The Future of Fascia-A Scoping Review on Emerging Research Trends and Recommended Sample Sizes and Effect Sizes in...

The aim of this study was to identify future research trends in fascia-related investigations, as well as to develop new effect size thresholds for between-group differences, along with sample size calculations and statistical power estimations specific to fascial research. For the purposes of this study, the following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Two studies were included in the scoping review, and 31 meta-analyses were identified and used to calculate effect sizes and sample sizes. Future research on fascia will likely focus on its role in movement organisation and chronic pain, particularly in older adults. The advancement of modern imaging techniques and the integration of therapeutic approaches, such as manual therapy and movement-based interventions, may significantly impact the diagnosis and treatment of fascial dysfunctions. In future studies on fascia, effect sizes (Cohen's d, and Hedges' g) of 0.05, 0.15, and 0.40 should be adopted as thresholds for small, medium, and large effects, respectively. The minimum sample size was estimated at n = 60, as the suggested number to detect large effect sizes with 60% statistical power. The required sample size is expected to increase depending on other study parameters.