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- A2003
Mechanobiology and diseases of mechanotransduction
Donald E IngberThis 2003 article argues that medicine often overlooks the physical and mechanical aspects of disease, focusing instead on genetics. The author reviews how physical forces and the extracellular matrix are vital for norm…
extracellular matrixcytoskeletonmechanotransductionIntegrinstissue engineering - A2001
Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture
Helene M Langevin, David L Churchill, Marilyn J CipollaThis paper proposes a hypothesis for how acupuncture might work. The authors focus on the "de qi" sensation, which includes the acupuncturist feeling a "needle grasp" in the tissue. They suggest that when an acupuncture…
collagenmechanotransductionmeridian - A1999
Tensegrity and mechanoregulation: from skeleton to cytoskeleton
Christopher S Chen, Donald E IngberThis review article explores how mechanical forces are transmitted from the whole body down to individual cells. The authors propose that a design principle called "tensegrity," which uses continuous tension and local c…
extracellular matrixTensegritycytoskeletonmechanotransductionIntegrins
