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 studiesTensegrity and Mechanotransduction
This article summarizes a lecture on how mechanical forces influence biological processes at the cellular level. The author describes mechanotransduction, the process by which cells convert physical forces into biochemi…
Diagnosis and management of adhesive capsulitis
This 2008 review discusses adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, a disabling musculoskeletal condition. The authors cover the diagnosis and management of the condition, which can cause significant morbidit…
Three-Dimensional Mathematical Model for Deformation of Human Fasciae in Manual Therapy
Researchers developed a mathematical model to calculate the force required to deform human fascia during manual therapy. The model showed that very large forces, beyond the normal physiological range of a therapist, are…
Vitamin C Deficiency in a University Teaching Hospital
This study investigated vitamin C levels in patients at a Canadian teaching hospital. Researchers found that 60% of patients had low levels and 19% were deficient, a much higher rate than in a healthy reference group. F…
Simple geometry in complex organisms
This theoretical paper explores how simple geometric principles can explain the formation of complex biological structures. The author revisits ancient ideas about fundamental shapes, connecting them to modern concepts…
Fibroblast mechanics in three-dimensional collagen matrices
This summary describes the relationship between fibroblasts and collagen, the primary cells and protein of fascia, respectively. Fascia provides mechanical support for the body's tissues, and fibroblasts are responsible…
Can cancer be reversed by engineering the tumor microenvironment?
In this perspective article, the author proposes a different way of looking at cancer. Instead of focusing solely on genetic mutations, he argues that the physical environment around a tumor, particularly the extracellu…
The Myofibroblast One Function, Multiple Origins
This 2007 review article discusses the myofibroblast, a cell type crucial for wound healing but also implicated in fibrosis, or pathological scarring. The authors highlight that while myofibroblasts perform similar func…
Formation and Function of the Myofibroblast during Tissue Repair
Myofibroblasts are specialized cells that play a key role in wound healing and tissue repair. Formed from fibroblasts, their primary function is to contract, which helps pull the edges of a wound together. While this is…
Mechanical Stimulation Increases Collagen Type I and Collagen Type III Gene Expression of Stem Cell–Collagen Sponge Constructs for Patellar Tendon Repair
This laboratory study investigated how mechanical stimulation affects tissue-engineered constructs intended for tendon repair. Researchers used rabbit stem cells grown in collagen sponges. One group of these constructs…
Myofascial force transmission between antagonistic rat lower limb muscles: Effects of single muscle or muscle group lengthening
In this study on rats, researchers investigated how lengthening muscles on the front of the lower leg affects their neighbors. They observed that stretching one muscle group significantly changed the forces within an ad…
Connective Tissue Fibroblast Response to Acupuncture: Dose- Dependent Effect of Bidirectional Needle Rotation
This study on mouse tissue explored how connective tissue cells respond to back-and-forth rotation of an acupuncture needle. Researchers observed that fibroblasts, a type of connective tissue cell, changed shape by spre…