Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31903399›Full record

ReviewOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2019

Is It All About the Fascia? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Prevalence of Extramuscular Connective Tissue Lesions in Muscle Strain Injury.

Jan Wilke, Luiz Hespanhol, Martin Behrens

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed, 39 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
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  4. Myotendinous Junction development and repair.Journal of orthopaedic translation · 2026
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  10. Reliability of Semitendinosus and Biceps Femoris Aponeurosis Thickness Using B-Mode Ultrasound.Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine · 2025
    Article
  11. Exploring fascia in myofascial pain syndrome: an integrative model of mechanisms.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Jan WilkeDepartment of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Luiz HespanholMaster's and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Martin BehrensInstitute of Sport Science, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
Goethe University Frankfurt · DEUniversity of Rostock · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe fascia has been demonstrated to represent a potential force transmitter intimately connected to the underlying skeletal muscle. Sports-related soft tissue strains may therefore result in damage to both structures. PURPOSE: To elucidate the prevalence of connective tissue lesions in muscle strain injury and their potential impact on return-to-play (RTP) duration. STUDY

designSystematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

methodsImaging studies describing frequency, location, and extent of soft tissue lesions in lower limb muscle strain injuries were identified by 2 independent investigators. Weighted proportions (random effects) were pooled for the occurrence of (1) myofascial or fascial lesions, (2) myotendinous lesions, and (3) purely muscular lesions. Study quality was evaluated by means of an adapted Downs and Black checklist, which evaluates reporting, risk of bias, and external validity.

resultsA total of 16 studies (fair to good methodological quality) were identified. Prevalence of strain injury on imaging studies was 32.1% (95% CI, 24.2%-40.4%) for myofascial lesions, 68.4% (95% CI, 59.6%-76.6%) for myotendinous lesions, and 12.7% (95% CI, 3.0%-27.7%) for isolated muscular lesions. Evidence regarding associations between fascial damage and RTP duration was mixed.

conclusionLesions of the collagenous connective tissue, namely the fascia and the tendinous junction, are highly prevalent in athletic muscle strain injuries. However, at present, their impact on RTP duration is unclear and requires further investigation.

Indexed as

collagenimagingMRImuscle injuryreturn to playultrasound

Identifiers

PMID31903399
PMCPMC6931154
OpenAlexW2997252915

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.