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- A2012
Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons
Gaétan Chevalier, Stephen T Sinatra, James L Oschman, Karol Sokal, Pawel SokalThis 2012 review paper explores the concept of 'earthing' or 'grounding,' which involves direct physical contact with the Earth's surface electrons. The authors propose that modern lifestyles separate humans from this c…
fasciaearthinggroundingearth surface electrons - A++2012
Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging
Silke K Schagen, Vasiliki A Zampeli, Evgenia Makrantonaki, Christos C ZouboulisThis narrative review examines the relationship between nutrition and skin aging, focusing on how specific nutrients may protect against damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The authors describe how antioxidants such…
antioxidants; diet; fatty acids; flavonoids; nutrition; skin aging; ultraviolet protection; vitamins. - 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
Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage
Justin D Crane, Daniel I Ogborn, Colleen Cupido, Simon Melov, Alan Hubbard, Jacqueline M Bourgeois, Mark A TarnopolskyThis study investigated how massage therapy affects skeletal muscle at a cellular level after exercise-induced damage. Researchers took muscle biopsies from 11 young men after an intense workout; one leg received 10 min…
fasciamassage therapyinflammatory cytokinesstretchstrain - 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 - A2012
Myoton Pro: A Novel Tool for the Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Fascial Tissues
Aleko Peipsi, Ricardas Kerpe, Heike Jäger, Sonja Soeder, Christopher Gordon, Robert SchleipThis research entry, for which only the title is available, appears to introduce a device called the MyotonPRO. The title suggests its purpose is to assess the mechanical properties of fascial tissues, such as their sti…
fasciaMyotone Pro - 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 - A2012
The thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations
Frank H Willard, Andry Vleeming, M D Schuenke, L Danneels, Robert SchleipThis overview paper examines the anatomy and function of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF), the complex sheet of connective tissue in the lower back. The authors describe its multiple layers, which separate and connect the…
fasciathoracolumbarfascia - A2012
Strain hardening of fascia: Static stretching of dense fibrous connective tissues can induce a temporary stiffness increase accompanied by enhanced matrix hydration
Robert Schleip, Lutz Duerselen, Andry Vleeming, Ian L Naylor, Frank Lehmann-Horn, Adjo Zorn, Heike Jaeger, Werner Kling…This study investigated why fascia sometimes gets stiffer after being stretched and then rested, a phenomenon called strain hardening. Researchers stretched fascia samples from mice and pigs, finding that after a 15-min…
Lumbar fascia; Paraspinal tissues; Stiffness; Hydration; Stretching - 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 - B2012
Fascia: a morphological description and classification system based on a literature review
Myroslava Kumka, Jason BonarIn this literature review, the authors address the historical problem of ambiguous and inconsistent terminology for fascia. Based on a review of existing research, they propose a new system for classifying fascia accord…
fasciaConnective tissueManual TherapyterminologyAnatomy - C2012
NGF-evoked sensitization of muscle fascia nociceptors in humans
Saskia Deising, Benjamin Weinkauf, James Blunk, Otilia Obreja, Martin Schmelz, Roman RukwiedThis study investigated whether nerve growth factor (NGF) can sensitize pain receptors in muscle fascia. Researchers injected a small amount of NGF into the fascia of the erector spinae muscle in the lower back of 14 ma…
hyperalgesialow back painmusculoskeletal painPressure pain