VCOM View Magazine Vol. 12 | No. 1

USNS Comfort

Dr.Thomas Grove (left), a current VCOM sports medicine fellow and Dr. Ken Nakasone (right), part of the teaching faculty

Partnership in Virginia Enhances Learning Opportunities for Physicians

I f you’ve ever stood in the meat section of the grocery store, you’ve probably seen fascia, the shiny covering of muscle and the membrane between skin and muscle. Historically, anatomy students have removed the fascia to see what is beneath it rather than looking at the fascia itself, but the American Fascial Distortion Model Association (AFDMA) wants to change that, believing that the fascia plays a big role in body processes. At its most basic level, fascia is designed to promote freedom of movement within the body. Anything that distorts that freedom of movement

can result in pain. Once that distortion is corrected, pain is relieved. Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) treatments focus on maintaining the healthy functioning of the fascia, so it is useful “FDM is another form of OMM [osteopathic manipulative medicine],” says Mark Rogers, DO, professor of family medicine at the Virginia campus of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. “It looks specifically at the fascia and how it wraps and interconnects everything in our bodies. Once we identify that part of the patient’s problem or symptoms in treating a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries.

may be from the fascia, FDM treatments will help us treat the fascia through manipulation which allows the fascia matrix to regain or restore its natural function.” In January, VCOM-Virginia and the Virginia Tech-Carilion (VTC) Family Medicine residency program hosted the AFDMA for a workshop on FDM. During the workshop, which provided continuing medical education (CME) credits, participants learned more about FDM and how to recognize and identify body language for each of the six principal types of fascial distortions.They learned verbal skills to enhance their ability to communicate with patients

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