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- 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 - A++2017
Biological effects of direct and indirect manipulation of the fascial system. Narrative review
Giovanni Parravicini, Andrea BergnaThis narrative review explores the biological effects of manual fascial therapies. While osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is clinically effective, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The authors…
fasciaMyofascial releaseManual TherapyMyofascial manipulation - A2017
The indeterminable resilience of the fascial system
Bruno Bordoni, Fabiola Marelli, Bruno Morabito, Beatrice SacconiThis commentary proposes a model of fascia not as layers, but as a network of polyhedral microvacuoles of connective tissue. These structures connect the body's systems and can change shape in response to tension, allow…
fasciafibroblastManual TherapyOsteopathicfascial continuum - A+2017
Quantitative tissue parameters of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in healthy subjects using a handheld myotonometer
Sarah Orner, Wolfgang Kratzer, Julian Schmidberger, Beate GrünerThis study examined the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in over 150 healthy adults using a handheld device called a MyotonPRO. The goal was to establish baseline normal values for tissue…
fasciaachilles tendonplantar fasciaMyotonePRO - 1A+2017
Emotions in Motion: Myofascial Interoception
B Bordoni, F MarelliIn this perspective piece, the authors argue that the myofascial system is closely linked to our emotional state. They suggest that manual treatment not only affects the body physically but also activates the interocept…
fasciaManual TherapyMyofascialOsteopathicInteroception - C2017
Multimerin-2 is a ligand for group 14 family C-type lectins CLEC14A, CD93 and CD248 spanning the endothelial pericyte interface
KA Khan, AJ Naylor, A Khan, PJ Noy, M Mambretti, P Lodhia, J Athwal, A Korzystka, CD Buckley, BE Willcox, F Mohammed ,…Researchers investigated how certain proteins interact to form new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis that is crucial for tumor growth. This study, which included lab experiments and mouse models, identified a…
fasciaextracellular matrixendotheliumC-type lectintumor angiogenesis - A2017
The Lumbodorsal Fascia as a Potential Source of Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review
Jan Wilke, Robert Schleip, Werner Klingler, Carla SteccoThis narrative review examines the role of the lumbodorsal fascia as a potential source of low back pain. Research shows this fascia contains pain-sensing nerve endings, which may be morphologically altered in people wi…
fasciaNociceptionlow back painlumbodorsal fascia - C2016
Functional in vitro tension measurements of fascial tissue – a novel modified superfusion approach
Robert Schleip, Werner Klingler, S Wearing, I Naylor, M Zuegel, K HoppeIn this laboratory study on rat tissue, researchers compared two techniques for measuring tension changes in fascia. The traditional method involves immersing the tissue in a fluid bath, but the team also tested a modif…
fasciaOrgan BathMechanographic RegistrationSuperfusionImmersionmized Mice - A2016
Human Recombinant Hyaluronidase Injections For Upper Limb Muscle Stiffness in Individuals With Cerebral Injury: A Case Series
Preeti Raghavan, Ying Lu, Mona Mirchandani, Antonio SteccoThis case series investigated injections of the enzyme hyaluronidase to treat upper limb muscle stiffness in 20 individuals with cerebral injury. The researchers hypothesized that an accumulation of hyaluronan in the mu…
fasciaConnective tissueStrokeHypertoniaspasticity - A2016
What Is Evidence-Based About Myofascial Chains: A Systematic Review
Jan Wilke, Frieder Krause, Lutz Vogt, Winfried BanzerThis systematic review evaluated anatomical dissection studies to find evidence for six proposed myofascial meridians. Researchers analyzed 62 studies and found strong evidence for the anatomical continuity of three lin…
fasciaForce transmissionmyofascial chainsmeridians - A++2016
Ultra-weak photon emission in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes: evidence for a non-invasive diagnostic tool
Meina Yang, Wenyu Ding, Yanli Liu, Hua Fan, Rajendra P Bajpai, Jialei Fu, Jingxiang Pang, Xiaolei Zhao, Jinxiang HanAll living organisms emit extremely faint light, known as ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). This study investigated whether these light emissions differ between healthy individuals and people with type 2 diabetes. Resea…
fasciaphoton emissionbiological systemspathological statesUE - A2016
A Systematic Review of the Soft-Tissue Connections Between Neck Muscles and Dura Mater
Luis Palomeque-del-Cerro, Luis A Arráez-Aybar, Cleofás Rodriguez-Blanco, Rafael Guzmán-Garcia, Mar Menendez-Aparicio, Á…In this systematic review, researchers compiled data from 26 studies to investigate direct soft-tissue connections between neck muscles and the dura mater, the outermost membrane surrounding the spinal cord. The analysi…
fasciaConnective tissueproprioceptionSpineAnatomy