Plungin the Dysfunction Away with the Fascial Distortion Model
by Kelly Ng
Chapter Vice President
This year, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Middletown sent twelve students to its second SAAO Convocation in Orlando, FL. One of the most exciting sessions for TCOM students was on the Fascial Distortion Model, led by Dr. Todd A. Capistrant. In fact, the students enjoyed it so much, that they held a Convocation Debriefing once they returned home to teach fellow SAAO members about the technique.
The Fascial Distortion Model, or FDM, is a method of relieving pain and restoring movement by treating distorted fascia. According to the Model, there are six types of fascial distortion: triggerband, herniated triggerpoint, continuum distortion, folding distortion, cylinder distortion, and tectonic distortion. To treat these dysfunctions, the physician applies force through the thumb directly onto the anatomical distortions. For a triggerband, force would be applied along the linear pathway of pain as identified by the patient, as if sealing a ZipLock bag with the thumb. This was the way that Dr. Capistrant treated his patient in a video he shared during the breakout session. In the video, the patient states that she injured her leg during gymnastics practice and has not been able to walk due to severe pain. Dr. Capistrant identifies the dysfunction as a triggerband and after providing a short treatment along the length of her lower leg, the patient is able to stand and walk again.
Another type of fascial distortion is cylinder distortion, where the fascia overlaps like a cylindrical coil. Cylinder distortion is treated by unwinding the coiled fascia, as it is being distracted. One way to accomplish this is by applying distraction with a plunger and rotating the fascia so that it unwinds. During the Convocation Debriefing at TCOM, students enthusiastically practiced this technique on each other, targeting the fascia of the lower back as well as the fascia that overlies the scapula.
TouroCOM-Middletown
10