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- A2007
Anatomy of the deep fascia of the upper limb. Second part: study of innervation
Carla Stecco, O Gagey, A Belloni, A Pozzuoli, A Porzionato, V Macchi, R Aldegheri, R De Caro, V DelmasThis anatomical study examined the nerve supply within the deep fascia of the upper limb. Researchers analyzed tissue samples from 20 arms, focusing on five specific areas including the brachial fascia and the flexor re…
fasciainnervationproprioceptionmotor coordinationruffini corpuscles - A++2007
Interstitial Flow and Its Effects in Soft Tissues
Melody A Swartz, Mark E FleuryThis 2007 review article summarizes knowledge about interstitial flow, which is the movement of fluid in the spaces between cells in the body's soft tissues. The authors describe how this flow is critical for tissue dev…
mechanobiologyDrug deliverymorphogenesistransportpermeability - A++2007
Expression of collagen and related growth factors in rat tendon and skeletal muscle in response to specific contraction types
K M Heinemeier, J L Olesen, F Haddad, H Langberg, M Kjaer, K M Baldwin, P SchjerlingIn this animal study, researchers investigated how different types of muscle contractions (concentric, eccentric, and isometric) affect the gene expression of collagen and related growth factors in rats. The results sho…
collagen synthesiseccentricconcentriccontraction typeisometric - A2007
Extracellular matrix, mechanotransduction and structural hierarchies in heart tissue engineering
Kevin K Parker, Donald E IngberThis narrative review explores the challenges of engineering artificial heart tissue. The heart functions across vast scales of time and space, from tiny ion channels to the whole organ's pumping action. The authors sug…
fasciaextracellular matrixcytoskeletonmechanotransductionmyocardial cell - A+++2006
Mechanisms of interstitial flow-induced remodeling of fibroblast-collagen cultures
Chee Ping Ng, Melody A SwartzThis study investigates how the movement of fluid through tissues, known as interstitial flow, influences the organization of connective tissue cells and collagen. Researchers found that slow fluid movement causes colla…
extracellular matrixRemodeling - A2006
Pathophysiological model for chronic low back pain integrating connective tissue and nervous system mechanisms
H M Langevin, K J ShermanThis paper proposes a theoretical model for how chronic low back pain might develop and persist. The authors hypothesize that fear of pain leads to reduced movement, which in turn causes physical changes and inflammatio…
fasciaConnective tissuechronic Low Back Painneuroplasticityconnective tissue remodeling - A++2006
Quantum Events of Biophoton Emission Associated with Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies: A Descriptive Pilot Study
Marius Hossu, Ronald RupertThis descriptive pilot study investigated biophoton emission (BPE), an ultra-low level of light emitted by living organisms that may reflect overall health status. Researchers measured BPE from the neck and lower back o…
fasciaManual Therapybiophotonsultraweak photons - A2006
Migration of tumor cells in 3D matrices is governed by matrix stiffness along with cell-matrix adhesion and proteolysis
Muhammad H Zaman, Linda M Trapani, Alisha L Sieminski, Drew MacKellar, Haiyan Gong, Roger D Kamm, Alan Wells, Douglas A…This study investigated how tumor cells move in a three-dimensional environment similar to body tissues. Researchers found that in addition to the cell's ability to adhere to and pull on its surroundings, the stiffness…
extracellular matrixmatrix metalloproteinasecell motilityEGF receptor - A2006
Fibroblast spreading induced by connective tissue stretch involves intracellular redistribution of a- and b-actin
Helene M Langevin, Kirsten N Storch, Marilyn J Cipolla, Sheryl L White, Thomas R Buttolph, Douglas J TaatjesResearchers investigated how fibroblasts, the primary cells in connective tissue, respond to mechanical stretching. In this ex vivo study, they stretched samples of subcutaneous tissue for 30 minutes and observed change…
fasciamechanical stressfibroblastmechanotransductionSubcutaneous tissue - B2006
Hyaluronan Fragments Act as an Endogenous Danger Signal by Engaging TLR2
Kara A Scheibner, Michael A Lutz, Sada Boodoo, Matthew J Fenton, Jonathan D Powell, Maureen R HortonHyaluronan (HA) is a common component of the body's connective tissue. This study investigates how different sizes of HA molecules affect the immune system. When tissue is injured, large HA molecules are broken down int…
hyaluronanhafasciaextracellular matrixtisssue - B2006
Hyaluronan fragments: An information-rich system
Robert Stern, Akira A Asari, Kazuki N SugaharaThis narrative review explores the diverse roles of hyaluronan (HA), a key component of the extracellular matrix. Despite its simple chemical structure, HA's biological function changes dramatically and often opposition…
hyaluronanextracellular matrixglycosaminoglycanshyaluronidaseOligosaccharides - A2006
Mechanisms of Mechanotransduction
A Wayne Orr, Brian P Helmke, Brett R Blackman, Martin A SchwartzThis review describes mechanotransduction, the process by which cells sense and respond to physical forces. The researchers explain that nearly all living organisms, from bacteria to humans, are sensitive to mechanical…
extracellular matrixcytoskeletonmechanotransductionfocal adhesion