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- 1A+2016
Hormone receptor expression in human fascial tissue
Caterina Fede, G Albertin, L Petrelli, M M Sfriso, C Biz, R De Caro, Carla SteccoAdult women tend to experience more myofascial pain than men, and this study explored a possible hormonal link. Researchers examined fascial tissue from eight female volunteers, looking for receptors for the hormones es…
Fascia; fascial fibroblasts; estrogen; relaxin; immunostaining - A+++2016
Effects of whole body vibration exercises on bone mineral density of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis without medications: novel findings and literature review
C F Dionello, D Sá-Caputo, H Vfs Pereira, C R Sousa-Gonçalves, A I Maiworm, D S Morel, E Moreira-Marconi, L L Paineiras…This systematic review examines the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) exercises on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are not taking medication. By analyzing twelve studies, researche…
postmenopausbone densitywhole body vibrationvibration; osteoporosis - A++2016
Amelioration of estrogen deficiency-induced obesity by collagen hydrolysate
Tsay-I Chiang, I-Chang Chang, Hsueh-Hui Lee, Kuang Hui Hsieh, Yung-Wei Chiu, Te-Jen Lai, Jer-Yuh Liu, Li-Sung Hsu, Shao…This animal study on rats investigated how collagen hydrolysate supplementation might affect the weight gain often associated with estrogen deficiency, similar to menopause. Researchers found that rats receiving collage…
Collagen; Obesity; estrogen deficiency - A2016
Connection of the Posterior Occipital Muscle and Dura Mater of the Siamese Crocodile
JING-HUI ZHANG, WEI TANG, ZHAO-XI ZHANG, BING-YI LUAN, SHENG-BO YU, HONG-JIN SUIIn this animal study, researchers investigated a connective tissue structure called the myodural bridge in six Siamese crocodiles. This bridge connects deep muscles in the suboccipital region to the dura mater, the oute…
myodural bridge; rectus capitis posterior major muscle; rectus capitis posterior minor muscle;proatlas; spinal dura mater; Siamese crocodile; cerebrospinal fluid circulation - 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 - A+++2016
Fascial Manipulation® for chronic aspecific low back pain: a single blinded randomized controlledtrial.
Mirco Branchini, Francesca Lopopolo, Ernesto Andreoli, Ivano Loreti, Aurélie M Marchand, Antonio SteccoThis randomized controlled trial compared Fascial Manipulation® combined with standard physiotherapy to physiotherapy alone for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The group receiving Fascial Manipulation®…
hyaluronanBack PainFascial manipulation - A+2016
Piezo2 is the principal mechanotransduction channel for proprioception
Seung-Hyun Woo, Viktor Lukacs, Joriene C de Nooij, Dasha Zaytseva, Connor R Criddle, Allain Francisco, Thomas M Jessell…Proprioception is the sense of where our body parts are in space. In this animal study, researchers investigated the molecular sensor responsible for this ability in mice. They found that an ion channel called Piezo2 wa…
proprioceptionmuscle spindlespiezomechanotranductiiongolgi tendon organ - 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 - B2016
Stretch-induced network reconfiguration of collagen fibres in the human facet capsular ligament
Sijia Zhang, Danielle S Bassett, Beth A WinkelsteinThe facet capsular ligament in the neck is a common source of chronic pain, often resulting from excessive stretching. This study investigated how the collagen fibers within this ligament reorganize when it is stretched…
collagenfibre realignmentfacet capsular ligamentcommunity detectiontime-dependent network - 1A+2016
Expression of the endocannabinoid receptors in human fascial tissue
Caterina Fede, G Albertin, L Petrelli, M M Sfriso, C Biz, R De Caro, Carla SteccoResearchers investigated whether human fascia contains cannabinoid receptors, which are part of the body's endocannabinoid system. Taking small tissue samples from volunteers during orthopedic surgery, they analyzed the…
fascia; fascial fibroblasts; endocannabinoid; immunostaining - A2016
Telocytes and Their Extracellular Vesicles—Evidence and Hypotheses
Dragos Cretoiu, Jiahong Xu, Junjie Xiao, Sanda M CretoiuThis narrative review discusses telocytes, a relatively new type of interstitial cell found throughout the body's connective tissues. These cells are characterized by long projections and are involved in communication b…
telocytes; telopodes; extracellular vesicles; exosomes; ectosomes - A2016
Monitoring the primo vascular system in lymphatic vessels by using window chambers
Jungdae Kim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Sharon Jiyoon Jung, Hyun-Ji Gil, Seung Zhoo Yoon, Young-Il Kim, Kwang-Sup SohIn this animal study, researchers developed a method for observing the primo vascular system (PVS) inside the lymphatic vessels of rats over an extended period. By implanting a "window chamber" into the skin and injecti…
primo vascular systemlymphatic vessels