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- A++2016
Estrogen and Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Ling Zhou, Anna Junjie Shangguan, Stacy Ann Kujawa, Katarzyna Bochenska, Lanmei Zhang, Serdar E Bulun, Hong ZhaoThis narrative review explores the relationship between estrogen and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition where pelvic organs descend from their normal positions. Research suggests that low estrogen levels, particul…
Pelvic organ prolapse; Estrogen; Estrogen receptor; Collagen; Matrix metalloproteinases - 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 - A++2015
Estrogen inhibits lysyl oxidase and decreases mechanical function in engineered ligaments
Cassandra A Lee, Ann Lee-Barthel, Louise Marquino, Natalie Sandoval, George R Marcotte, Keith BaarThis lab study investigated why women are more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than men, focusing on the role of estrogen. Researchers used human ACL cells to create engineered ligaments in a la…
ACL; exercise; tendon; ultimate tensile strength - A++2015
The Effects of Vibration and Muscle Fatigue on Trunk Sensorimotor Control in Low Back Pain Patients
Jean-Alexandre Boucher, Jacques Abboud, François Nougarou, Martin C Normand, Martin DescarreauxThis study compared trunk muscle control between people with chronic low back pain (cLBP) and healthy individuals. Researchers found that the cLBP group was less accurate at reproducing a specific amount of force with t…
fascialow back painmuscle fatiguevibration - A++2015
Effects of plant sterols derived from Aloe vera gel on human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and on skin condition in Japanese women
Miyuki Tanaka, Eriko Misawa, Koji Yamauchi, Fumiaki Abe, Chiaki IshizakiThis study investigated how plant sterols from Aloe vera gel affect the skin, using both laboratory tests on human skin cells (fibroblasts) and a clinical trial with women. In the lab, these sterols were found to stimul…
oral supplementationaloe sterol; collagen; wrinkle - A++2015
Influence of different intensities of vibration on proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells
Chunxiang Zhang, Yanqin Lu, Linkun Zhang, Yang Liu, Yi Zhou, Yangxi Chen, Haiyang YuIn this laboratory study, researchers investigated how low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration affects stem cells from the human periodontal ligament, the tissue that holds teeth in the jaw. The results suggest that vib…
Proliferationmechanical vibrationperiodontal ligament stem cellsosteogenesismagnitude - A++2015
BioTensegrity Fascia and the fallacy of biomechanics. Part 1
John SharkeyThis conceptual article introduces Biotensegrity as an emerging model for understanding human anatomy. It challenges traditional biomechanics by viewing the body as a continuous tensional network in which fascia plays a…
biotensegrityBiomechanics - A++2015
BioTensegrity Fascia and the fallacy of biomechanics, Part 2.
John SharkeyIn this conceptual article, the second in a series, the author introduces BioTensegrity as an alternative to classical biomechanics. He argues that traditional models of animal and human movement, which date back to the…
biotensegrityBiomechanics - A++2015
Meralgia paresthetica caused by entrapment of the lateral femoral subcutaneous nerve at the fascia lata of the thigh: a case report and literature review
Yasuyuki Omichi, Ichiro Tonogai, Shinsuke Kaji, Teruaki Sangawa, Koichi SairyoThis case report and literature review describe an unusual presentation of meralgia paresthetica, a condition causing numbness and pain in the outer thigh. While the condition typically involves nerve entrapment at the…
nerve entrapment - A++2015
Glycine improves biochemical and biomechanical properties following inflammation of the achilles tendon
Cristiano Pedrozo Vieira, Letícia Prado De Oliveira, Flávia Da Ré Guerra, Marcos Dos Santos De Almeida, Maria Cristina…This animal study investigated the effect of the amino acid glycine on inflamed Achilles tendons in rats. Researchers induced inflammation and then fed one group of rats a diet supplemented with 5% glycine. After 22 day…
achilles tendon; extracellular matrix; glycine; inflammatory process; tendinopathy. - A++2015
Neurovisceral phenotypes in the expression of psychiatric symptoms
Jessica A Eccles, Andrew P Owens, Christopher J Mathias, Satoshi Umeda, Hugo D CritchleyThis narrative review explores the idea that vulnerability to anxiety may be rooted in inherent physical differences in how the body is regulated. The authors focus on conditions like joint hypermobility, Postural Tachy…
joint hypermobilityAnxietypostural tachycardia syndromevasovagal syncopepsychiatry - A++2015
Size Matters: Molecular Weight Specificity of Hyaluronan Effects in Cell Biology
Jaime M Cyphert, Carol S Trempus, Stavros GarantziotisThis narrative review summarizes current knowledge about hyaluronan, a molecule whose biological effects are dependent on its size. Unlike many other molecules, hyaluronan's signaling properties are determined not by ch…
hyaluronanCell signalingmolecular size