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- A++2018
Subcutaneous adipose tissue therapy reduces fat by dual X-ray absorptiometry scan and improves tissue structure by ultrasound in women with lipoedema and Dercum disease
M Ibarra, A Eekema, C Ussery, D Neuhardt, K Garby, K L HerbstThis small study investigated a non-surgical therapy for subcutaneous adipose tissue in seven women with lipoedema or Dercum disease. Over four weeks of treatment, participants experienced significant reductions in weig…
lipoedemaDercum diseasesubcutaneous adipose tissue. - A++2018
Assessment of pain quality reveals distinct differences between nociceptive innervation of low back fascia and muscle in humans
Andreas Schilder, Walter Magerl, Thomas Klein, Rolf-Detlef TreedeThis study explored whether pain from low back muscles is perceived differently than pain from the overlying fascia. Researchers used electrical stimulation in 16 healthy participants, who then described the induced pai…
Thoracolumbar fasciamultifidus musclePain qualityElectrical stimulationVerbal descriptors - 1A+++2018
Quantification of hyaluronan in human fasciae: variations with function and anatomical site
Caterina Fede, A Angelini, R Stern, V Macchi, A Porzionato, P Ruggieri, R De Caro, Carla SteccoThis study quantified for the first time the amount of hyaluronan (HA), a key lubricant, in human fascia from different parts of the body. Since HA is essential for the smooth gliding between fascial layers, understandi…
densification; extracellular matrix; fascia; fibrosis; gliding; hyaluronan; myofascial pain - A2018
The myodural bridge in the common rock pigeon (Columbia livia): Morphology and possible physiological implications
Chukwuemeka Samuel Okoye, Nan Zheng, Sheng-Bo Yu, Hong-Jin SuiIn this anatomical study on pigeons, researchers investigated a connective tissue structure called the myodural bridge. Through dissections and tissue analysis of the suboccipital region where the skull meets the neck,…
Connective tissuecerebrospinal fluiddura materbirdhistological sections - A+++2018
Applied Myo-Fascial Advances in Veterinary Medicine and Practice
A P Harrison, V S ElbrøndThis review article summarizes recent advances in veterinary medicine with a focus on myofascia. It presents findings on the structure and function of these interconnected tissues, highlighting the benefits of treating…
acoustic myography; kinetic lines; bioimpedance; acupuncture; release therapy - A++2018
Bone is fascia
Stephen LevinThis entry, based on its title alone, proposes a conceptual link between bone and fascia. Without an abstract or full text, the specific arguments made by the author remain unclear. The title 'Bone is fascia' suggests a…
fascia - A2018
Biotensegrity and myofascial chains: A global approach to an integrated kinetic chain
S L Dischiavi, A A Wright, E J Hegedus, C M BleakleyThis theoretical paper proposes a holistic way to understand human movement, contrasting it with the traditional approach of studying body parts in isolation. The authors suggest a model based on "biotensegrity," where…
RehabilitationbiotensegrityMuscular chainsDynamic knee valgusHip - A+++2018
The laterality of the gallop gait in Thoroughbred racehorses
Paulette Cully, Brian Nielsen, Bryony Lancaster, Jessica Martin, Paul McGreevyThis observational study investigated whether Thoroughbred racehorses have a preferred leading leg when transitioning from a halt to a gallop in starting stalls. Analyzing over 2,000 horses, researchers found no overall…
asymmetryrace horses - B2018
Cellular Mechanotransduction: From Tension to Function
F Martino, A R Perestrelo, V Vinarský, S Pagliari, G ForteIn this review article, the authors describe mechanotransduction—the process by which cells sense and respond to physical forces from their environment, such as the extracellular matrix. These mechanical cues are conver…
mechanotransductionnucleoskeletonfocal adhesionmechanobiologymechanosensor - 1A+2018
The Fasciacytes- A New Cell Devoted To Fascial Gliding Regulation
Carla Stecco, Caterina Fede, Veronica Macchi, Andrea Porzionato, Lucia Petrelli, Carlo Biz, Robert Stern, Raffaele De C…Researchers have identified a new type of cell within fascia, which they have named "fasciacytes." This study presents evidence that these specialized cells are responsible for producing hyaluronan, a key component of t…
hyaluronanfasciafasciacytesextracellular matrix - C2018
Anatomy of the fasciae and fascial spaces of the maxillofacial and the anterior neck regions
Seiichiro KitamuraThis narrative review simplifies the complex anatomy of the fascia in the face, jaw, and front of the neck. The author organizes the region into four distinct portions based on their relationship to a key fascial layer,…
fasciaFascial spaceGross anatomyMaxillofacial regionAnterior neck - A2018
Lipedema—An update
Uwe WollinaThis review provides an update on lipedema, a chronic condition affecting subcutaneous fat tissue in the limbs, almost exclusively in women. It typically appears during or after puberty and is characterized by symmetric…
painEdemaobesitylipedemalymphedema