Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
  • Register
  • Login
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  • Register
  • Login

Quality in Sport

The Role of Myofascia in Human Biomechanics: A Systematic Review of the Myofascial Physiology and Dysfunctions
  • Home
  • /
  • The Role of Myofascia in Human Biomechanics: A Systematic Review of the Myofascial Physiology and Dysfunctions
  1. Home /
  2. Archives /
  3. Vol. 73 (2026) /
  4. Medical Sciences

The Role of Myofascia in Human Biomechanics: A Systematic Review of the Myofascial Physiology and Dysfunctions

Authors

  • Julia Lewańska Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0102-0075
  • Krzysztof Bogdański Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1023-6257
  • Zuzanna Kruszyńska Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2905-9642
  • Anastasiya Aleshchyk Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5368-6343
  • Michał Adamczak Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3693-1731
  • Marcel Majewski Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6658-235X
  • Bogumił Libura Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6889-1569
  • Martyna Lazar Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5973-846X
  • Łukasz Szkaradowski Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3108-3051
  • Szymon Baranowski Medical University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5877-4875

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.73.75229

Keywords

fascia, myofascial continuity, myofascial pain, myofascial force transmission, myofascial meridians, physical therapy, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle modification, remote therapeutic effects

Abstract

Background: Traditionally viewed as a passive sheath, fascia has been ever since recognized as an active, three-dimensional organ facilitating force transmission and pain migration. Given that musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain remain leading causes of disability, a deeper understanding of myofascial mechanics is crucial.

Aim: This review aims to synthesize current evidence on myofascial physiology, pathophysiology, and the role of fascia in human biomechanics and clinical treatment.

Material and methods: The review synthesizes findings from available anatomical, histological, and biomechanical research, including clinical trials on myofascial therapeutic interventions.

Results: Reviewed data confirms fascia as a continuous network facilitating force transmission through intermuscular connections and myofibroblasts. Key findings point to the relevance of fascial innervation, neuro-sensory feedback, and the effectiveness of manual therapy, instrument-assisted techniques and device-based techniques in treating pain, dysfunction and improving mobility.

Conclusions: Fascia is an integrated biomechanical architecture. Treatment of myofascial disorders requires a complex therapeutic approach targeting entire myofascial chains rather than immediate sites of symptom manifestation.

References

1. Stecco C, Adstrum S, Hedley G, Schleip R, Yucesoy CA. Update on fascial nomenclature. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Apr;22(2):354. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.12.015

2. Stecco C, Schleip R. A fascia and the fascial system. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jan;20(1):139–40. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.11.012

3. Fede C, Pirri C, Fan C, Petrelli L, Guidolin D, De Caro R, et al. A Closer Look at the Cellular and Molecular Components of the Deep/Muscular Fasciae. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 30;22(3):1411. doi:10.3390/ijms22031411

4. Myers TW. Anatomy Trains E-Book: Myofascial Meridians for Manual Therapists and Movement Professionals. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2020. 390 p.

5. Herbert RD, Hoang PD, Gandevia SC. Are muscles mechanically independent? J Appl Physiol. 2008 Jun;104(6):1549–50. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.90511.2008

6. Wilke J, Krause F, Vogt L, Banzer W. What Is Evidence-Based About Myofascial Chains: A Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Mar;97(3):454–61. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2015.07.023 PubMed PMID: 26281953.

7. Wilke J, Engeroff T, Nürnberger F, Vogt L, Banzer W. Anatomical study of the morphological continuity between iliotibial tract and the fibularis longus fascia. Surg Radiol Anat. 2016 Apr;38(3):349–52. doi:10.1007/s00276-015-1585-6

8. Schuenke MD, Vleeming A, Van Hoof T, Willard FH. A description of the lumbar interfascial triangle and its relation with the lateral raphe: anatomical constituents of load transfer through the lateral margin of the thoracolumbar fascia. J Anat. 2012 Dec;221(6):568–76. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01517.x

9. Fan C, Fede C, Gaudreault N, Porzionato A, Macchi V, De Caro R, et al. Anatomical and functional relationships between external abdominal oblique muscle and posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia. Clin Anat. 2018 Oct;31(7):1092–8. doi:10.1002/ca.23248

10. Stecco A, Macchi V, Stecco C, Porzionato A, Ann Day J, Delmas V, et al. Anatomical study of myofascial continuity in the anterior region of the upper limb. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2009 Jan;13(1):53–62. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.04.009

11. Schleip R, Gabbiani G, Wilke J, Naylor I, Hinz B, Zorn A, et al. Fascia Is Able to Actively Contract and May Thereby Influence Musculoskeletal Dynamics: A Histochemical and Mechanographic Investigation. Front Physiol. 2019 Apr 2;10:336. doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00336

12. Dawidowicz J, Szotek S, Matysiak N, Mielańczyk Ł, Maksymowicz K. Electron microscopy of human fascia lata: focus on telocytes. J Cell Mol Med. 2015 Oct;19(10):2500–6. doi:10.1111/jcmm.12665

13. Fede C, Pirri C, Fan C, Petrelli L, Guidolin D, De Caro R, et al. A Closer Look at the Cellular and Molecular Components of the Deep/Muscular Fasciae. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 30;22(3):1411. doi:10.3390/ijms22031411

14. Huijing PA, Yaman A, Ozturk C, Yucesoy CA. Effects of knee joint angle on global and local strains within human triceps surae muscle: MRI analysis indicating in vivo myofascial force transmission between synergistic muscles. Surg Radiol Anat. 2011 Dec;33(10):869–79. doi:10.1007/s00276-011-0863-1

15. Bojsen-Møller J, Schwartz S, Kalliokoski KK, Finni T, Magnusson SP. Intermuscular force transmission between human plantarflexor muscles in vivo. J Appl Physiol. 2010 Dec;109(6):1608–18. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01381.2009

16. Yanase K, Yagi M, Nakao S, Motomura Y, Umehara J, Hirono T, et al. Epimuscular myofascial force transmission from biarticular rectus femoris elongation increases shear modulus of monoarticular quadriceps muscles. J Biomech. 2021 Jun;122:110421. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110421

17. Cruz‐Montecinos C, González Blanche A, López Sánchez D, Cerda M, Sanzana‐Cuche R, Cuesta‐Vargas A. In vivo relationship between pelvis motion and deep fascia displacement of the medial gastrocnemius: anatomical and functional implications. J Anat. 2015 Nov;227(5):665–72. doi:10.1111/joa.12370

18. Wilke J, Debelle H, Tenberg S, Dilley A, Maganaris C. Ankle Motion Is Associated With Soft Tissue Displacement in the Dorsal Thigh: An in vivo Investigation Suggesting Myofascial Force Transmission Across the Knee Joint. Front Physiol. 2020 Mar 6;11:180. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00180

19. Mohr L, Vogt L, Thiel C, Behringer M, Wilke J. Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study. Sci Rep. 2023 Mar 6;13(1):3738. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-30407-3

20. Carvalhais VODC, Ocarino JDM, Araújo VL, Souza TR, Silva PLP, Fonseca ST. Myofascial force transmission between the latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus muscles: An in vivo experiment. J Biomech. 2013 Mar;46(5):1003–7. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.11.044

21. Joseph LH, Hussain RI, Naicker AS, Htwe O, Pirunsan U, Paungmali A. Myofascial force transmission in sacroiliac joint dysfunction increases anterior translation of humeral head in contralateral glenohumeral joint. Pol Ann Med. 2014 Sep;21(2):103–8. doi:10.1016/j.poamed.2014.07.007

22. Derosa C. Anatomical linkages and muscle slings of the lumbopelvic region. In: Movement, Stability & Lumbopelvic Pain [Internet]. Elsevier; 2004 [cited 2026 Jul 21]. p. 47–62. Available from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9780443101786500049 doi:10.1016/B978-044310178-6.50004-9

23. Gromakovskis V. Exploring fascia in myofascial pain syndrome: an integrative model of mechanisms. Front Pain Res. 2025 Oct 27;6:1712242. doi:10.3389/fpain.2025.1712242

24. Fede C, Porzionato A, Petrelli L, Fan C, Pirri C, Biz C, et al. Fascia and soft tissues innervation in the human hip and their possible role in post‐surgical pain. J Orthop Res. 2020 Jul;38(7):1646–54. doi:10.1002/jor.24665

25. Suarez-Rodriguez V, Fede C, Pirri C, Petrelli L, Loro-Ferrer JF, Rodriguez-Ruiz D, et al. Fascial Innervation: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 18;23(10):5674. doi:10.3390/ijms23105674

26. Schilder A, Magerl W, Hoheisel U, Klein T, Treede RD. Electrical high-frequency stimulation of the human thoracolumbar fascia evokes long-term potentiation-like pain amplification. Pain. 2016 Oct;157(10):2309–17. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000649

27. Schilder A, Hoheisel U, Magerl W, Benrath J, Klein T, Treede RD. Sensory findings after stimulation of the thoracolumbar fascia with hypertonic saline suggest its contribution to low back pain. Pain. 2014 Feb;155(2):222–31. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2013.09.025

28. Steen JP, Jaiswal KS, Kumbhare D. Myofascial Pain Syndrome: An Update on Clinical Characteristics, Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Muscle Nerve. 2025 May;71(5):889–910. doi:10.1002/mus.28377

29. Bednar DA, Orr FW, Simon GT. Observations on the Pathomorphology of the Thoracolumbar Fascia in Chronic Mechanical Back Pain: A Microscopic Study. Spine. 1995 May;20(10):1161–4. doi:10.1097/00007632-199505150-00010

30. Pratt RL. Hyaluronan and the Fascial Frontier. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jun 25;22(13):6845. doi:10.3390/ijms22136845

31. Stecco A, Gesi M, Stecco C, Stern R. Fascial Components of the Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Aug;17(8):352. doi:10.1007/s11916-013-0352-9

32. Zügel M, Maganaris CN, Wilke J, Jurkat-Rott K, Klingler W, Wearing SC, et al. Fascial tissue research in sports medicine: from molecules to tissue adaptation, injury and diagnostics: consensus statement. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Dec;52(23):1497–1497. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099308

33. Pirri C, Pirri N, Macchi V, Porzionato A, De Caro R, Özçakar L, et al. Ultrasonography of the Fasciae and Common Pathologies: The Game Changer. Diagnostics. 2025 May 7;15(9):1180. doi:10.3390/diagnostics15091180

34. Menon R, Oswald S, Raghavan P, Regatte R, Stecco A. T1ρ-Mapping for Musculoskeletal Pain Diagnosis: Case Series of Variation of Water Bound Glycosaminoglycans Quantification before and after Fascial Manipulation® in Subjects with Elbow Pain. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 22;17(3):708. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030708

35. Lloyd SM, He Y. Exploring Extracellular Matrix Crosslinking as a Therapeutic Approach to Fibrosis. Cells. 2024 Mar 2;13(5):438. doi:10.3390/cells13050438

36. Pavan PG, Stecco A, Stern R, Stecco C. Painful Connections: Densification Versus Fibrosis of Fascia. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Aug;18(8):441. doi:10.1007/s11916-014-0441-4

37. Gao Y, Gao D. Myofascial release and fascial-targeted mechanical interventions in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: mechanisms, modalities, and integrative physiology. Front Physiol. 2026 Mar 27;17:1801306. doi:10.3389/fphys.2026.1801306

38. Gordon CM, Dugan V, Hörmann C, Montoya P. Interdisciplinary Fascia Therapy: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study for a New Myofascial Approach for Chronic Low Back Pain. J Clin Med. 2024 Nov 28;13(23):7226. doi:10.3390/jcm13237226

39. Stecco A, Meneghini A, Stern R, Stecco C, Imamura M. Ultrasonography in myofascial neck pain: randomized clinical trial for diagnosis and follow-up. Surg Radiol Anat. 2014 Apr;36(3):243–53. doi:10.1007/s00276-013-1185-2

40. Devantéry K, Morin M, Grimard J, Gaudreault N. Effects of a Myofascial Technique on the Stiffness and Thickness of the Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lumbar Erector Spinae Muscles in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized before-and-after Experimental Study. Bioengineering. 2023 Mar 6;10(3):332. doi:10.3390/bioengineering10030332

41. Garrett T. Graston Technique® as a Treatment for Patients with Chronic Plantar Heel Pain. Clin Pract Athl Train. 2019 Nov 4;2(3):22–34. doi:10.31622/2019/0003.4

42. Markovic G. Acute effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization vs. foam rolling on knee and hip range of motion in soccer players. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2015 Oct;19(4):690–6. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.04.010

43. Simatou M, Papandreou M, Billis E, Tsekoura M, Mylonas K, Fousekis K. Effects of the Ergon® instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique (IASTM), foam rolling, and static stretching application to different parts of the myofascial lateral line on hip joint flexibility. J Phys Ther Sci. 2020;32(4):288–91. doi:10.1589/jpts.32.288

44. Behm DG, Wilke J. Do Self-Myofascial Release Devices Release Myofascia? Rolling Mechanisms: A Narrative Review. Sports Med. 2019 Aug;49(8):1173–81. doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01149-y

45. Beardsley C, Škarabot J. Effects of self-myofascial release: A systematic review. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2015 Oct;19(4):747–58. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.08.007

46. Fousekis K, Eid K, Tafa E, Gkrilias P, Mylonas K, Angelopoulos P, et al. Can the application of the Ergon® IASTM treatment on remote parts of the superficial back myofascial line be equally effective with the local application for the improvement of the hamstrings’ flexibility? A randomized control study. J Phys Ther Sci. 2019;31(7):508–11. doi:10.1589/jpts.31.508

Quality in Sport

Downloads

  • PDF

Published

2026-09-14

How to Cite

1.
LEWAŃSKA, Julia, BOGDAŃSKI, Krzysztof, KRUSZYŃSKA, Zuzanna, ALESHCHYK, Anastasiya, ADAMCZAK, Michał, MAJEWSKI, Marcel, LIBURA, Bogumił, LAZAR, Martyna, SZKARADOWSKI, Łukasz and BARANOWSKI, Szymon. The Role of Myofascia in Human Biomechanics: A Systematic Review of the Myofascial Physiology and Dysfunctions. Quality in Sport. Online. 14 September 2026. Vol. 73, p. 75229. [Accessed 16 September 2026]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2026.73.75229.
  • ISO 690
  • ACM
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
Download Citation
  • Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  • BibTeX

Issue

Vol. 73 (2026)

Section

Medical Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Julia Lewańska, Krzysztof Bogdański, Zuzanna Kruszyńska, Anastasiya Aleshchyk, Michał Adamczak, Marcel Majewski, Bogumił Libura, Martyna Lazar, Łukasz Szkaradowski, Szymon Baranowski

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Stats

Number of views and downloads: 36
Number of citations: 0

Search

Search

Browse

  • Issue archive

User

User

Current Issue

  • Atom logo
  • RSS2 logo
  • RSS1 logo

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians

Newsletter

Subscribe Unsubscribe

Tags

Search using one of provided tags:

fascia, myofascial continuity, myofascial pain, myofascial force transmission, myofascial meridians, physical therapy, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle modification, remote therapeutic effects
Up

Akademicka Platforma Czasopism

Najlepsze czasopisma naukowe i akademickie w jednym miejscu

apcz.umk.pl

Partners

  • Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie
  • Akademickie Towarzystwo Andragogiczne
  • Fundacja Copernicus na rzecz Rozwoju Badań Naukowych
  • Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
  • Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
  • Instytut Tomistyczny
  • Karmelitański Instytut Duchowości w Krakowie
  • Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Krośnie
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych we Włocławku
  • Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa im. Stanisława Pigonia w Krośnie
  • Polska Fundacja Przemysłu Kosmicznego
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze
  • Towarzystwo Miłośników Torunia
  • Towarzystwo Naukowe w Toruniu
  • Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
  • Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
  • Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika
  • Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
  • Uniwersytet Warszawski
  • Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna - Książnica Kopernikańska
  • Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Pelplinie / Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne „Bernardinum" w Pelplinie

© 2021- Nicolaus Copernicus University Accessibility statement Shop