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
Effect of Health-Promoting Agents on Exclusion-Zone Size
Abha Sharma, Colby Adams, Benjamin D Cashdollar, Zheng Li, Nam V Nguyen, Himasri Sai, Jiachun Shi, Gautham Velchuru, Ke…This experimental study investigated how various health-promoting agents affect the formation of "exclusion zone" (EZ) water, often referred to as the fourth phase of water. Researchers found that substances such as hol…
dose dependent; dose response; exclusion zone water; health-promoting agents; hydrophilic surface; nutraceuticals - A2018
Effectiveness of 3-dimensional shoulder ultrasound in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears
Aiping Teng, Fanxiao Liu, Dongsheng Zhou, Tao He, Yan Chevalier, Roland M KlarIn this meta-analysis, researchers combined data from seven studies involving 282 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in diagnosing rotator cuff tears. The analysis found that 3D ultr…
3-dimensional ultrasounddiagnostic valuemeta-analysisrotator cuff tears - A2018
Measuring the Human Ultra-Weak Photon Emission Distribution Using an Electron-Multiplying, Charge-Coupled Device as a Sensor
Fernando Ortega-Ojeda, Matías Calcerrada, Alejandro Ferrero, Joaquín Campos, Carmen Garcia-RuizLiving systems, including humans, emit an extremely faint light called ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). This light is thought to be a byproduct of metabolic processes, particularly those involving reactive oxygen speci…
ultra-weak photon emission; spectrometer; measurement; electron multiplying charge coupled device sensor; liquid crystal tunable filter - A2018
A fundamental critique of the fascial distortion model and its application in clinical practice
Christoph ThalhamerThis narrative review critiques the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), a manual therapy approach based on the idea that all musculoskeletal complaints stem from distortions of fascia. The author investigated the scientific…
Manual Therapyfasciaefascial distortion modelreductionismtypaldos - A2018
Meaning of the Solid and Liquid Fascia to Reconsider the Model of Biotensegrity
Bruno Bordoni, David Lintonbon, Bruno MorabitoThis theoretical article proposes a reconsideration of the traditional biotensegrity model. The authors argue that fascia should be viewed as a system with both solid and liquid components, where blood and lymph constit…
fasciaChiropracticManual TherapyMyofascialOsteopathic - A2018
Effectiveness of Physiotherapy Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review
Remedios López-Liria, María de los Ángeles Varverde-Martínez, David Padilla-Góngora, Patricia Rocamora-PérezThis systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of different physiotherapy techniques for treating urinary incontinence in women. Researchers analyzed 16 studies covering methods such as pelvic floor exercises, vagin…
physiotherapywomenurinary incontinencepelvic floor muscle - A2018
Mineralization can be an incidental ultrasonographic finding in equine tendons and ligaments
Etienne J O O'Brien, Roger K W SmithIn this observational study on horses, researchers investigated the presence of mineralization, or calcium deposits, in tendons and ligaments using ultrasound. They found it was most common in the deep digital flexor te…
horsecalcificationDopplerossification - A+++2018
The kinetics of gut microbial community composition in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following fecal microbiota transplantation
Tarek Mazzawi, Gülen Arslan Lied, Dag André Sangnes, Magdy El-Salhy, Johannes R Hov, Odd Helge Gilja, Jan Gunnar Hatleb…This clinical study investigated how fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) affects gut bacteria and symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Thirteen patients received stool from healthy donors via gas…
irritable bowel syndromeIBSFecal microbiota transplantation - A2018
Morphometric and dynamic measurements of muscular fascia in healthy individuals using ultrasound imaging: a!summary of the discrepancies and gaps in the current literature
Caterina Fede, Nathaly Gaudreault, Chenglei Fan, Veronica Macchi, Raffaele De Caro, Carla SteccoThis narrative review examined existing research on using ultrasound to measure muscular fascia in healthy people. The authors found that while ultrasound is a useful tool, the research is concentrated on a few specific…
Fascia · Ultrasound imaging · Thickness · Strain · Motion - 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. - A2018
Low Back Pain: The Potential Contribution of Supraspinal Motor Control and Proprioception
Michael Lukas Meier, Andrea Vrana, Petra SchweinhardtThis narrative review explores how motor control—the brain's management of posture and movement—adapts in people with low back pain. While these movement adaptations may reduce pain in the short term, they can sometimes…
proprioceptionlow back painmotor controlchronic painmotor cortex - A2018
Immediate effects of self-myofascial release on latent trigger point sensitivity: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Jan Wilke, Lutz Vogt, Winfried BanzerThis randomized, placebo-controlled trial examined whether foam rolling could immediately reduce sensitivity in latent trigger points. Researchers compared 90 seconds of static compression, dynamic rolling, and a placeb…
fasciaMyofascial painFoam rollingSelf-masage