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Research.

Every peer-reviewed study on fascia in one place — graded for strength of evidence, summarised in plain language for clinicians, researchers, and curious readers.

We grade studies from A to 1A+++ using the Fascia Research Database rubric — 1A+++ is the strongest.

Researchers behind the studies
2,806
studies
602
top-graded
2,783
with plain-language summary
Showing 13–24 of 42 studies · page 2/41A+
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1A+2018

Stretching Reduces Tumor Growth in a Mouse Breast Cancer Model

L Berrueta, J Bergholz, D Munoz, I Muskaj, G J Badger, A Shukla, H J Kim, J J Zhao, H M Langevin

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…

StretchingTumor growthBreast cancer
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 Fox

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…

fasciaConnective tissueStretching
1A+2018

Equine Manual Therapies in Sport Horse Practice

Kevin K Haussler

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…

osteopathyManual Therapyproprioception
1A+2017

Emotions in Motion: Myofascial Interoception

B Bordoni, F Marelli

In 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 TherapyMyofascial
1A+2016

STRETCHING IMPACTS INFLAMMATION RESOLUTION IN CONNECTIVE TISSUE

L Berrueta, I Muskaj, S Olenich, T Butler, G J Badger, R A Colas, M Spite, C N Serhan, H M Langevin

In this animal study, researchers investigated the effect of stretching on acute inflammation in the connective tissue of rats. After inducing local inflammation in the rats' backs, one group was subjected to twice-dail…

Stretching; SPM; Resolvin; Inflammation; Connective tissue
1A+2016

Expression of the endocannabinoid receptors in human fascial tissue

Caterina Fede, G Albertin, L Petrelli, M M Sfriso, C Biz, R De Caro, Carla Stecco

Researchers investigated whether human fascia contains cannabinoid receptors, which are part of the body's endocannabinoid system. Taking small tissue samples from volunteers during orthopedic surgery, they analyzed the…

fascia; fascial fibroblasts; endocannabinoid; immunostaining
1A+2016

Hormone receptor expression in human fascial tissue

Caterina Fede, G Albertin, L Petrelli, M M Sfriso, C Biz, R De Caro, Carla Stecco

Adult women tend to experience more myofascial pain than men, and this study explored a possible hormonal link. Researchers examined fascial tissue from eight female volunteers, looking for receptors for the hormones es…

Fascia; fascial fibroblasts; estrogen; relaxin; immunostaining
1A+2015

Fascia and Primo Vascular System

Chun Yang, Yi-kuan Du, Jian-bin Wu, JunWang, Ping Luan, Qin-lao Yang, Lin Yuan

In this review article, the authors explore the idea that the body's network of fascia may be the physical structure corresponding to acupuncture meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). They also discuss the pr…

fasciamechanotransductionprimo vascular system
1A+2015

Electron microscopy of human fascia lata: focus on telocytes

Joanna Dawidowicz, Sylwia Szotek, Natalia Matysiak, Łukasz Miela!nczyk, Krzysztof Maksymowicz

This study used an electron microscope to examine the types of cells present in the fascia lata, a sheet of connective tissue in the thigh. For the first time, researchers confirmed the existence of a specific cell type…

Fibroblastsmyofibroblastshuman fascia lata
1A+2015

Gymnastic Training and Dynamic Mobilization Exercises Improve Stride Quality and Increase Epaxial Muscle Size in Therapy Horses

Kátia de Oliveira, Ricardo V G Soutello, Ricardo da Fonseca, Ciniro Costa, Paulo R de L Meirelles, Daniele F Fachiolli,…

This study on therapy horses investigated how specific exercises affect stride and back muscles. Over three months, nine horses were divided into three groups: a control group, one doing dynamic mobilization exercises,…

Hippotherapytherapeutic exercisedynamic mobilization exercise
1A+2014

The Medium of Haptic Perception: A Tensegrity Hypothesis

Michael T Turvey, Sérgio T Fonseca

In this theoretical paper, the authors propose a new hypothesis for how our sense of touch, or haptic perception, works. Unlike other senses that have a clear medium (like air for sound), the haptic system lacks one. Th…

fasciaConnective tissuecytoskeleton
1A+2014

Crosstalk between fibroblasts and inflammatory cells

S Van Linthout, K Miteva, C Tschöpe

This narrative review describes how fibroblasts, traditionally seen as passive cells that produce extracellular matrix, are increasingly understood as active key players in the immune system. The authors provide an over…

fibroblastMyofibroblastInnate and adaptive immune response