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- B2006
Viscoelastic Retraction of Single Living Stress Fibers and Its Impact on Cell Shape, Cytoskeletal Organization, and Extracellular Matrix Mechanics
Sanjay Kumar, Iva Z Maxwell, Alexander Heisterkamp, Thomas R Polte, Tanmay P Lele, Matthew Salanga, Eric Mazur, Donald…Cells maintain their shape and interact with their surroundings using internal tension cables called stress fibers. Using a microscopic laser to cut individual stress fibers inside living cells, researchers studied how…
extracellular matrixcytoskeletonactinstress fiber - A+2006
Dynamic Shear Stimulation of Bovine Cartilage Biosynthesis of Proteoglycan 4
Gayle E Nugent, Nicole M Aneloski, Tannin A Schmidt, Barbara L Schumacher, Michael S Voegtline, Robert L SahThis laboratory study on cartilage from young cows investigated how mechanical forces affect the production of a key lubricating molecule, proteoglycan 4 (PRG4). Researchers applied different types of loads to cartilage…
ProteoglycansCartilagePRG4dynamic shear stressstatic compression - A++2006
Low-intensity tensile loading increases intratendinous glucose uptake in the Achilles tendon
J Bojsen-Møller, K K Kalliokoski, M Seppänen, M Kjaer, S P MagnussonTendons have traditionally been considered to have low metabolic activity, but this study investigated whether light loading could affect this. Six participants performed low-intensity, intermittent calf muscle contract…
tendon metabolism; tendon mechanical function; connective tissue; imaging - A2006
Passive muscle stiffness may be influenced by active contractility of intramuscular connective tissue
Robert Schleip, Ian L Naylor, Daniel Ursu, Werner Melzer, Adjo Zorn, Hans-Joachim Wilke, Frank Lehmann-Horn, Werner Kli…This paper proposes the hypothesis that connective tissue within muscles, specifically the layer known as the perimysium, can actively contract. This contraction, likely driven by specialized cells called myofibroblasts…
fasciamuscle stiffnessperimysiummyofibroblaststonic muscle - A2006
Subcutaneous Tissue Fibroblast Cytoskeletal Remodeling Induced by Acupuncture: Evidence for a Mechanotransduction-Based Mechanism
Helene M Langevin, Nicole A Bouffard, Gary J Badger, David L Churchill, Alan K HoweIn this mouse tissue study, researchers investigated how rotating an acupuncture needle affects fibroblasts in the connective tissue under the skin. They found that rotation caused the fibroblasts to actively change sha…
fasciacollagenfibroblastcytoskeletonmechanotransduction - A++2006
Distribution and change of collagen types I and III and elastin in developing leg muscle in rat
Tomoyuki Kurose, Youko Asai, Emiko Mori, Daisuke Daitoku, Seiichi KawamataThis animal study on rats investigated how the connective tissue components collagen types I and III and elastin develop in leg muscles from birth to eight weeks of age. The results show that muscle connective tissue de…
CollagenMyofascia - A2006
Connective tissue: A body-wide signaling network?
H M LangevinThis paper proposes that loose connective tissue functions as a body-wide communication system, in addition to its structural role. The author hypothesizes that this tissue network is mechanosensitive, meaning it respon…
Loose connective tissuemechanosensingsignaling - 1A+2006
Cellular mechanotransduction: putting all the pieces together again
D E IngberThis review discusses how cells sense and respond to mechanical forces, a process called mechanotransduction. While many individual molecules involved in this process have been identified, it is less clear how they work…
mechanical ! mechanosensation ! mechanochemical ! prestress ! tensegrity - A+++2006
The key to left-right asymmetry
Clifford J TabinThis summary explores how vertebrates establish left-right asymmetry during embryonic development. Research indicates that cilia are essential components in breaking initial symmetry, supported by an asymmetric signalin…
EmbryologySignaling - A2006
Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: evaluation with MR arthrography
Joon-Yong Jung, Won-Hee Jee, Ho Jong Chun, Yang-Soo Kim, Yang Guk Chung, Jung-Man KimThis study evaluated the usefulness of MR arthrography for diagnosing adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder. Researchers retrospectively analyzed images from 28 patients, half with the condition and half se…
frozen shoulderAdhesive capsulitisShoulderMagnetic resonanceArthrography - B2006
Letter to the Editor concerning ‘‘A hypothesis of chronic back pain: ligament subfailure injuries lead to muscle control dysfunction’’ (M. Panjabi)
Robert Schleip, Andry Vleeming, Frank Lehmann-Horn, Werner KlinglerThis letter to the editor comments on a hypothesis that chronic back pain can arise from minor injuries to spinal ligaments, disrupting their sensory function and leading to faulty muscle control. The authors agree with…
Thoracolumbar fasciaproprioceptionlow back painBiomechanicsHypothesis - B2006
A hypothesis of chronic back pain: ligament subfailure injuries lead to muscle control dysfunction
Manohar M PanjabiThis paper presents a hypothesis for the cause of chronic back and neck pain. The author suggests that minor injuries to spinal ligaments, which may not be severe enough to cause a complete tear, can damage the sensory…
low back painBiomechanicsNeck painWhiplashHypothesis