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.
- A++2023
Change in gliding properties of the iliotibial tract in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome
Tina J Wang, Antonio Stecco, Robert Schleip, Carla Stecco, Carmelo PirriThis study used ultrasonography to examine the gliding properties of the iliotibial tract (ITT) in individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). Researchers found that the shear strain, which represents ho…
fasciashear strainultrasonographyEhlers–Danlos syndromeIliotibial tract - A+++2021
Impaired Lymphatic Drainage and Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis in Chronic Musculoskeletal and Idiopathic Pain Syndromes: Exploring a Novel Mechanism
Brian Tuckey, John Srbely, Grant Rigney, Meena Vythilingam, Jay ShahIn this theoretical paper, the authors propose a potential mechanism for chronic pain syndromes. They hypothesize that impaired lymphatic drainage following trauma or an immune response can trap inflammatory substances…
fasciacytokinesinterstitial inflammatory stasislymphatic dysfunctioncounterstrain techniques - A2021
Fascial Nomenclature: Update 2021, Part 1
Bruno Bordoni, Allan R Escher, Filippo Tobbi, Antonio Pranzitelli, Luigi PianeseThis review article discusses the need for clear, scientifically grounded terminology for the fascial system. The authors, representing the FORCE organization, emphasize the importance of an impartial approach to fascia…
fasciafascial systemOsteopathicfascial continuumfascintegrity - A2021
Fascial Nomenclature: Update 2021, Part 2
Bruno Bordoni, Allan R Escher, Filippo Tobbi, Bruno Ducoux, Serge PaolettiThis conceptual article addresses the ongoing debate about how to classify and name fascia. The authors suggest that progress is hindered because the discussion is often limited to a few scientific specialties and can b…
fasciafascial systemOsteopathicfascial continuumfascintegrity - A++2020
Ultrasound imaging of a scar on the knee: Sonopalpation for fascia and subcutaneous tissues
Carmelo Pirri, Antonio Stecco, Caterina Fede, Raffaele De Caro, Carla Stecco, Levent ÖzçakarPersistent pain from surgical or trauma-related scars is a common and sometimes debilitating problem. In this article, the authors describe the use of ultrasound imaging to provide an objective diagnosis for debilitatin…
fasciapainscarultrasonographyknee - A+++2020
The Five Diaphragms in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine: Myofascial Relationships, Part 2
Bruno BordoniThis conceptual review article continues an examination of the "five diaphragms" concept within osteopathic manipulative medicine. The paper focuses on the myofascial connections along the front and sides of the body, e…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicdiaphragmphysiotherapy - A+++2020
A Review of the Theoretical Fascial Models: Biotensegrity, Fascintegrity, and Myofascial Chains
Bruno Bordoni, Tom MyersIn this review article, the authors discuss three theoretical models used to understand how fascia functions in the body. The biotensegrity model is mechanical and considers the solid fascia, while the fascintegrity mod…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicphysiotherapymyofascial chains - A2020
Ageing of the diaphragm muscle
Bruno Bordoni, Bruno Morabito, Marta SimonelliThis narrative review explores how the diaphragm, our main breathing muscle, is affected by aging. Like other muscles, the diaphragm can weaken and lose mass over time, a condition known as sarcopenia. This age-related…
fasciadiaphragmskeletal musclephrenic nervevagus nerve - A+++2020
The immediate effect of IASTM vs. Vibration vs. Light Hand Massage on knee angle repositioning accuracy and hamstrings flexibility: A pilot study
George A Koumantakis, Eleonora Roussou, Georgios A Angoules, Nikolaos A Angoules, Theodoros Alexandropoulos, Georgia Ma…This pilot study compared the immediate effects of three different soft tissue techniques on the hamstrings of 16 healthy men. The techniques were instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), vibration massage,…
fasciaproprioceptionMassageMuscle tightness - A++2020
Fascia and soft tissues innervation in the human hip and their possible role in post-surgical pain
Caterina Fede, Andrea Porzionato, Lucia Petrelli, Chenglei Fan, Carmelo Pirri, Carlo Biz, Raffaele De Caro, Carla SteccoResearchers investigated the nerve supply to various soft tissues in the human hip to better understand persistent pain after hip replacement surgery. Analyzing tissue samples from patients and cadavers, they measured t…
fasciapaininnervationproprioceptionSoft tissue - A2020
Reflections on the Development of Fascial Tissue: Starting from Embryology
Bruno Bordoni, Bruno MorabitoThis reflective article discusses the ongoing challenges in classifying fascial tissue. The authors highlight that the scientific literature contains many contradictions and lacks a clear, straightforward definition. Th…
fasciaMyofascialSurgeryAnatomyembryology - A+++2020
The Cranial Bowl in the New Millennium and Sutherland's Legacy for Osteopathic Medicine: Part 2
Bruno Bordoni, Stevan Walkowski, Bruno Ducoux, Filippo TobbiThis narrative review, the second in a series, discusses how modern scientific research challenges some of the original concepts of cranial osteopathy. The authors examine the mechanical characteristics of cranial struc…
fasciaManual TherapyOsteopathiccraniocraniosacral - A2020
Anatomy, Tendons
Bruno Bordoni, Matthew VaracalloThis is a placeholder for a summary of a publication titled "Anatomy, Tendons". The full text has not yet been reviewed by our team. Once summarized, this entry will provide an overview of the key anatomical features of…
fasciatendonsAnatomytendon sheaths - A+++2020
The Five Diaphragms in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine: Myofascial Relationships, Part 1
Bruno BordoniThis review article outlines the osteopathic concept of the body's "five diaphragms": the tentorium cerebelli, tongue, thoracic outlet, respiratory diaphragm, and pelvic floor. According to the osteopathic respiratory-c…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicdiaphragmphysiotherapy - A+++2020
The Cranial Bowl in the New Millennium and Sutherland's Legacy for Osteopathic Medicine: Part 1
Bruno Bordoni, Stevan Walkowski, Bruno Ducoux, Filippo TobbiIn this review article, the first of a two-part series, the authors examine the foundational assumptions of cranial osteopathy. They argue that a theoretical model must evolve with new scientific information to avoid be…
fasciaOsteopathicdiaphragmcraniocraniosacral - A+2020
Ankle Motion Is Associated With Soft Tissue Displacement in the Dorsal Thigh: An in vivo Investigation Suggesting Myofascial Force Transmission Across the Knee Joint
Jan Wilke, Heloise Debelle, Sarah Tenberg, Andrew Dilley, Constantinos MaganarisThis study investigated how ankle motion affects tissue in the back of the thigh. Researchers passively stretched the calves of healthy participants lying prone with an extended knee. Using ultrasound, they observed tha…
fasciamyofascial chainsultrasound.Myofascial force transmissionrange of motion - 1A+2019
Bone Tissue is an Integral Part of the Fascial System
Bruno Bordoni, Maria Marcella LaganaThis 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…
fasciaBonefascial systemMyofascial - A+++2019
Tentorium Cerebelli: the Bridge Between the Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Part 2
Bruno Bordoni, Marta Simonelli, Maria Marcella LaganaThis 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…
fasciapaincraniotentorium cerebellivenous circulation - A++2019
The architecture and spatial organization of the living human body as revealed by intratissular endoscopy - An osteopathic perspective
Colin ArmstrongThis 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…
fasciaextracellular matrixosteopathyCollagen fibersFibrillar network - A2019
Fascial Nomenclature: An Update
Bruno Bordoni, Stevan Walkowski, Bruno Morabito, Matthew A VaracalloThis review article discusses the ongoing challenge of creating a single, comprehensive definition for fascia. The authors argue that different scientific and clinical fields view fascia through their own unique lenses,…
fasciamechanotransductionMyofascialOsteopathicphysiotherapy - A2019
Biotensegrity or Fascintegrity
Bruno Bordoni, Matthew A Varacallo, Bruno Morabito, Marta SimonelliIn 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…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicphysiotherapyskeletal muscle - 1A+2019
The Other Side of the Fascia: Visceral Fascia, Part 2
Bruno Bordoni, Marta Simonelli, Bruno MorabitoThis editorial, part two of a series, argues for including certain internal organs (viscera) within the definition of fascia. From an osteopathic perspective, the authors suggest that understanding these organs as fasci…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicsmooth musclemesoderm - 1A+2019
Role of fasciae in nonspecific low back pain
G Casato, Carla Stecco, R BusinResearch 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…
fascianonspecific low back painlimb myofascial manipulationfascial continuitycase series - 1A+2019
The fascial breath
Bruno Bordoni, Marta Simonelli, Bruno MorabitoThis narrative review proposes a new way of understanding the diaphragm muscle, moving beyond a purely mechanical view. The authors argue that the diaphragm is not just covered by fascia but is fundamentally a fascial t…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicdiaphragmbreathing - 1A+2019
The Awareness of the Fascial System
Bruno Bordoni, Marta SimonelliIn this theoretical article, the authors propose a new way of looking at the fascial system, drawing on concepts from quantum physics. They suggest that fascial cells can sense, remember, and even anticipate mechanical…
fasciafascial systemMyofascialquantum physicsphysiology - 1A++2019
Evaluation of hyaluronan content in areas of densification compared to adjacent areas of fascia
E J Hughes, K McDermott, M F FunkThis entry is currently a title only, so a full summary is not available. Based on the title, the researchers appear to have evaluated and compared the hyaluronan content in areas of fascial densification with the conte…
hyaluronanfasciadensificationcenters of coordination - A2019
Anatomy, Fascia
Bruno Bordoni, Navid Mahabadi, Matthew VaracalloThis resource provides an overview of the anatomy of fascia. As the full text has not yet been reviewed, this summary is based on the title alone. The entry likely covers the structural and functional aspects of fascial…
fascia - A2019
The diaphragm muscle manual evaluation scale
Bruno Bordoni, Bruno MorabitoThis technical report describes a new method for manually assessing the diaphragm's function, called the Manual Evaluation Diaphragm (MED) scale. The scale is designed to generate a value for the respiratory muscle's mo…
fasciaMyofascialdiaphragmSurgeryphrenic nerve - A2019
Improving the New Definition of Fascial System
Bruno BordoniThis narrative review proposes expanding the definition of the fascial system to include bone tissue. The author argues that bone, a specialized form of connective tissue, shares the same embryological origins as other…
fasciaChiropracticosteopathyManual Therapyfascial system - A2019
Cranial osteopathy: Obscurantism and Enlightenment
Bruno Bordoni, Bruno Morabito, Marta SimonelliIn 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…
fasciaOsteopathicquantum physicsneurophysiologycranio - 1A+2019
Sensitivity of the fasciae to sex hormone levels: Modulation of collagen-I, collagen-III and fibrillin production
Caterina Fede, Carmelo Pirri, Chenglei Fan, Giovanna Albertin, Andrea Porzionato, Veronica Macchi, Raffaele De Caro, Ca…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…
fasciacollagen Icollagen IIIsex hormones - A+++2019
Tentorium Cerebelli: Muscles, Ligaments, and Dura Mater, Part 1
Bruno Bordoni, Marta Simonelli, Maria Marcella LaganaIn 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…
fasciafascial systemdura matercraniotentorium cerebelli - 1A+2019
The Other Side of the Fascia: The SmoothMuscle Part 1
Bruno Bordoni, Marta Simonelli, Bruno MorabitoThis theoretical article challenges the standard definition of fascia. Traditionally, fascia is considered connective tissue originating from two embryonic layers, the mesoderm and ectoderm. The authors propose expandin…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicsmooth musclemesoderm - A2019
Lymphatic pump manipulation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Bruno BordoniThis 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…
inflammationfasciaOsteopathicCOPDlymphatic pump - A2018
Chest pain in patients with COPD: the fascia’s subtle silence
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno Morabito, Roberto CastagnaIn 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…
fasciadiaphragmmuscle painCOPDthoracic pain - C2018
Anatomy of the fasciae and fascial spaces of the maxillofacial and the anterior neck regions
Seiichiro KitamuraThis 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,…
fasciaFascial spaceGross anatomyMaxillofacial regionAnterior neck - A2018
Frontiers in fascia research
Carla Alessandra Avila Gonzalez, Mark Driscoll, Robert Schleip, Scott Wearing, Eric Jacobson, Thomas Findley, Werner Kl…This article reviews recent developments in fascia research, emphasizing new ways to assess this highly variable tissue. Researchers note that fascia differs greatly between individuals in density, stiffness, and metabo…
fasciaultrasound.Pain therapySport sciencesIndentometry - 1A+++2018
Emission of Biophotons and Adjustable Sounds by the Fascial System: Review and Reflections for Manual Therapy
Bruno Bordoni, F Marelli, B Morabito, B SacconiIn this narrative review, the authors explore how fascia, the web of connective tissue enveloping everything in the body, might communicate. They discuss research suggesting the fascial system may emit faint light parti…
fasciaMuscleManual TherapyMyofascialOsteopathic - 1A+2018
The Fasciacytes- A New Cell Devoted To Fascial Gliding Regulation
Carla Stecco, Caterina Fede, Veronica Macchi, Andrea Porzionato, Lucia Petrelli, Carlo Biz, Robert Stern, Raffaele De C…Researchers have identified a new type of cell within fascia, which they have named "fasciacytes." This study presents evidence that these specialized cells are responsible for producing hyaluronan, a key component of t…
hyaluronanfasciafasciacytesextracellular matrix - A2018
Meaning of the Solid and Liquid Fascia to Reconsider the Model of Biotensegrity
Bruno Bordoni, David Lintonbon, Bruno MorabitoThis 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…
fasciaChiropracticManual TherapyMyofascialOsteopathic - A2018
Immediate effects of self-myofascial release on latent trigger point sensitivity: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Jan Wilke, Lutz Vogt, Winfried BanzerThis 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…
fasciaMyofascial painFoam rollingSelf-masage - A2018
New Proposal to Define the Fascial System
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno Morabito, Roberto Castagna, Beatrice Sacconi, Paul MazzuccoIn 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…
fasciaConnective tissuefibroblastMyofascialSkin - 1A+2018
Effect of Stretching on Thoracolumbar Fascia Injury and Movement Restriction in a Porcine Model
H M Langevin, J Bishop, R Maple, G J Badger, J R FoxIn 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…
fasciaConnective tissueStretchingManual TherapyMovement Therapy - A2018
A New Concept of Biotensegrity Incorporating Liquid Tissues: Blood and Lymph
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno Morabito, Roberto CastagnaThis 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…
fasciaChiropracticManual TherapyMyofascialOsteopathic - A2018
The anatomical relationships of the tongue with the body system
Bruno Bordoni, Bruno Morabito, Roberto Mitrano, Marta Simonelli, Anastasia ToccafondiIn 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…
fasciadiaphragmphysiotherapytonguespeech therapy - A+++2018
Fascial tissue research in sports medicine: from molecules to tissue adaptation, injury and diagnostics: consensus statement
Martina Zügel, Constantinos N Maganaris, Jan Wilke, Karin Jurkat-Rott, Werner Klingler, Scott C Wearing, Thomas Findley…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…
fasciainjurysports medicine - A2018
Fasciae of the musculoskeletal system: normal anatomy and MR patterns of involvement in autoimmune diseases
Thomas Kirchgesner, Xavier Demondion, Maria Stoenoiu, Patrick Durez, Adrien Nzeusseu Toukap, Frédéric Houssiau, Christi…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…
fasciaMusculoskeletalAnatomyAutoimmuneMRI - A++2018
Bone is fascia
Stephen LevinThis entry, based on its title alone, proposes a conceptual link between bone and fascia. Without an abstract or full text, the specific arguments made by the author remain unclear. The title 'Bone is fascia' suggests a…
fascia - A2018
Fascial preadipocytes: another missing piece of the puzzle to understand fibromyalgia?
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno Morabito, Francesca Cavallaro, David LintonbonIn 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…
fasciaFibromyalgiapainMyofascialneuropathic pain - A+2017
Quantitative tissue parameters of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in healthy subjects using a handheld myotonometer
Sarah Orner, Wolfgang Kratzer, Julian Schmidberger, Beate GrünerThis 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…
fasciaachilles tendonplantar fasciaMyotonePRO - A++2017
Biological effects of direct and indirect manipulation of the fascial system. Narrative review
Giovanni Parravicini, Andrea BergnaThis narrative review explores the biological effects of manual fascial therapies. While osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is clinically effective, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The authors…
fasciaMyofascial releaseManual TherapyMyofascial manipulation - A2017
The indeterminable resilience of the fascial system
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno Morabito, Beatrice SacconiThis 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…
fasciafibroblastManual TherapyOsteopathicfascial continuum - A2017
The Lumbodorsal Fascia as a Potential Source of Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review
Jan Wilke, Robert Schleip, Werner Klingler, Carla SteccoThis 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…
fasciaNociceptionlow back painlumbodorsal fascia - C2017
Multimerin-2 is a ligand for group 14 family C-type lectins CLEC14A, CD93 and CD248 spanning the endothelial pericyte interface
KA Khan, AJ Naylor, A Khan, PJ Noy, M Mambretti, P Lodhia, J Athwal, A Korzystka, CD Buckley, BE Willcox, F Mohammed ,…Researchers investigated how certain proteins interact to form new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis that is crucial for tumor growth. This study, which included lab experiments and mouse models, identified a…
fasciaextracellular matrixendotheliumC-type lectintumor angiogenesis - 1A+2017
Emotions in Motion: Myofascial Interoception
B Bordoni, F MarelliIn this perspective piece, the authors argue that the myofascial system is closely linked to our emotional state. They suggest that manual treatment not only affects the body physically but also activates the interocept…
fasciaManual TherapyMyofascialOsteopathicInteroception - A++2016
Ultra-weak photon emission in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes: evidence for a non-invasive diagnostic tool
Meina Yang, Wenyu Ding, Yanli Liu, Hua Fan, Rajendra P Bajpai, Jialei Fu, Jingxiang Pang, Xiaolei Zhao, Jinxiang HanAll living organisms emit extremely faint light, known as ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). This study investigated whether these light emissions differ between healthy individuals and people with type 2 diabetes. Resea…
fasciaphoton emissionbiological systemspathological statesUE - C2016
Functional in vitro tension measurements of fascial tissue – a novel modified superfusion approach
Robert Schleip, Werner Klingler, S Wearing, I Naylor, M Zuegel, K HoppeIn this laboratory study on rat tissue, researchers compared two techniques for measuring tension changes in fascia. The traditional method involves immersing the tissue in a fluid bath, but the team also tested a modif…
fasciaOrgan BathMechanographic RegistrationSuperfusionImmersionmized Mice - A2016
What Is Evidence-Based About Myofascial Chains: A Systematic Review
Jan Wilke, Frieder Krause, Lutz Vogt, Winfried BanzerThis systematic review evaluated anatomical dissection studies to find evidence for six proposed myofascial meridians. Researchers analyzed 62 studies and found strong evidence for the anatomical continuity of three lin…
fasciaForce transmissionmyofascial chainsmeridians - A2016
The tongue after whiplash: case report and osteopathic treatment
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno MorabitoThis case report describes a 30-year-old man who experienced neck pain during swallowing and had a reduced ability to open his mouth following a whiplash injury. He was treated with osteopathic manual techniques directe…
fasciafascial releasetongueindirect osteopathic techniques - A2016
A Systematic Review of the Soft-Tissue Connections Between Neck Muscles and Dura Mater
Luis Palomeque-del-Cerro, Luis A Arráez-Aybar, Cleofás Rodriguez-Blanco, Rafael Guzmán-Garcia, Mar Menendez-Aparicio, Á…In this systematic review, researchers compiled data from 26 studies to investigate direct soft-tissue connections between neck muscles and the dura mater, the outermost membrane surrounding the spinal cord. The analysi…
fasciaConnective tissueproprioceptionSpineAnatomy