Why Does It Hurt?: The Fascial Distortion Model: A new paradigm for pain relief and restored movement by Capistrant Todd

Author:Capistrant, Todd [Capistrant, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beavers Pond Press
Published: 2014-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

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The Model Applied: Treating Injuries Typical of High-Performance Athletes

An incredibly powerful area for the application of Fascial Distortion Model techniques is for high-performance athletes and others who depend on their bodies to accomplish their goals, such as soldiers, dancers, and other performers. From the perspective of the FDM, many of the injuries suffered by these people—especially sprains—can be resolved in minutes. Outside the FDM, as we have seen, such injuries can last for weeks and months before these performers can resume full activity.

As my practice transitioned to full-time osteopathic manipulation, I had the pleasure of seeing an increasing number of athletes as patients. I really enjoy working with those generally striving to reach a higher level of performance. I have worked with runners (from sprinters to ultramarathoners), swimmers, gymnasts, hockey players, and dancers. All of these athletes are pushing themselves toward improving their performance. I have had the honor of treating numerous members of the military (including Navy SEALs, pilots, airborne infantry, and members of Stryker units). Many of these individuals develop distortions and need treatment so they are not sidelined in their pursuit of personal excellence in their careers.

I feel that a solid foundation in the model is critical for the treatment of high-performance athletes. As a provider, I am able to use my clinical experience and understanding to address the limitations these athletes face. I interpret their limitations, listen to their description of the issues, and apply the model to their problems. My treatments are directed at correcting the underlying distortions, which will allow them to have an improved range of movement, decreased pain, and overall improvement in performance.

Once identified, the treatment of their distortions is the same for all of my patients. But interestingly, I have noticed that the body language described by performance athletes can be somewhat vague. These athletes don’t emphasize their pain, unless of course I am addressing a specific injury. They speak of their decreased ability. So when I ask a runner, “Where does it hurt?” he or she will often say, “It isn’t really pain, but I feel that I can’t do this or that. . .” This makes using the physical body language or gestures a little more challenging.

In this chapter, we will examine a variety of injuries that typically plague high-performance athletes.

Shoulders of Swimmers

I have treated a number of swimmers, who commonly suffer from shoulder pain. Traditional medicine tends to focus on the function of the rotator cuff, but I have found that conventional orthopedic treatment of the rotator cuff has not been successful in alleviating the swimmers’ pain. I believe that is because much of the shoulder pain is not directly related to rotator cuff injuries. From the FDM perspective, ongoing shoulder pain is consistent with continuum distortions, herniated triggerpoints, and triggerbands. Foldings of the shoulders are also common. Multiple swimmer patients with prolonged discomfort in the shoulders have responded very well to FDM manipulations.

An Olympic Hopeful

A fourteen-year-old competitive swimmer came to see me because of severe shoulder pain.

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