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++2019
Induced lumbosacral radicular symptom referral patterns: a descriptive study
Michael B Furman, Stephen C JohnsonThis observational study investigated actual pain patterns caused by irritating specific nerve roots in the lower back. Clinicians often use standard 'dermatome' maps to diagnose the source of radiating leg pain, but pa…
dermatomes; nerve; communications; map; cutaneous; sensory - 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 - A++2018
Ascorbic acid in cancer treatment: let the phoenix fly
Niraj Shenoy, Edward Creagan, Thomas Witzig, Mark LevineThis review article discusses the renewed interest in Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as a potential anti-cancer agent. When administered intravenously, Vitamin C can reach much higher concentrations in the body than when tak…
cancerVitamin Cascorbatepharmacokinetics - A++2018
Female hormones: do they influence muscle and tendon protein metabolism?
Mette HansenThis narrative review examines how female sex hormones, particularly estrogen, influence the metabolism of proteins in muscles and tendons. After menopause, declining hormone levels are associated with accelerated muscl…
ACL anterior cruciate ligament; ER oestrogen receptors; ERT oestrogen replacement therapy; HRT hormone replacement therapy; IGF-I insulin-like growth factor-I; OC oral contraceptive; Collagen; Hormone replacement therapy; Muscle strength; Oestrogen; Sarcopenia. - A++2018
Assessment of pain quality reveals distinct differences between nociceptive innervation of low back fascia and muscle in humans
Andreas Schilder, Walter Magerl, Thomas Klein, Rolf-Detlef TreedeThis study explored whether pain from low back muscles is perceived differently than pain from the overlying fascia. Researchers used electrical stimulation in 16 healthy participants, who then described the induced pai…
Thoracolumbar fasciamultifidus musclePain qualityElectrical stimulationVerbal descriptors - A++2018
The Impedance Profile of Acupuncture Points
Fletcher KovichThis study investigated real-time electrical impedance (resistance) at acupuncture points in a single subject. The researcher observed that when impedance decreased at the center of a point, it often increased at a loca…
acupunctureacupointsimpedancecommunication - A++2018
Emerging Therapies for Spastic Movement Disorders
Preeti RaghavanSpasticity following a central nervous system injury can cause muscle stiffness, partly due to secondary changes in muscles and connective tissue. The 'hyaluronan hypothesis' suggests that an accumulation of hyaluronan,…
Spasticity; Muscle stiffness; Peripheral mechanism; Stroke; Brain Injury; Hyaluronidase; Hyaluronic Acid; Hyaluronan hypothesis - A++2018
Various stem cells in acupuncture meridians and points and their putative roles
Jeanne Adiwinata PawitanThis narrative review explores the connection between acupuncture points and an anatomical network known as the Primo Vascular System (PVS). Formerly called the Bong-Han system, the PVS consists of microscopic vessels a…
Bong-Han system; Kyungrak system; Primo microcell; Primo node; Primo vascular system; Primo vessel; Stem cell. - A++2018
Biotensegrity-Anatomy for the 21st Century Informing Yoga and Physiotherapy Concerning New Findings in Fascia Research
John SharkeyThis short article discusses how a new view of anatomy, called biotensegrity, is changing our understanding of the human body. This perspective focuses on fascia as a continuous, interconnected network that creates a un…
biotensegrityyogahuman anatomy - A++2018
Low-frequency vibrotherapy considerably improves the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in patients with lipedema: A two-armed, randomized, controlled pragmatic trial
Rainer SchneiderThis randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of adding low-frequency vibrotherapy to manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) for 30 women with stage 2–3 lipedema. Participants were randomly assigned to receive eithe…
Lipedema; MLD; quality of life; shock wave vibrotherapy - A++2018
Low intensity vibration increases cartilage thickness in obese mice
Tee Pamon, Vincent Bhandal, Benjamin J Adler, M Ete Chan, Clinton T RubinThis animal study investigated if a high-fat diet affected cartilage thickness in mice and if low-intensity vibration (LIV) could offer protection. Contrary to expectations, the high-fat diet alone did not significantly…
osteoarthritis; chondrocytes; exercise; biomechanics; adaptation; stem cell - A++2018
Release of fascial compartment boundaries reduces muscle force output
Roy J Ruttiman, David A Sleboda,, Thomas J RobertsIn this animal study, researchers investigated how the fascial sheets that enclose muscles affect their function. They surgically removed the fascia from a wing muscle in wild turkeys to see how it changed the muscle's…
Muscletendoncompartmentfasciotomyintramuscular pressure