Abstract
Fascia is a highly organized collagenous tissue that is ubiquitous in the body, but whose function is not well understood. Because fascia has a sheet-like structure attaching to muscles and bones at multiple sites, it is exposed to different states of multi- or biaxial strain. In order to measure how biaxial strain affects fascia material behavior, planar biaxial tests with strain control were performed on longitudinal and transversely oriented samples of goat fascia lata (FL). Cruciform samples were cycled to multiple strain levels while the perpendicular direction was held at a constant strain. Structural differences among FL layers were examined using histology and SEM. Results show that FL stiffness, hysteresis, and strain energy density are greater in the longitudinal vs. transverse direction. Increased stiffness in the longitudinal layer is likely due to its greater thickness and greater average fibril diameter compared to the transverse layer(s). Perpendicular strain did not affect FL material behavior. Differential loading in the longitudinal vs. transverse directions may lead to structural changes, enhancing the ability of the longitudinal FL to transmit force, store energy, or stabilize the limb during locomotion. The relative compliance of the transverse fibers may allow expansion of underlying muscles when they contract.
Highlights
Fascia is a multilayered collagenous tissue found throughout the body that is in intimate connection with muscles but whose function during movement is not well understood
Our results demonstrate that goat fascia lata (FL) orientation significantly affects tissue material properties including initial and maximum stress, initial modulus, elastic modulus, hysteresis, and strain energy density
Counter to several of our hypotheses (H2, H3, & H4), an increase in the constantly held perpendicular strain caused a significant increase in initial stress but did not significantly alter any other material properties measured in this study
Summary
Fascia is a multilayered collagenous tissue found throughout the body that is in intimate connection with muscles but whose function during movement is not well understood. Various functional roles have been hypothesized for fascia. Because fascia attaches to and envelops many limb muscles, it is often hypothesized that it broadens the insertion of muscles, distributing or redirecting muscle force transmission[1,2,3,4]. Several studies have shown that disrupting the fascia between or around muscles decreases the muscle’s force output 1-3. Fascial continuity among limb segments and between the limbs and the trunk have led others to posit that fascia plays a role in transferring load and coordinating movement among limb segments and body regions 5-7. An elastic energy storage role has been hypothesized for fascia, wherein energy stored in the fascia during stance phase is recovered to propel the limb forward during swing[5, 8, 9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
