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+2013
R-Spondin 1 promotes vibration-induced bone formation in mouse models of osteoporosis
Haitao Wang, Tracy A Brennan, Elizabeth Russell, Jung-Hoon Kim, Kevin P Egan, Qijun Chen, Craig Israelite, David C Schu…This animal study on mice investigated how mechanical signals, like vibration, can stimulate bone growth. Researchers identified proteins secreted by mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) in response to vibration. They fo…
Mechanical signals; vibration; R-spondin 1; telomerase; telomere; aging; osteoporosis; mesenchymal stem cells - A2012
Real-time imaging of cortical areas involved in the generation of increases in skin sympathetic nerve activity when viewing emotionally charged images
Luke A Henderson, Alexandra Stathis, Cheree James, Rachael Brown, Skye McDonald, Vaughan G MacefieldThis study investigated which brain regions are involved when our bodies react to emotional images. Researchers simultaneously measured brain activity with fMRI and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA), a marker of th…
fasciaMRIIASP imagesmicroneurographyskin sympathetic nerve activity - A2012
An MRI Study of Symptomatic Adhesive Capsulitis
Wen Zhao, Xiaofeng Zheng, Yuying Liu, Wenlu Yang, Vardan Amirbekian, Luis E Diaz, Xudong HuangThis study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the shoulders of 60 patients with clinically diagnosed adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) to 60 healthy control subjects. Researchers found significant diff…
Adhesive capsulitisShoulderMagnetic resonance imaging - A++2012
Vitamin C transport and its role in the central nervous system
James M MayThis review article explores the critical role of vitamin C in the central nervous system. Although it circulates in the blood at low concentrations, neurons in the brain and spinal cord maintain very high levels of the…
ascorbate transport; brain; dehydroascorbate; glutamate; neurons; SVCT2 - A+++2012
Brain structure and joint hypermobility: relevance to the expression of psychiatric symptoms
Jessica A Eccles, Felix D C Beacher, Marcus A Gray, Catherine L Jones, Ludovico Minati, Neil A Harrison, Hugo D Critchl…This study investigated the relationship between joint hypermobility and brain structure in 72 healthy volunteers. Using structural brain scans, researchers found that the volume of the amygdala, a brain region importan…
Fibromyalgiaproprioceptionhypermobilitypsychiatric symptomsbrain structure - A+2012
The role of stromal cells in the persistence of chronic inflammation
A J Naylor, A Filer, C D BuckleyThis review article explores why chronic inflammation often persists in specific anatomical locations. The authors highlight that stromal cells, particularly the fibroblasts that define a tissue's architecture, are like…
inflammationfasciafibroblastchronicpersistence - A2012
Mechanical properties of human patellar tendon at the hierarchical levels of tendon and fibril
René B Svensson, Philip Hansen, Tue Hassenkam, Bjarki T Haraldsson, Per Aagaard, Vuokko Kovanen, Michael Krogsgaard, Mi…Researchers investigated how the mechanical properties of the whole human patellar tendon compare to its individual collagen fibrils. They tested whole tendons in living subjects and then tested isolated fibrils from th…
atomic force microscopy; collagen; fibril dimensions; modulus; toe region - A2012
Primo Vascular System as a New Morphofunctional Integrated System
Miroslav Stefanov, Jungdae KimThis narrative review summarizes research on the primo vascular system (PVS), a proposed anatomical network found throughout the body. The authors describe the methods and instruments used to study this system, primaril…
fasciacancerphysiologyMorphologyprimo vascular system - 1A+2012
Stretching of the Back Improves Gait, Mechanical Sensitivity and Connective Tissue Inflammation in a Rodent Model
S M Corey, M A Vizzard, N A Bouffard, G J Badger, H M LangevinIn this rodent study, researchers investigated how stretching affects inflammation in the connective tissue of the low back. They first induced local inflammation, which resulted in altered gait, increased mechanical se…
fasciaConnective tissueStretchingManual TherapyMovement Therapy - A2012
A RHAMM Mimetic Peptide Blocks Hyaluronan Signaling and Reduces Inflammation and Fibrogenesis in Excisional Skin Wounds
Cornelia Tolg, Sara R Hamilton, Ewa Zalinska, Lori McCulloch, Ripal Amin, Natalia Akentieva, Francoise Winnik, Rashmin…In this animal study, researchers investigated how to reduce scarring during skin wound healing. They developed a peptide, P15-1, designed to interfere with signals from fragmented hyaluronan, a molecule involved in inf…
hyaluronaninflammationfasciaextracellular matrixfibrosis - A++2012
Fluid Flow along Venous Adventitia in Rabbits: Is It a Potential Drainage System Complementary to Vascular Circulations?
Hong-yi Li, Min Chen, Jie-fu Yang, Chong-qing Yang, Liang Xu, Fang Wang, Jia-bin Tong, You Lv, Caidan SuonanIn this animal study on rabbits, researchers investigated a potential fluid drainage system within the body's connective tissue. By injecting tracers, they visualized pathways along the loose connective tissue surroundi…
interstitial fluidacupuncturefluid flow - A++2012
Lymphatic and interstitial flow in the tumour microenvironment: linking mechanobiology with immunity
Melody A Swartz, Amanda W LundThis review explores how tumors interact with the lymphatic system to grow and spread. Increased fluid flow from a tumor to nearby lymph nodes does more than just transport cancer cells. This flow also creates mechanica…
fasciacancerstiffnessmechanobiologymicroenvironment