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
A new clinical trial to test high-dose vitamin C in patients with COVID-19
Anitra C CarrThis 2020 entry by Anitra C. Carr announces a new clinical trial. The study was designed to investigate the effects of high-dose vitamin C on patients with COVID-19. As this is only a title entry, no details about the s…
Vitamin CCOVID-19corona virushigh-dose C - A2020
Tendon and ligament mechanical loading in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis
Eric Gracey, Arne Burssens, Isabelle Cambré, Georg Schett, Rik Lories, Iain B. McInnes, Hiroshi Asahara, Dirk ElewautThis review article discusses how mechanical loading affects tendons and ligaments. While normal levels of loading are essential for maintaining tissue health, pathological levels of force act as a stressor that can tri…
mechanical stressMechanical loadingtendonrepair of tissueligament - 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
Symptomatology correlations between the diaphragm and irritable bowel syndrome
Bruno Bordoni, Bruno MorabitoThis narrative review explores the potential connection between the diaphragm muscle and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The authors propose that an altered contractile ability of the diaphragm and different breathing p…
painlow back paindiaphragmirritable bowel syndromechronic headache - A+++2020
Alterations of Extracellular Matrix Mechanical Properties Contribute to Age-Related Functional Impairment of Human Skeletal Muscles
Piero Pavan, Elena Monti, Michela Bondí, Chenglei Fan, Carla Stecco, Marco Narici, Carlo Reggiani, Lorenzo MarcucciThis study investigated why muscles become stiffer with age by comparing individual muscle fibers to bundles of fibers that include the extracellular matrix (ECM). Researchers found that while the stiffness of individua…
aging; collagen; extracellular matrix; resting tension; single muscle fiber; skeletal muscle. - A2020
T1ρ‐Mapping for Musculoskeletal Pain Diagnosis: Case Series of Variation of Water Bound Glycosaminoglycans Quantification before and after Fascial Manipulation® in Subjects with Elbow Pain
Rajiv G Menon, Stephen F Oswald, Preeti Raghavan, Ravinder R Regatte, Antonio SteccoIn this small case series, researchers evaluated five patients with chronic elbow pain. Using an advanced MRI technique (T1ρ-mapping), they measured the concentration of bound and unbound water in the deep fascia before…
T1ρ; fascial manipulation; epicondylitis - A++2020
Fascia and soft tissues innervation in the human hip and their possible role in post-surgical pain
Caterina Fede, Andrea Porzionato, Lucia Petrelli, Chenglei Fan, Carmelo Pirri, Carlo Biz, Raffaele De Caro, Carla SteccoResearchers investigated the nerve supply to various soft tissues in the human hip to better understand persistent pain after hip replacement surgery. Analyzing tissue samples from patients and cadavers, they measured t…
fasciapaininnervationproprioceptionSoft tissue - A2020
A randomized clinical trial for the effect of static stretching and strengthening exercise on pelvic tilt angle in LBP patients
Mohammad Bagher Shamsi, Soodeh Shahsavari, Ameneh Safari, Maryam MirzaeiThis randomized clinical trial investigated whether stretching or strengthening tight hamstrings could change pelvic posture in people with low back pain. Forty-five participants were divided into three groups: static s…
low back painPelvic tiltHamstring - A++2020
Local low-intensity vibration improves healing of muscle injury in mice
Thomas F Corbiere, Timothy J KohIn this animal study, researchers investigated how local low-intensity vibration (LIV) affects muscle injury healing in mice. After lacerating the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle in mice, one group received daily vibration…
skeletal muscle injurycell culturemechanical stimulationmouse modelmuscle repair - A++2020
Telocytes and lymphatic endothelial cells: Two immunophenotypically distinct and spatially close cell entities
Irene Rosa, Mirca Marini, Eleonora Sgambati, Lidia Ibba-Manneschi, Mirko ManettiResearchers have been working to clarify the identity of two cell types, telocytes and lymphatic endothelial cells, which can sometimes look similar in tissue samples. This study used a specific staining technique to lo…
Telocytes and lymphatic endothelial cells: Two immunophenotypically distinct and spatially close cell entities - 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. - A+++2020
A Review of the Theoretical Fascial Models: Biotensegrity, Fascintegrity, and Myofascial Chains
Bruno Bordoni, Tom MyersIn this review article, the authors discuss three theoretical models used to understand how fascia functions in the body. The biotensegrity model is mechanical and considers the solid fascia, while the fascintegrity mod…
fasciaMyofascialOsteopathicphysiotherapymyofascial chains