Greetings, fellow students! Unsure about attending FDM training? Is it worth the time and money? As fellow students, we believe the short answer is yes, absolutely! Here's ten reasons to attend a module:
1. FDM is easy to learn.
You’ll be able to use the basics of the model after attending a single module, regardless of your current ability or skill level when it comes to manipulative techniques. Each of the 3 FDM modules is taught over the course of ONE weekend. You receive 20 hours of combined lecture and hands-on lab time.
2. It’s mind-expanding.
Ever struggle to understand a concept, only to have someone explain it differently and suddenly things make sense?
Yeah, FDM is like that for manual medicine. Not only that, but once you see and/or experience drastic and immediate improvements in range of motion and pain, it’s hard to go back to the old way of thinking.
3. It’s affordable.
Students enjoy a hefty discount compared to what practicing physicians, PTs, and other professionals pay, and you and your patients will reap the benefits for years to come.
4. It’s skill-affirming.
I don’t know a single osteopathic medical student who hasn’t struggled or doubted themselves when it comes to the subtle aspects of manipulative medicine. With FDM, the patient guides you, resulting in a very high rate of successful treatments!
5. You might love it so much that you decide to do it full-time!
FDM may spark an interest in hands-on manipulation. You might even be convinced to choose a Sports Med or OMM residency.
6. It’s a guilt-free weekend away from the books!
It’s hard to feel too bad about not being hunched over a textbook when you’re learning a new way to evaluate and treat all sorts of pain complaints. And after all, better patient care is what we’re aiming for, isn’t it? Aren’t you depriving your future patients of the best care they could receive if you don't take a module?
7. It’ll hone your sense of discomfort.
Early in medical education, many students seem a bit timid with respect to any treatment that can cause pain, whether it be a soft tissue massage technique like inhibition, or starting IVs and drawing blood. By training in FDM, we can build a much better sense of “therapeutic discomfort”, and as a result, become more confident with the application of any medical intervention that might cause discomfort.
8. Immediate results and feedback.
Standard treatments for most musculoskeletal injuries involve medications and sometimes weeks of being laid up. FDM treatments can have a patient pain-free and back to normal activity in a fraction of that time, sans medications or expensive equipment.
9. Networking.
FDM classes attract a wide range of attendees, from medical students to DPTs, all with a wide range of experience and skill levels. After a year of the same classmates, it’s fun to have new people to work and share ideas with. Plus, the friendships you build can be of tremendous benefit, whether it means a place to couchsurf when you attend the next FDM module, or meeting people connected to a residency you’re interested in.
10. Most importantly - it’s fun! Who wouldn’t want to work with their hands to make patients feel better quickly?!
For more information about upcoming modules, make sure to head over to the classes page.