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 studiesFrom mechanotransduction to extracellular matrix gene expression in fibroblasts
This 2009 review article explores how connective tissue cells, or fibroblasts, sense and respond to mechanical forces from their environment. Cells attach to the surrounding extracellular matrix via adhesion contacts, w…
Mechanotherapy: how physical therapists’ prescription of exercise promotes tissue repair
This review article explains the concept of "mechanotherapy," which is the use of prescribed exercise to promote tissue repair. The underlying biological process is called mechanotransduction, where the body's cells sen…
The Architecture of the Connective Tissue in the Musculoskeletal System—An Often Overlooked Functional Parameter as to Proprioception in the Locomotor Apparatus
This article proposes that the traditional anatomical view, which separates muscles from "passive" connective tissues like ligaments, is incomplete. The author argues that muscle and connective tissue function together…
Bonghan Circulatory System as an Extension of Acupuncture Meridians
This article describes the Bonghan circulatory system (BHS), a network proposed in the 1960s to correspond with classical acupuncture meridians. After a long period of being overlooked, researchers have recently develop…
The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system
The Polyvagal Theory describes the autonomic nervous system from an evolutionary perspective. It focuses on a key phylogenetic shift in the vagus nerve that occurred between reptiles and mammals. This change created a l…
Ultrasound evidence of altered lumbar connective tissue structure in human subjects with chronic low back pain
Researchers investigated whether structural differences exist in the low back's connective tissues between people with and without chronic low back pain. Using ultrasound, they measured the thickness and echogenicity (h…
Effect of Loading on the Organization of the Collagen Fibril Network in Juvenile Equine Articular Cartilage
In this animal study, researchers investigated how exercise-induced loading affects the collagen network in the articular cartilage of juvenile horses. They compared two sites within a joint: one subjected to high-inten…
Communicating About Fascia: History, Pitfalls, and Recommendations
In this commentary, the authors discuss how the word "fascia" can be ambiguous and lead to misunderstandings, as it can refer to anything from loose to dense connective tissue. This lack of precision can hinder communic…
From mechanical loading to collagen synthesis, structural changes and function in human tendon
This review article outlines how tendons adapt to mechanical loading from exercise. The research indicates that loading increases the synthesis and turnover of collagen, the protein that gives tendons their strength. Th…
Ascorbate and plasma membrane electron transport—Enzymes vs ef!ux
Cells have systems to move electrons across their outer membrane, a process which uses substances like ascorbate (Vitamin C) from inside the cell. Traditionally, this was thought to happen via enzymes that shuttle elect…
Structural Behavior of Highly Concentrated Hyaluronan
Researchers investigated the behavior of highly concentrated hyaluronan (HA) in a physiological saline solution. They found that HA molecules can organize into stable, larger "superstructures." When heated, the fluid's…
Mechanotransduction at a distance: mechanically coupling the extracellular matrix with the nucleus
In this narrative review, the authors explore how mechanical forces can influence the cell nucleus from a distance. Research has often focused on how external forces are converted into chemical signals at the cell's sur…