Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) is a patient-centered model of assessment and treatment taught to DO, MD, NP, PA-C, PT, PTA, OT, ATC, DC, ND, DDS, DMD, DPM, medical students (MD and DO after their first year), and Certified Structural Integration practitioners (Rolfers). FDM Academy teaches FDM by instructors certified through the American Fascial Distortion Model Association (AFDMA). FDM was originated by US physician Stephen Typaldos, D.O.  It is a system of pattern recognition, where the hand gestures used by a patient to describe their symptoms are divided into six distinct categories of dysfunction.  Treatment choices are correlated to the distinct hand gestures, with manual therapy being the primary modality. Essentially all manual therapy techniques can fit into FDM, with many new treatment options being born from FDM theory.  The goal of FDM treatment is to restore normal motion and reduce fear of movement in the patient, allowing them to return to function faster, while reducing reliance on traditional treatment modalities.

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Some common injuries that are easily resolved with FDM manual treatments include: pulled muscles and muscle tears, sprained ankles, shin splints, Osgood-Schlatter Disease, whiplash, headaches, shoulder pain, frozen joints, kidney stones, plantar fasciitis, sprains, strains and tendonitis, and low back pain. Chronic pain can also be successfully treated using the FDM, but results typically take longer than for acute injuries. Sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome and many other injuries can also be successfully treated in this model.