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- 1A+2019
Fascia Is Able to Actively Contract and May Thereby Influence Musculoskeletal Dynamics: A Histochemical and Mechanographic Investigation
Robert Schleip, G Gabbiani, Jan Wilke, I Naylor, B Hinz, A Zorn, Heike Jäger, R Breul, S Schreiner, Werner KlinglerThis study investigated whether fascia can actively contract, challenging the traditional view of it as a passive tissue. Researchers examined human and rat fascial samples for the presence of contractile cells called m…
Connective tissuestiffnessmyofibroblastscontractilitycontracture - 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 - 1A+2019
A Primitive Trait in Two Breeds of Equus Caballus Revealed by Comparative Anatomy of the Distal Limb
Sharon May-Davis, Zefanja Vermeulen, Wendy Y BrownThis comparative anatomy study investigated the lower limbs of 574 equids, including 18 horse breeds, donkeys, zebras, and Przewalski's horses. Researchers looked for two specific ligamentous structures that are remnant…
2nd3rd4th Interosseous muscle; Dutch Konik; Bosnian Mountain Horse; Donkey; Przewalski; Zebra; Atavism - 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
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 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
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 - 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 - 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 LangevinIn 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
From mechanobiology to developmentally inspired engineering
Donald IngberThis 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…
Tensegritymechanicalorgans-on-chipstissue engineering - 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