Pilates Technique Thursday: Can We Really Research Fascia in Living Bodies?

A detailed fascia network showing the connective tissue’s layered fibres and living structure.

At a recent event, a professional made a comment that stuck with me: “How can they really test fascia when people are still alive?” It was one of those remarks that stays in your head.

So I decided to look and see what’s actually possible.

Before getting into the science, let’s take a step back and explain what fascia is for anyone unsure. Fascia is a continuous web of connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, bone, organ, and nerve in the body. Think of it as the body’s internal support network, linking everything together and allowing movement to happen smoothly. It provides structure, transmits force, and plays a big role in posture and coordination. When fascia becomes tight or dehydrated, it can restrict movement and contribute to pain or stiffness.

Fascia has become one of the most talked about subjects in movement, manual therapy, and rehabilitation. Everyone seems fascinated by it, but very few stop to think about how we know what we know. Since fascia can’t be easily examined without disrupting its natural state, much of our early understanding came from cadaver studies. But that’s changing.

Researchers now use several ways to study fascia in living humans:

• Ultrasound elastography measures how fascia moves, stretches, and glides. It shows changes in elasticity during movement or manual therapy.

• MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) visualise fascia layers and their connection with muscles and other tissues. Detail depends on the resolution of the technology, but it continues to improve.

• Surface and needle sensors track how fascia reacts to tension and movement, giving biomechanical data without needing surgery.

• Microdialysis and biopsies, though rare, are used in controlled studies to analyse the chemical environment in fascia, especially its response to inflammation or stress.

• Ultrasound-guided manual therapy allows observation of fascia in real time during stretch or pressure, showing immediate changes in thickness and fluid distribution.

The limitations are obvious. Researchers can’t fully replicate the microscopic detail they get in cadaver studies. Ethics and technology still set the boundaries. But even with those limits, we now know fascia isn’t just passive wrapping. It’s an active, living tissue that transmits force, stores tension, and communicates through sensory and chemical signals.

For Pilates teachers, this makes fascia far more than an abstract idea. It helps explain why some movements feel fluid and connected while others feel restricted. Understanding how fascia functions and responds reminds us to move intelligently, with awareness and balance.

So yes, fascia can be researched in living people. It’s not perfect science yet, but progress is happening fast. What used to be a mystery is now something we can observe, measure, and apply to how we teach movement every day.

References

1. Schleip, R., Findley, T. W., Chaitow, L., & Huijing, P. A. (2012). Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body: The science and clinical applications in manual and movement therapy. Churchill Livingstone.

2. Wilke, J., Schleip, R., Yucesoy, C. A., & Banzer, W. (2018). Not merely a protective packing organ? A review of fascia and its force transmission capacity. Journal of Applied Physiology, 124(1), 234–244.

3. Stecco, C., Pirri, C., Fede, C., & De Caro, R. (2021). The fascial system and exercise in healthy individuals: A review. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 688331.

4. Langevin, H. M., & Huijing, P. A. (2009). Communicating about fascia: history, pitfalls, and recommendations. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, 2(4), 3–8.

5. Tesarz, J., Hoheisel, U., Wiedenhöfer, B., & Mense, S. (2011). Sensory innervation of the fascia: implications for its role in musculoskeletal pain. Pain, 152(9), 2226–2230.