What Is Fascial Distortion Model And How Does It Work?
Fascia is the thin, stretchy tissue around muscles and joints. When it gets irritated or “stuck,” you feel pain and tightness.
FDM is one way to look at pain through the fascia lens. Classic FDM uses brisk, sometimes intense pressure to “reshape” tissue.
We respect the idea. We just prefer precise, movement-based care that’s easier on your body (no next-day soreness) and pairs directly with rehab so results last.
What We Do Instead:
- Active Release Technique (ART): A focused “pin-and-move” method. We gently shorten the tissue, apply pressure, then move you through a full, comfortable range to help it release.
- IASTM/Graston®: Light, instrument-assisted “strumming” over the exact hot spots. We warm it up, treat it, then immediately load it with the right exercises so the change holds.
- Corrective Exercise: No generic band sheet. You’ll get a progressive, goal-driven plan tailored to how you move, lift, and perform.
When helpful, we layer in:
- Dry Needling: Calms overactive muscles or wakes up underactive ones.
- Shockwave: A deep-penetrating, non-invasive option that boosts blood flow and metabolic activity
- Cupping: We mostly use dynamic gliding and short holds while moving joints through range to reduce pain and improve motion.
Why Active People Choose Empower for FDM-Type Care
Elite Sports Experience
We treat every patient like an athlete, with clear goals, objective progress, and return-to-play thinking.
Integrated Care Under One Roof
Fascia-aware care combined with dry needling, SoftWave, and cupping, all in one clinic.
Evidence First Before Imaging
We only recommend X-ray/MRI/CT when findings will change your care plan.
Get A Precise Fascia-Aware Plan Today!
FDM is one way to think about pain in the fascia. At Empower, we honor the role of fascia while choosing the best‑supported tools to help you return to training, competition, and life with confidence.
