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- B2017
Stretching Reduces Skin Thickness and Improves Subcutaneous Tissue Mobility in a Murine Model of Systemic Sclerosis
Y Xiong, L Berrueta, K Urso, Sara Olenich, Igla Muskaj, G J Badger, A Aliprantis, R Lafyatis, H M LangevinThis animal study investigated the effects of stretching on systemic sclerosis, a condition that causes skin inflammation and fibrosis. Using a mouse model of the disease, researchers found that ten minutes of daily str…
inflammationfibrosisSystemic sclerosisStretchingscleroderma - C2017
Bi component T1p and T2 Relaxation Mapping of Skeletal Muscle In-Vivo
Azadeh Sharafi, Gregory Chang, Ravinder R RegatteResearchers evaluated a specific MRI technique for creating more detailed images of skeletal muscle. Using what is known as T1ρ and T2 relaxation mapping on the calf muscles of healthy volunteers, they were able to dist…
inflammationfibrosisskeletal musclebi-componentT2 relaxation - B2017
Evidence of both systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia patients, as assessed by a multiplex protein panel applied to the cerebrospinal fluid and to plasma
Emmanuel Bäckryd, Lars Tanum, Anne-Li Lind, Anders Larsson, Torsten GordhThis study investigated signs of inflammation in people with fibromyalgia (FM). Researchers analyzed 92 different inflammation-related proteins in both blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid from 40 FM patients, comparing…
inflammationFibromyalgiacytokineschronic paincerebrospinal fluid - A++2016
Reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Ludovic Giloteaux, Julia K. Goodrich, William A. Walters, Susan M. Levine, Ruth E. Ley, Maureen R. HansonResearchers investigated the gut microbiome and blood markers of inflammation in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Compared to healthy controls, individuals with ME/CFS had reduced…
inflammationChronic fatigue syndromeMyalgic encephalomyelitisLipopolysaccharidesMicrobiome - A+++2016
Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: What Polyphenols Can Do for Us?
Tarique Hussain, Bie Tan, Yulong Yin, Francois Blachier, Myrlene C B Tossou, Najma RahuThis narrative review explores the link between oxidative stress and inflammation, focusing on how plant-derived polyphenols may mitigate these processes. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species overwhelm t…
inflammationOxidative stresspolyphenols - A2015
Evidence for the existence of nociceptors in rat thoracolumbar fascia
S Mense, U HoheiselThis animal study on rats investigated the presence of pain-sensing nerve fibers (nociceptors) in the thoracolumbar fascia. Researchers compared normal fascia with tissue in which they had induced inflammation. The resu…
inflammationfasciafasciitisnon-specific low back painfascia nociceptors - A2015
Hyaluronan, inflammation and breast cancer progression
Katryn L Schwertfeger, Mary K Cowman, Patrick G Telmer, Eva A Turley, James B McCarthyThis narrative review explores the link between inflammation, the tissue component hyaluronan (HA), and breast cancer progression. Cancer cells and surrounding host cells can create an inflamed microenvironment that hel…
hyaluronaninflammationCD44fasciaBreast cancer - A2015
Innervation Changes Induced by Inflammation of the Thoracolumbar Fascia
U Hoheisel, J Rosner, S MenseThis animal study investigated how inflammation affects the nerves in the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) of rats. Researchers induced inflammation in the TLF and compared its nerve fiber density to that of healthy fascia. W…
inflammationfasciafasciitisfascia innervationsympathetic fibers - B2014
Identification and signature profiles for pro-resolving and inflammatory lipid mediators in human tissue
Romain A Colas, Masakazu Shinohara, Jesmond Dalli, Nan Chiang, Charles N SerhanResearchers developed a method to identify and measure specific molecules in human blood and lymphoid tissues called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). These molecules are known to actively help resolve inflamm…
inflammationresolutioneicosanoidsresolvins - B2013
The resolution of inflammation
Christopher D Buckley, Derek W Gilroy, Charles N Serhan, Brigitta Stockinger, Paul P TakThis article summarizes a discussion from a scientific conference on how to turn off undesirable inflammation. There is a growing appreciation that the resolution of inflammation, much like its initiation, is an active…
inflammationresolution - A++2012
Diet-Induced Dysbiosis of the Intestinal Microbiota and the Effects on Immunity and Disease
Kirsty Brown, Daniella DeCoffe, Erin Molcan, Deanna L GibsonThis 2012 narrative review explores the connection between diet, gut microbes, and the immune system. The gastrointestinal tract must balance tolerance for harmless bacteria and food with responsiveness to pathogens. An…
inflammationnutritionintestinal microbiotadisease susceptibility - A+2012
The role of stromal cells in the persistence of chronic inflammation
A J Naylor, A Filer, C D BuckleyThis review article explores why chronic inflammation often persists in specific anatomical locations. The authors highlight that stromal cells, particularly the fibroblasts that define a tissue's architecture, are like…
inflammationfasciafibroblastchronicpersistence