how training affects tendons and ligaments is limited. This study used engineered ligaments grown in a lab fro…
A New Definition of an Acupuncture Meridian
This perspective article proposes a new definition of acupuncture meridians, moving away from the idea of dedicated anatomical vessels. The author suggests that meridians are actually tracts of tissue that become affect…
All you need to know about the AIP diet
This article reviews the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet, which aims to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of autoimmune disorders. The diet is based on the idea that problems with the gut wall, sometimes called 'l…
A Curious Oversight in Acupuncture Research
In this perspective article, the author argues that current acupuncture hypotheses overlook a crucial factor: the speed at which the treatment takes effect. Observations suggest that communication between acupoints and…
Vitamin C Status Correlates with Markers of Metabolic and Cognitive Health in 50-Year-Olds: Findings of the CHALICE Cohort Study
This cohort study examined vitamin C status in 404 fifty-year-olds in New Zealand. Researchers measured the concentration of vitamin C in participants' blood plasma as well as their dietary intake. The results showed th…