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- A2020
The MyotonPRO: a reliable and valid tool for quantifying the viscoelastic properties of a trigger point on the infraspinatus in non-traumatic chronic shoulder pain
Mélanie Roch, Mélanie Morin, Nathaly GaudreaultObjectively measuring trigger points is a clinical challenge that typically relies on palpation. This study evaluated a handheld device, the MyotonPRO, on 35 individuals with chronic, non-traumatic shoulder pain. Resear…
Shoulder painMyotonPROTrigger points - A2020
Feeling Things Out: Bidirectional Signaling of the Cell–ECM Interface, Implications in the Mechanobiology of Cell Spreading, Migration, Proliferation, and Differentiation
Andrew E Miller, Ping Hu, Thomas H BarkerThis narrative review describes how cells and their surrounding environment, the extracellular matrix (ECM), constantly communicate with each other. This communication involves physical cues from the ECM being translate…
extracellular matrixstiffnesscytoskeletonmechanotransduction - A2020
Evaluation of scapular mobilization and comparison to pectoralis minor stretching in individuals with rounded shoulder posture: A randomized controlled trial
Maedeh Fani, Samaneh Ebrahimi, Ali GhanbariThis randomized controlled trial investigated treatments for rounded shoulder posture in 52 healthy students. Researchers compared the effects of scapular mobilization, pectoralis minor self-stretching, and a combinatio…
Mobilization; Pectoralis minor stretching; Rounded shoulder; Scapular kinematics. - A2020
Effects of vibration therapy on neuromuscular efficiency & features of the EMG signal based on endurance test
Mohd Mukhtar Alam, Abid Ali Khan, Mohd FarooqThis study investigated how vibration therapy at different frequencies (23 Hz and 35 Hz) affects forearm muscle performance and fatigue. Researchers used electromyography (EMG) to measure electrical activity in four for…
EMG features; Fatigue assessment; Maximal voluntary contraction; Neuromuscular performance; Surface electromyography; Vibration therapy. - A2020
Identification of Telocytes in the Pancreas of Turtles—A role in Cellular Communication
Noor Samad Gandahi, Botao Ding, Yonghong Shi, Xuebing Bai, Jameel Ahmed Gandahi, Waseem Ali Vistro, Qiusheng Chen, Ping…In this animal study, researchers examined the pancreas of turtles to look for a specific cell type called telocytes. Using advanced microscopy and other laboratory techniques, they confirmed for the first time that the…
cellular communication; exosomes; pancreas; soft-shelled turtle; telocytes; telopodes. - A2020
Calf stretching and plantar fascia-specific stretching for plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Akkradate Siriphorn, Sukanya EksakulklaThis systematic review and meta-analysis looked at eight studies to compare two common stretching techniques for plantar fasciitis: calf stretching and plantar fascia-specific stretching. The authors analyzed the data t…
Achilles stretching; Calf stretching; Plantar fascia-specific stretching; Plantar fasciitis; Tendon. - A2019
Glut-1 explains the evolutionary advantage of the loss of endogenous vitamin C-synthesis
Tabea C Hornung, Hans-Konrad BiesalskiUnlike many animals, humans cannot produce their own vitamin C. This study explores a potential evolutionary advantage of this loss. Researchers compared red blood cells from humans and pigs (who can make vitamin C) and…
glucose transporter; vitamin C; gulono-lactone-oxidase; vitamin C recycling - A2019
Intra-articular effects of combined xenogenous serum rich in growth factors (SRGF) and vitamin C on histopathology grading and staging of osteoarthritis in rat model
S Azizi, A Farsinejad, R Kheirandish, H FatemiThis animal study investigated a potential treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) in rats. Researchers induced OA in the rats' knees and then treated them with intra-articular injections. One group received a combination of…
Osteoarthritis; SRGF; Monosodium iodoacetate; Vitamin C; Histopathology - A2019
Active Contractile Properties of Fascia
ROBERT SCHLEIP, WERNER KLINGLERThis narrative review explores how fascia, often seen as a passive tissue, can actively contract. Researchers point to the presence of cells called myofibroblasts within the fascia, which give it the ability to change i…
myofibroblast; fascia; connective tissue; contracture; stiffness; fibrosis - A2019
3D volumetric MR arthrographic assessment of shoulder joint capacity in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis
Hayri Ogul, Nurmuhammet Tas, Kutsi Tuncer, Gokhan Polat, Yasemin Ogul, Berhan Pirimoglu, Mecit KantarciThis study used 3D MR arthrography to measure and compare shoulder joint volume in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) against a healthy control group. Researchers found that the patient group ha…
frozen shoulderAdhesive capsulitisMR arthrography - A2019
Evaluation of the Structure of Myodural Bridges in an Equine Model of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes
Abigail McElroy, Ann Rashmir, Jane Manfredi, Dodd Sledge, Elizabeth Carr, Edward Stopa, Petra KlingeThis animal study investigated myodural bridges—connective tissue links between small neck muscles and the spinal cord's outer covering (dura mater)—in horses. Researchers compared horses with a genetic connective tissu…
Myodural BridgeEhlers-danlos syndromes - A2019
Tissue Regeneration from Mechanical Stretching of Cell–Cell Adhesion
Amir Monemian Esfahani, Jordan Rosenbohm, Keerthana Reddy, Xiaowei Jin, Tasneem Bouzid, Brandon Riehl, Eunju Kim, Jung…This narrative review explores how mechanical stretching can stimulate tissue regeneration and wound healing. Researchers have long known that cells respond to mechanical forces, but much of the focus has been on the co…
wound healingmechanotransductioncell–cell adhesionmechanical stretchingtissue regeneration