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- A2013
Histological analysis of the rectus capitis posterior major’s myodural bridge
Frank Scali, Matthew E Pontell, Dennis E Enix, Ewarld MarshallThis cadaver study investigated a small tissue bridge between a suboccipital muscle (rectus capitis posterior major) and the dura mater, the protective covering of the spinal cord. Using microscopic analysis on tissue f…
fasciacervical spinerectus capitis posterior majorMyodural Bridgecervical dura mater - A2013
Fascia Research Congress Evidence from the 100 year perspective of Andrew Taylor Still
Thomas W Findley, Mona ShalwalaThis review paper examines research from the first three International Fascia Research Congresses through the perspective of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathic medicine. Over a century ago, Still described…
fasciaextracellular matrixfibroblastOsteopathic medicinefascia anatomy - A++2013
Vibration Induced Osteogenic Commitment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells is Enhanced by Cytoskeletal Remodeling but not Fluid Shear
Gunes Uzer, Suphannee Pongkitwitoon, M Ete Chan, Stefan JudexThis laboratory study investigated how mechanical vibrations encourage stem cells to develop into bone cells. Researchers tested two potential mechanisms: the force of fluid moving across the cells (fluid shear) and cha…
fasciaBonedifferentiationProliferationvibrations - A2013
Training principles for fascial connective tissues: Scientific foundation and suggested practical applications
Robert Schleip, Divo Gitta MüllerConventional sports training often emphasizes muscles, cardiovascular conditioning, and coordination, yet most overload injuries occur within the body's connective tissue network, or fascia. This review article proposes…
fasciaStretchingfascial netCollagen renewalelastic recoil - 1A+2013
Cytoskeletal remodeling of connective tissue fibroblasts in response to static stretch is dependent on matrix material properties
R D Abbott, C Koptiuch, J C Iatridis, A K Howe, G J Badger, H M LangevinThis study investigated how fibroblasts, the cells within connective tissue, change shape in response to static stretching. Researchers compared fibroblasts in loose (areolar) and dense connective tissues, as well as ce…
Fibroblasts; cytoskeleton; dense connective tissue; areolar connective tissue; mechanotransduction - C2013
What Lies Beneath: Sub-Articular Long Bone Shape Scaling in Eutherian Mammals and Saurischian Dinosaurs Suggests Different Locomotor Adaptations for Gigantism
Matthew F Bonnan, D Ray Wilhite, Simon L Masters, Adam M Yates, Christine K Gardner, Adam AguiarThis study explored why giant dinosaurs were more common than giant mammals by examining their joint structures. Researchers compared the long bones of large mammals like elephants and rhinos with those of saurischian d…
fasciaeutherian mammalsdinosaursherbivoresgiant mammals - C2013
Of Mice, Men and Elephants: The Relation between Articular Cartilage Thickness and Body Mass
Jos Malda, Janny C de Grauw, Kim E M Benders, Marja J L Kik, Chris H A van de Lest, Laura B Creemers, Wouter J A Dhert,…This study investigated how articular cartilage adapts to body size across different mammals. Researchers analyzed cartilage from the knee joints of 58 species, ranging from mice to elephants. They found that while cart…
fasciamammalsarticular cartilagetissue ticknessosteochondral cores - A++2013
Mathematical Analysis of the Flow of Hyaluronic Acid Around Fascia During Manual Therapy Motions
Max Roman, Hans Chaudhry, Bruce Bukiet, Antonio Stecco,Thomas FindleyThis study used a mathematical model to simulate how different manual therapy techniques affect the flow of hyaluronic acid (HA) within fascia. The researchers compared constant sliding, perpendicular vibration, and tan…
hyaluronanfasciaManual Therapyfluid flowvibration - A2013
A Randomized Steady-State Bioavailability Study of Synthetic versus Natural (Kiwifruit-Derived) Vitamin C
Anitra C Carr, Stephanie M Bozonet, Juliet M Pullar, Jeremy W Simcock, Margreet C M VissersThis randomized study investigated whether the body absorbs vitamin C from kiwifruit as effectively as from a synthetic supplement. Thirty-six young men received either half a kiwifruit or an equivalent dose (50 mg) vit…
ascorbate; ascorbic acid; human; plasma; urine; semen; leukocytes; skeletal muscle - A+++2013
Vitamin C Is an Essential Factor on the Anti-viral Immune Responses through the Production of Interferon-α/β at the Initial Stage of Influenza A Virus (H3N2) Infection
Yejin Kim, Hyemin Kim, Seyeon Bae, Jiwon Choi, Sun Young Lim, Naeun Lee, Joo Myung Kong, Young-il Hwang, Jae Seung Kang…This animal study investigated how vitamin C affects the immune response to influenza A virus (H3N2). Researchers used mice that, like humans, cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. When these mice were made vitamin C-d…
immune responseVitamin Cantiviralinfluenza Ainterferon alfa/beta - B2013
The resolution of inflammation
Christopher D Buckley, Derek W Gilroy, Charles N Serhan, Brigitta Stockinger, Paul P TakThis article summarizes a discussion from a scientific conference on how to turn off undesirable inflammation. There is a growing appreciation that the resolution of inflammation, much like its initiation, is an active…
inflammationresolution - A2013
Helical Structure of the Cardiac Ventricular Anatomy Assessed by Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Multiresolution Tractography
Ferran Poveda, Debora Gil, Enric Marti, Albert,aluz, Manel Ballester, Francesc CarrerasIn this animal study, researchers used advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer modeling to visualize the complex fiber structure of the heart muscle in dogs. They developed an automated method to trace th…
fasciaheartifdfusion magnetic resonance imagingdiffusion tractographyhelical heart