MEDEK is a dynamic Method of Kinetic Stimulation. It was created by Ramon Cuevas, a prominent Chilean kinesiologist in the years 1971-1976. Ramon and Ester Fink, a founder of Canadian Medek Centre in Toronto and a children’s physiotherapist with more than thirty years of experience, are pioneers and world’s mentors concerning rehabilitation of children using MEDEK method.

The base of this method is supporting development of children’s gross motor skills during infancy, but also helping children whose functions of the motor system are impaired by nervous system. The assumption of MEDEK therapy is not changing the muscle tone, primal responses or improper movements, like in the NDT-Bobath method. However on their base a therapist evaluates the child’s maturity of the central nervous system and development of the motor functions. The key element deciding about the efficacy and stages of the therapy is its individualization. A necessary part is to take into consideration physical and mental possibilities of each child. Thanks to that a therapist can fluently, and first of all efficiently, adjust the factors such as set, duration, course of exercises, tools and techniques.

The physiotherapy according to MEDEK method is based on training the reflexes necessary for sitting down, standing up and walking. A child receives particular posture tasks that are not isolated movements. During training we use a special physiotherapeutic table and a set of tools developed by Ramon Cuevas and dedicated to conduct MEDEK trainings. The key role is the systematic cooperation between the therapist and the parents during the therapy. Understanding the core of the problem and regular exercising with a child at home let getting quick and measurable effects. One of the most important arguments for using this method of rehabilitation is the fact that a child’s willingness to cooperate with the physiotherapist is not a key factor. The child’s motivation may influence the correctness of movement tasks, but the result is momentary. We must remember that the main aim is to improve the child’s motor skills and reflexes as a whole without depending on mood, willingness to cooperate, etc. It lets efficiently conducting trainings with children who have “their own vision” :).

MEDEK method is recommended for children with:

• Disordered, retarded psychomotor development
• Cerebral palsy
• Genetic disorders
• Metabolic diseases

Child’s age:

Thanks to the possibly earliest beginning of the rehabilitation it is possible to gain the best results of the therapy. The key factors that influence the possibility to  execute most of the exercises in the MEDEK therapy are the child’s weight and height.

Contraindications:

• The main (but not absolute) contraindication is dislocation or damage in the hip joints.