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 studiesRole of Extracellular Matrix in Adaptation of Tendon and Skeletal Muscle to Mechanical Loading
This review discusses how the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly collagen, adapts to mechanical loading in tendons and muscles. Physical activity stimulates both the creation and breakdown of collagen, a process e…
Age-related Changes in the Collagen Network and Toughness of Bone
This study investigated how the collagen network in bone tissue changes with age and how this affects bone toughness. Researchers analyzed 30 femurs from human cadavers, with donors ranging from 19 to 89 years of age. T…
Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture
This paper proposes a hypothesis for how acupuncture might work. The authors focus on the "de qi" sensation, which includes the acupuncturist feeling a "needle grasp" in the tissue. They suggest that when an acupuncture…
Collagen accumulation in muscles of children with cerebral palsy and correlation with severity of spasticity
This study investigated the link between connective tissue and muscle function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Researchers analyzed muscle samples from 26 children, comparing collagen content to clinical measures…
Angiogenic oligosaccharides of hyaluronan enhance the production of collagens by endothelial cells
This study investigated how small fragments of hyaluronan (HA) affect collagen production during the formation of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. Researchers observed that applying these HA fragments t…
THE INFLUENCE OF MECHANICAL FORCES ON THE GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN CONTENT OF THE RABBIT FLEXOR DIGITORUM PROFUNDUS TENDON
In this animal study on rabbits, researchers surgically altered the mechanical forces on a deep finger flexor tendon to observe how the tissue adapted. They analyzed how the content of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)—molecule…