Master Fascial Distortion Model with Picmonic for Medicine

The Fascial Distortion Model is a method that osteopathic physicians use to pinpoint specific sources of injury based on the location where a patient describes their symptoms. The model focuses on six different pathological alterations to the fascial network, or the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and organs of the body. This network is a flexible fibrous web that can fold, winkle, and distort into various formations. Using the FDM model, physicians can isolate specific fascial distortions, reverse the injury, and ultimately eliminate pain. The six fascial distortions include Trigger Bands, Continuum Distortions, Cylindrical Distortions, Herniated Trigger Points, Folding Distortions, and Tectonic Fixations. Trigger bands are the most common distortions and are identified by the wrinkling pattern of linear fascia secondary to tugging and pulling along the tissue path. This can result from repetitive injuries such as plantar fasciitis. Continuum Distortions are located at the transitional point between a bone and the nearby fascia, ligaments, and tendons. Patients typically report sharp pinpoint pain of which they only point to but do not push upon, such as that seen in an ankle sprain. Cylindrical Distortions are located in non-jointed areas and result from simultaneous twisting and rotational forces over loops of fascia. These distortions develop whacky symptoms like tingling, numbness, and migratory non-localized pain that's constantly changing locations such as that seen post-surgically. Herniated Trigger Points are from breakout tissue that ruptures through the fascial plane resulting in deep, achy pain that a patient will push on to alleviate their symptoms. A Folding Distortion, similar to a crumpled car road map, is a result of fascia constantly being incorrectly pulled and pushed over their original structure. Lastly, Tectonic Fixations is due to the inability of the fascia to glide over one another resulting in a decreased range of motion. Patients typically describe this as joint stiffness. Identifying these distortions and treating the surrounding fascia is the key to understanding the Fascial Distortion Model.