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 studiesThe thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations
This 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…
Hyaluronan injection in murine osteoarthritis prevents TGFbeta 1-induced synovial neovascularization and fibrosis and maintains articular cartilage integrity by a CD44-dependent mechanism
In this mouse study, researchers investigated how hyaluronan (HA) injections might protect joints in osteoarthritis. They found that even though the injected HA was cleared from the knee joint in under two hours, a sing…
INTERSTITIAL FLUID AND LYMPH FORMATION AND TRANSPORT: PHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATION AND ROLES IN INFLAMMATION AND CANCER
This 2012 review explores the interstitium, the fluid-filled space surrounding our cells that contains interstitial fluid (IF). Formed by filtration from blood capillaries and cleared by lymphatic vessels, IF and its fl…
Hyaluronan differently modulates TLR-4 and the inflammatory response in mouse chondrocytes
This study on mouse cartilage cells investigated how different sizes of hyaluronan (HA) affect inflammation. Researchers found that small HA fragments increased the production of several inflammatory markers. In contras…
The effect of menopause on the skin and other connective tissues
This narrative review examines how menopause and the resulting decline in estrogen affect the body's connective tissues, particularly the skin. Research suggests that skin collagen levels drop significantly following me…
A theoretical framework for the role of fascia in manual therapy
This theoretical paper explores why different types of manual therapy, such as soft tissue work and joint manipulation, often seem to produce similar results. The authors compare these approaches based on their effects…
Fascia: a morphological description and classification system based on a literature review
In 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…
Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging
This 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…
Mechanical strain applied to human fibroblasts differentially regulates skeletal myoblast differentiation
This laboratory study investigated how different types of stretching affect muscle repair at a cellular level. Researchers applied two types of strain to human fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) and observed the effe…
CTGF is a central mediator of tissue remodeling and fibrosis and its inhibition can reverse the process of fibrosis
Fibrosis is a process of excessive connective tissue formation, leading to scarring and stiffness in organs. A protein called Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) plays a central role in driving this process. This res…
NGF-evoked sensitization of muscle fascia nociceptors in humans
This 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…
Total antioxidant capacity of diet and risk of stroke: a population-based prospective cohort of women
This Swedish population-based study examined the relationship between the total antioxidant capacity of the diet and stroke risk in over 36,000 women. By measuring the combined effect of all antioxidants in food rather…