FDM is so much more the a collection of techniques. Anyone who has followed Dr. Typaldo's work understands the idea that FDM is a medical model. For the past ten years I have worked with the American Fascial Distortion Model Association (AFDMA) to spread this fact. This past weekend I celebrated the 50th course I have taught on the model. I have great news, FDM is becoming part of medicine. We are training more and more physicians, physical therapists, medical students, and other manual therapists to understand the idea of fascial distortions just like they understand the medical concepts of inflammation or infection. The concept that fascia can be distorted and this can cause a nociceptive input when it does so is "fact" to them. They also understand that these patients present the distortions with a gesture and verbal description that is consistent across cultures. By learning to master the gestures, verbal cues, and a good exam these providers are able to direct care to treat the problems.
As we continue to work to spread the model, more and more people are being exposed to the model as an idea or concept. It is a way of thinking. Some people will see FDM as a collection of manual techniques. These people are really missing the importance of what Dr. Typaldos was trying to accomplish. Frankly, there are only a few manual techniques in the FDM that are unique to FDM. Practitioners have performed many of the techniques used in the model for generations. With FDM these techniques are applied with a different understanding. The model provides a frame work for providers to consider all medical conditions, not just musculoskeletal injury. Since fascia is all encompassing, it only fits that all issues in the body may have an impact on the fascia. The FDM is an understanding of how the fascia works in the body. By understanding how fascia moves, behaves, and can be injured we as providers can hope to improve the function of the involved fascia and get people better faster.
Over the past ten months here at FDM Academy, Matt Booth and I have worked to introduce more and more providers to the medical concepts of FDM. We work to teach our course participants to think in the model. This means that the way fascia works becomes an integral part of their thought process when seeing patients. It does not matter if they are a manual therapist, surgeon, family practitioner, or physical therapist. Understanding how the body works makes them better providers and allows them to be more effective at caring for patients no matter their medical specialty. This is our goal, introduce FDM to everyone and make healthcare better.