What is FDM and Who Can it Help?
One of the questions I get regularly at Restore Body + Joint is:
“What exactly is FDM?”
FDM stands for Fascial Distortion Model.
It's a hands-on approach I use when evaluating and treating certain musculoskeletal pain and movement problems—and it's one of the things that makes the way I practice a little different from what many people expect when they hear the word “chiropractor.”
But before I explain what FDM is, I want to explain what it isn't.
It isn't magic.
It isn't the answer to every injury.
And I don't believe every patient who walks into Restore needs it.
It's a clinical framework and treatment tool that I can use alongside movement assessment, rehabilitation, chiropractic care, strength work, and other approaches depending on what I find.
First, What Is Fascia?
Fascia is connective tissue found throughout the body.
It surrounds and connects muscles and other structures and plays a role in how tissues interact and how we move.
The Fascial Distortion Model was developed by physician Stephen Typaldos, DO, as a way of categorizing certain patterns of musculoskeletal complaints into six proposed types of fascial “distortions.”
One of the unique aspects of FDM is that the practitioner pays close attention not only to where you say it hurts, but also to how you describe and physically show the pain.
Your words matter.
Your gestures matter.
The movement that caused the injury matters.
And what you can and can't do right now matters.
Patient body language and symptom descriptions are central pieces of the FDM framework.
Sometimes Patients Show Me the Problem Before They Describe It
This is one of the things I find fascinating about FDM.
People naturally use their hands when describing pain.
Someone might run a finger down a very specific line.
Another person may push their thumb into one exact spot.
Someone else may grab an entire area around a joint.
Most people aren't thinking about doing this.
They're simply trying to show me what they're feeling.
Within the FDM model, different patterns of symptoms and body language may help guide how I evaluate and treat that particular complaint.
That makes the patient an active part of the assessment.
I'm not just asking you to point to a body part on a diagram.
I'm watching you.
I'm listening to how you explain the problem.
I'm looking at what movement bothers you.
And then I'm putting those pieces together.
What Does FDM Treatment Feel Like?
This is probably the second question I get.
The answer is: it depends.
FDM is a hands-on approach, and some techniques use fairly focused manual pressure.
Some people describe certain techniques as intense or uncomfortable.
Other FDM techniques can feel completely different.
I'm not trying to see how much pressure you can tolerate, and treatment shouldn't become a contest.
Communication matters.
I want to know what you're feeling while I'm working and, more importantly, whether what we are doing changes your symptoms or movement.
One of My Favorite Parts: We Can Retest
This is a big part of how I practice in general.
If you come in and say:
“My shoulder hurts when I reach here.”
I'm probably going to have you show me.
If reaching overhead hurts, we test it.
If squatting hurts, we test it.
If turning your neck is restricted, we test it.
If a tennis player feels shoulder pain in the serving position, I want to see that position.
Then we treat.
And then I want to retest the same movement.
Did anything change?
Is your range of motion different?
Is the movement more comfortable?
Did nothing change?
That immediate feedback helps guide what I do next.
I don't want to keep doing a treatment simply because it's the treatment I had planned when you walked through the door.
Your response matters.
What Types of Problems Might I Consider FDM For?
I may consider incorporating FDM when evaluating musculoskeletal complaints involving areas such as the:
Shoulder
Neck
Back
Hip
Knee
Ankle
Foot
Elbow
Wrist
I also see people dealing with sports-related strains, sprains, mobility restrictions, overuse complaints, and other musculoskeletal problems.
But the diagnosis matters.
Not every painful area represents a fascial problem, and not every musculoskeletal injury should be managed with manual therapy.
That's why assessment comes first.
Is There Research Behind FDM?
There is, but this is an area where I think it's important to be straightforward.
The research base for FDM is still developing.
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 14 studies involving 644 participants with musculoskeletal pain. Overall, FDM was associated with reductions in pain. However, when researchers compared FDM with other conservative interventions, the advantage was not large enough to be considered clinically meaningful, and there was substantial variability between studies. The authors concluded that more high-quality research is needed.
I actually think that's important for patients to know.
I don't use FDM because I believe it's a miracle technique that's better than everything else.
I use it because it gives me another framework for evaluating certain musculoskeletal complaints and another hands-on tool that may be helpful for the right patient.
And then I test the result.
FDM Is Usually Only One Piece of the Puzzle
This is where Restore Body + Joint differs from an office where treatment begins and ends on the table.
You might receive hands-on treatment and feel an immediate improvement in movement.
Great.
But then what?
If you're an athlete, I want your body to be capable of handling your sport.
If you're a first responder, I want you capable of handling the demands of your job.
If you're a parent who wants to work out, hike, golf, run, lift, or simply move without constantly worrying about the same problem returning, we have to look beyond short-term relief.
That may mean pairing hands-on treatment with:
Mobility work
Strength
Stability
Functional movement
Rehabilitation exercises
Changes in training load
Sport-specific movement
The goal isn't for you to become dependent on treatment.
The goal is to help your body become more capable.
Is FDM the Same as Massage?
No.
Although both involve hands-on contact with soft tissues, FDM isn't designed to be a relaxation massage.
The treatment is based on the patient's symptom pattern, body language, mechanism of injury, examination, and response to treatment.
Sometimes I'll work on an area that feels very specific.
Other times the approach may be different based on how the patient describes the complaint.
It's targeted treatment, not a general massage session.
Is FDM Chiropractic?
FDM isn't a chiropractic adjustment.
It's a manual treatment framework used by different types of healthcare professionals.
As a chiropractor, it's one of several approaches I've trained in and can incorporate into a larger treatment plan.
That distinction matters.
When you see me at Restore, you aren't automatically getting “an adjustment” or automatically getting FDM.
You're getting an evaluation first.
Then we decide what makes sense.
Who Is FDM For?
FDM may be worth considering for someone dealing with a musculoskeletal complaint where pain or restricted movement is interfering with something they want or need to do.
That might be a tennis player who can't serve comfortably.
A CrossFit athlete having trouble getting into an overhead position.
A first responder dealing with a physically demanding job.
A parent whose back keeps tightening up during workouts.
Or someone recovering from an injury who just wants to move normally again.
The diagnosis and individual situation still matter.
My job is to figure out whether FDM—or another approach—makes sense for you.
The Goal Is Bigger Than Pain Relief
Getting someone out of pain is great.
But my favorite question is:
“What couldn't you do when you walked in?”
Because that's what I really want to change.
Can you squat again?
Reach overhead?
Turn your neck?
Run?
Lift?
Serve a tennis ball?
Go back to your workout?
Get through a workday more comfortably?
Pain is important.
But function matters too.
That's why FDM fits well with the philosophy behind Restore Body + Joint.
I want to use the right tools to help you move better, feel better, and get back to doing the things that matter to you.
If you're dealing with pain, an injury, or a movement restriction and you're curious whether FDM may be appropriate for you, I'd be happy to evaluate it.
Dr. Stuart Frith, DC Restore Body + Joint | Frith ChiropracticLivermore, California
Move Better. Feel Better. Live Better.
Comments