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Painful Connections: Densification Versus Fibrosis of Fascia

Current Pain and Headache Reports volume 18, Article number: 441 (2014) Cite this article

Abstract

Deep fascia has long been considered a source of pain, secondary to nerve pain receptors becoming enmeshed within the pathological changes to which fascia are subject. Densification and fibrosis are among such changes. They can modify the mechanical properties of deep fasciae and damage the function of underlying muscles or organs. Distinguishing between these two different changes in fascia, and understanding the connective tissue matrix within fascia, together with the mechanical forces involved, will make it possible to assign more specific treatment modalities to relieve chronic pain syndromes. This review provides an overall description of deep fasciae and the mechanical properties in order to identify the various alterations that can lead to pain. Diet, exercise, and overuse syndromes are able to modify the viscosity of loose connective tissue within fascia, causing densification, an alteration that is easily reversible. Trauma, surgery, diabetes, and aging alter the fibrous layers of fasciae, leading to fascial fibrosis.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Piero G. Pavan, Dr. Antonio Stecco, Dr. Robert Stern, and Dr. Carla Stecco each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Piero G. Pavan

  2. Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Piero G. Pavan & Carla Stecco

  3. Internal Medicine Department, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35127, Padova, Italy

    Antonio Stecco

  4. Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Robert Stern

  5. Molecular Medicine Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Carla Stecco

Authors
  1. Piero G. Pavan
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  2. Antonio Stecco
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  3. Robert Stern
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  4. Carla Stecco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Stecco.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Myofascial Pain

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Pavan, P.G., Stecco, A., Stern, R. et al. Painful Connections: Densification Versus Fibrosis of Fascia. Curr Pain Headache Rep 18, 441 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-014-0441-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-014-0441-4

Keywords

  • Fascia
  • Densification
  • Fibrosis
  • Connective tissue
  • Hyaluronan
  • Loose connective tissue
  • Aging
  • Overuse syndrome
  • Mechanics
  • Hysteresis
  • Stress–strain curves
  • Load
  • Lines of forces