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- A2014
Ultrasound Elastography: The New Frontier in Direct Measurement of Muscle Stiffness
Joline E Brandenburg, Sarah F Eby, Pengfei Song, Heng Zhao, Jeffrey S Brault, Shigao Chen, Kai-Nan AnThis 2014 review article describes ultrasound elastography, a technology that can directly measure the mechanical properties of tissue, such as muscle stiffness. The authors suggest that its real-time measurements can a…
musclesElastographydiagnostic imagingelasticityhardness - A2014
Skin, fascias, and scars: symptoms and systemic connections
Bruno Bordoni, Emiliano ZanierThis review article explores how skin, fascia, and scars are interconnected and can affect the entire body. The authors describe the skin as an organ that communicates with the nervous system and other structures. When…
fasciaOsteopathicSkinscarringscar - A2014
Our Internal Universe
Stephen M LevinThis 2014 entry, titled 'Our Internal Universe' by Stephen M Levin, has not yet been summarized. The title suggests a conceptual exploration of the body's internal environment, possibly from a structural or philosophica…
fasciaTensegrityhapticperception - A+2014
The theory and fundamentals of bioimpedance analysis in clinical status monitoring and diagnosis of diseases
Sami F Khalil, Mas S Mohktar, Fatimah IbrahimBioimpedance analysis is a noninvasive, low cost and a commonly used approach for body composition measurements and assessment of clinical condition. There are a variety of methods applied for interpretation of measured…
bioimpedance analysis; body composition; clinical status monitoring; diseases diagnostic and prediction - A+2014
Neuroimaging and psychophysiological investigation of the link between anxiety, enhanced affective reactivity and interoception in people with joint hypermobility
Núria Mallorquí-Bagué, Sarah N Garfinkel, Miriam Engels, Jessica A Eccles, Guillem Pailhez, Antonio Bulbena, Hugo D Cri…This study investigated the connection between joint hypermobility, anxiety, and interoception (the sense of the body's internal state). Researchers confirmed that hypermobility is associated with higher levels of anxie…
anxiety; emotion; functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); interoception; joint hypermobility; psychology. - A2014
Definition of the To Be Named Ligament and Vertebrodural Ligament and Their Possible Effects on the Circulation of CSF
Nan Zheng, Xiao-Ying Yuan, Yun-Fei Li, Yan-Yan Chi, Hai-Bin Gao, Xin Zhao, Sheng-Bo Yu, Hong-Jin Sui, John SharkeyIn this cadaver study, researchers investigated connective tissue structures in the upper neck of 30 human specimens. They identified two specific ligaments, the 'to be named ligament' (TBNL) and the vertebrodural ligam…
fasciadura materMyodural Bridgecerebrospinal fluid circulation - 1A+2014
Painful Connections: Densification Versus Fibrosis of Fascia
P G Pavan, Antonio Stecco, R Stern, Carla SteccoIn this review article, the authors describe two types of fascial changes that can cause pain: densification and fibrosis. Densification is described as a reversible alteration in the viscosity of the loose connective t…
hyaluronanfasciafibrosisdensificationConnective tissue - B2014
Pro-Resolving lipid mediators and Mechanisms in the resolution of acute inflammation
Christopher D Buckley, Derek W Gilroy, Charles N SerhanIn this narrative review, the authors explain that the resolution of inflammation is an active, carefully orchestrated process, not just the passive stopping of an inflammatory response. Specific molecules called specia…
acute inflammationpro-resolving mediators - A2014
Fascia—Current knowledge and future directions in physiatry: Narrative review
E H Kwong, T W FindleyIn this 2014 narrative review, the authors discuss fascia from the perspective of physiatry, or rehabilitation medicine. They note that while fascia is part of the body's connective tissue, its definition is unclear in…
fasciaHyaluronic acidConnective tissuefibroblastmechanotransduction - A2014
Primary frozen shoulder: brief review of pathology and imaging abnormalities
Kazuya Tamai, Miwa Akutsu, Yuichiro YanoThis narrative review examines the underlying pathology of primary frozen shoulder, a condition causing spontaneous pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. The authors summarize evidence indicating that the main issue…
frozen shoulderAdhesive capsulitisShoulder painTherapy - A2014
Contractile elements in muscular fascial tissue – implications for in-vitro contracture testing for malignant hyperthermia
K Hoppe, Robert Schleip, F Lehmann-Horn, Heike J€ager, Werner KlinglerMalignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but serious reaction to general anesthesia, diagnosed using a test on a skeletal muscle biopsy. Since muscle samples also contain fascia, which has contractile cells called myofibro…
myofibroblastsmalignant hyperthermiafascial tissuecontraction - A2014
Mechanotransduction and extracellular matrix homeostasis
Jay D Humphrey, Eric R Dufresne, Martin A SchwartzConnective tissues are dynamic, constantly adapting even at rest. Cells within these tissues continually sense mechanical cues from their environment through a process called mechanotransduction. In response, they maint…
fasciaextracellular matrixIntegrinsmechanosensingmechanoregulation