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Fascial Distortion Model (FDM)

The Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) is a hands-on treatment approach that identifies and corrects distortions in the body’s fascia—the connective tissue surrounding muscles and joints. By restoring normal movement in this tissue, Dr. Oslay helps relieve pain quickly and naturally.

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Restoring Natural Motion by Treating the True Source of Pain

The Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) is an advanced, hands-on approach to pain relief and injury recovery. Rather than focusing only on muscles or joints, FDM looks at the fascia—the connective tissue web that surrounds and links every muscle, tendon, ligament, and organ in the body. When this fascia twists, folds, or loses its ability to glide, it can create pain that feels deep, persistent, and hard to define.

Dr. Ted Oslay uses the Fascial Distortion Model to identify and correct these fascial faults through specific manual techniques. Patients are often amazed at how quickly pain subsides and mobility returns—sometimes after only one or two treatments—without drugs, injections, or surgery.

Understanding Fascia and Pain

Fascia isn’t just structural “packaging.” It’s a living, responsive tissue that supports movement, transmits force, and helps your body sense and adapt. When fascia becomes distorted through injury, overuse, or repetitive stress, it can tighten, wrinkle, or lose its normal alignment. This leads to pain patterns that traditional orthopedic testing may not fully explain.

By listening carefully to how a patient describes and demonstrates their pain—how they trace it, press on it, or cup a joint—Dr. Oslay can often pinpoint the exact distortion pattern at work. Each distortion has its own telltale signs and requires a precise corrective approach.

The Six Fascial Distortions

Triggerband Distortion – Twisted or wrinkled fascial fibers create a pulling or burning pain that travels in a line. Patients often sweep their hand along the painful path. Manual smoothing of the fascia relieves the tension and restores flexibility.
Herniated Triggerpoint – A small pocket of tissue bulges through the fascia, forming a tender knot. Focused pressure helps the tissue slip back into place, releasing trapped nerves and easing pain.
Continuum Distortion – Pain occurs where a tendon or ligament attaches to bone. Patients usually point to a single sharp spot. Gentle compression and shear at that attachment restore the fascia’s normal load transfer.
Folding Distortion – After a joint is overstretched or jammed, the fascia can fold in the wrong direction, creating pinching pain when moving. Corrective techniques unfold the tissue to reestablish smooth joint motion.
Cylinder Distortion – Fascia can spiral and overlap on itself, producing deep pressure, diffuse pain, or tingling in an entire region. Treatment focuses on “unwinding” the fascia to restore fluid movement and circulation.
Tectonic Fixation – When fascial layers stop gliding after injury or immobilization, patients describe feeling stiff or “stuck.” Rhythmic, multidirectional movements help restore glide and normal range of motion.

Why This Approach Works

FDM bridges the gap between how patients describe pain and what’s happening beneath the surface. It transforms the body’s pain language into a structural diagnosis—one that can be treated directly and efficiently.

Because the work targets the root cause in the connective tissue rather than masking symptoms, results are often fast and long-lasting. Most patients experience:

Immediate or rapid improvement in motion
Reduced inflammation and tension
Shorter recovery time
Fewer relapses

Conditions successfully treated with FDM include back and neck pain, headaches, sprains, tendinitis, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, and many soft-tissue injuries.

What Is Motion Palpation?

Motion palpation is a hands-on assessment Dr. Oslay uses to feel how well each vertebra and joint is moving. With precise testing, he identifies areas where mobility is restricted — often the real source of pain, stiffness, and nerve irritation. This targeted approach helps avoid unnecessary trial-and-error care and ensures treatment is delivered only when the cause of the problem is confirmed.

What Is a Subluxation? (And Why the “Crack” Helps)

A subluxation occurs when a joint becomes slightly misaligned or stuck and the fascia around it can’t glide normally — leading to inflammation, tightness, and reduced motion. An adjustment gently restores movement to the joint, often producing a small popping sound (gas releasing from the joint space). This improved motion reduces pain, allows tissues to heal, and helps your body move the way it’s meant to. Results are often quick — restoring comfort and function in just a few focused visits.

A Smarter Path to Healing

At Dr. Ted Oslay Chiropractic, the Fascial Distortion Model is more than a technique—it’s a philosophy of care. Every ache and limitation tells a story through movement and touch, and by understanding that story, we can deliver precise, effective treatment that restores the body’s natural balance.

If you’ve been living with pain that doesn’t respond to conventional therapy, this approach may finally explain why—and help you move freely again.