Fascia is able to contract in a smooth muscle-like manner and thereby influence musculoskeletal mechanics

Summary With immunohistological analysis we demonstrate the presence of myofibroblasts in normal human fasciae, particularly the fascia lata, plantar fascia, and the lumbar fascia. Density was found to be highest in the lumbar fascia and seems to be positively related to physical activity. For in vitro contraction tests we suspended strips of lumbar fascia from rats in an organ bath and measured for responsiveness to potential contractile agonists. With the H1 antagonist mepyramine there were clear contractile responses; whereas the nitric oxide donator glyceryltrinitrate induced relaxation. The measured contraction forces are strong enough to impact upon musculoskeletal mechanics when assuming a similar contractility in vivo.