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- B2019
Stiffness and echogenicity: Development of a stiffness-echogenicity matrix for clinical problem solving
Antonio Stecco, Carmelo Pirri, Raffaele De Caro, Preeti RaghavanAssessing soft tissue stiffness is important for many neuromusculoskeletal conditions, but can be challenging. While ultrasound can measure a tissue's echogenicity (how it reflects sound waves), this is not directly pro…
stiffnessultrasound.Elastographyechogenicity - A2019
Trigger Points, Pressure Pain Hyperalgesia, and Mechanosensitivity of Neural Tissue in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Pedro Fuentes-Márquez, Marie Carmen Valenza, Irene Cabrera-Martos, Ana Ríos-Sánchez, Olga Ocón-HernándezIn this case-control study, researchers compared women with chronic pelvic pain to a healthy control group. They found that women with pelvic pain had significantly more myofascial trigger points in their low back, glut…
Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Pressure Algometry; Neurodynamics; Chronic Pelvic Pain - 1A+2019
A Primitive Trait in Two Breeds of Equus Caballus Revealed by Comparative Anatomy of the Distal Limb
Sharon May-Davis, Zefanja Vermeulen, Wendy Y BrownThis comparative anatomy study investigated the lower limbs of 574 equids, including 18 horse breeds, donkeys, zebras, and Przewalski's horses. Researchers looked for two specific ligamentous structures that are remnant…
2nd3rd4th Interosseous muscle; Dutch Konik; Bosnian Mountain Horse; Donkey; Przewalski; Zebra; Atavism - A++2019
Development of a biotensegrity focused therapy for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse: A retrospective case series
Anna Crowle, Clare HarleyThis retrospective case series explores a new biotensegrity-focused therapy for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Challenging the common view that POP is caused by weak tissue, this approach hypothesizes that the condition i…
Myofascial releasebiotensegrityPelvic organ prolapsePelvic tension - 1A+2019
Fascia Is Able to Actively Contract and May Thereby Influence Musculoskeletal Dynamics: A Histochemical and Mechanographic Investigation
Robert Schleip, G Gabbiani, Jan Wilke, I Naylor, B Hinz, A Zorn, Heike Jäger, R Breul, S Schreiner, Werner KlinglerThis study investigated whether fascia can actively contract, challenging the traditional view of it as a passive tissue. Researchers examined human and rat fascial samples for the presence of contractile cells called m…
Connective tissuestiffnessmyofibroblastscontractilitycontracture - A2019
Genetics of lipedema: new perspectives on genetic research and molecular diagnoses
S Paolacci, V Precone, F Acquaviva, P Chiurazzi, E Fulcheri, M Pinelli, F Buffelli, S Michelini, K L Herbst, V Unfer, M…This 2019 review explored the genetic basis of lipedema. The researchers summarized existing knowledge to highlight the need for a genetic test to aid in diagnosis. They identified several genetic factors that may be re…
lipedemalipoedemaDifferential diagnosisSubcutaneous fatGenetic diagnosis - A+2019
Specific Collagen Peptides in Combination with Resistance Training Improve Body Composition and Regional Muscle Strength in Premenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Patrick Jendricke, Christoph Centner, Denise Zdzieblik, Albert Gollhofer, Daniel KönigThis randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of combining resistance training with a daily intake of 15 grams of specific collagen peptides in premenopausal women. Over 12 weeks, participants trained three…
body composition; collagen peptides; hand-grip strength; leg press; premenopausal; protein supplementation; resistance training - 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 - C2019
Cell Biology: Function Guides Form of Auditory Sensory Cells
Jamis McGrath, Benjamin J PerrinThis study describes how the sensory cells in our ears get their specific shape. These cells have bundles of tiny hair-like structures called stereocilia, arranged like a staircase in rows of decreasing height. The proc…
mechanotransductionauditory sensory cells - 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 - A++2019
A prophylactic effect of local vibration on quadriceps muscle fatigue in non-athletic males: a randomized controlled trial study
Khadijeh Otadi, Mehri Ghasemi, Shohreh Jalaie, Hossein Bagheri, Morteza Azizian, Saeid Emamdoost, Hadi Sarafraz, Mustap…This randomized controlled trial investigated whether local vibration could prevent muscle fatigue. Thirty healthy, non-athletic young men were divided into two groups: one received two minutes of vibration on their qua…
Musclefatiguevibration - B2019
Extracellular matrix composition of connective tissues: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Turney J McKee, George Perlman, Martin Morris, Svetlana V KomarovaThis systematic review and meta-analysis compiled data to quantify the protein composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in various human connective tissues. Researchers analyzed data from studies on bone, adipose t…
extracellular matrixmatrix remodelingcollagen content