If you could describe a Navy SEAL in one word, what would you choose? Fearless, strong, confident, prepared, and deadly come to mind. In the fall of 2014 I had the opportunity to sit down with a Navy SEAL officer and I asked him to describe in one word what being a Navy SEAL means. His answer was pure – adapt. He explained how their training is relentless, unconventional, demanding, and purposeful. They spend countless hours planning until their methods become second nature. However, after preparing and training for a mission, when they’re out in the field, the unexpected happens. When the plan breaks down, they know how to adapt and find a way to complete their mission.

The Navy SEAL echoed the thoughts of Dr. Stephen Typaldos who taught that a provider must have confidence to implement the treatments of the Fascial Distortion Model. They must use force to manually return distorted tissue to a pre-injured setting and they must adapt when there is a bad treatment outcome. This understanding of basic principles of the model combined with having the confidence to adapt to things we may not fully understand, makes its application so powerful.

Through the FDM Dr. Typaldos gave us a lens to view all treatment techniques. You don’t have to forget what you already know. Remember, FDM has been at the forefront of the fascia movement since the early ‘90s. Manual therapists all over the world have learned this model. Our task is to build upon his foundation by providing advanced FDM courses, and making FDM the first thing a healthcare provider, or patient, thinks of when they see a musculoskeletal injury.

As I always say, the Fascial Distortion Model isn’t rocket science, it’s rocket fuel. It fuels curiosity as to what else is possible.

– C. Tyrel Hummel, D.C.
President, Fascial Distortion Model