Functional Medicine
Pain & functional limitations
Regulatory and preventive medicine
Dr. med. univ. Klaus Wachter
New medical perspective
The Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) offers an intriguing perspective on understanding and treating physical complaints and injuries.
​
According to FDM, whether arising acutely from injuries or gradually due to repetitive, one-sided stress in sports or everyday activities, all physical ailments are seen as stemming from specific, reversible alterations in the connective tissue's configuration. These alterations are referred to as "fascial distortions."
​
Fascial distortions involve the fascia—the extensive network of connective tissue that envelops muscles, organs, and bones—being abnormally twisted, compressed, or otherwise deformed.
Fascia plays a crucial role in supporting and protecting the body's structures, but when it becomes distorted, it can lead to pain, decreased range of motion, and other symptoms associated with physical complaints.
​
The key premise of FDM is that these connective tissue deformations are reversible. Techniques used in FDM aim to correct these distortions through manual therapy and specific movements designed to restore the fascia to its normal state. This approach contrasts with treatments that focus on the symptoms rather than the underlying fascial distortions.
FDM practitioners use hands-on techniques and patient movements to "untwist" or "unstick" the fascia, aiming to alleviate pain and improve function.
This model has gained attention for its potential to provide rapid relief for various musculoskeletal conditions, although it is also a subject of ongoing research and discussion within the medical and therapeutic communities.
​
A structural manual therapy approach is highly effective in case of
-
acute injuries such as sprained ankles, contusions, strains, or lumbago;
-
and in case of chronic conditions like headaches, neck or back pain, and complaints in the shoulder and knee areas