The goal of FDM treatment is to restore normal motion and reduce fear of movement in the patient, allowing them to return to function faster, while reducing reliance on traditional treatment modalities. Some common injuries that are easily resolved with FDM manual treatments include: pulled muscles and muscle tears.

FDM stands for the Fascial Distortion Model, developed by Dr. Stephen Typaldos, It’s called a ‘model’ because it isn’t a technique. It’s actually a treatment model in which virtually all soft tissue injuries, or musculoskeletal complaints, are viewed through 1 or more of the 6 different types of alterations to the body’s connective tissues. FDM has no protocols to memorize. Yet, FDM contains a detailed physical assessment, which leads to a specific diagnosis, and provides objective outcomes.

The patient’s verbal and physical descriptions, coupled with the mechanism of injury and relevant orthopedic tests, will lead the practitioner to the proper form of soft tissue treatment.