About Fascia research

For many years the fasciae have been considered by the anatomists only as a ‘‘white envelope for the muscles’’, and very little attention has been given to their anatomy and physiology. In anatomic displays the fascia is generally removed, so the viewer can see the organs, nerves and vessels but fails to appreciate the fascia which connects, and separates, these structures. Fascia has traditionally been thought of as a passive structure that envelops muscles, and the term ‘‘fascia’’ was misused and confusing. However, it is now evident that fascia is a dynamic tissue with complex variety of tissue: vessels, nerves, dense and loose connective tissue.

Within the last two decades, the fasciae and their properties have gained central importance to clinicians practicing in various conventional and alternative therapies and the fascial tissue is actually the subject of a wide range of scientific research with many specializations.

The results from the worldwide research activities constitute a body of significant and important data, but this clinical interest is not supported by in-depth anatomical and physiopathological studies.

The aim of this new F1000Research collection especially devoted to the topic ‘‘fasciae’’ is to find some answers to several rather specific questions concerning the fascial anatomy and physiology.

Articles dealing with the gross anatomy, microscopic, biomechanics, clinical implication and imaging of fasciae, will be presented. We hope these articles will contribute to a better knowledge of the fasciae and to future studies.