MEDEK

MEDEK (Spanish acronym for motor dynamic re-education) is a series of exercises created by Chilean Physical Therapist Ramon Cuevas in early 1970’s. The philosophy behind MEDEK is to promote “automatic responses of functional- postural motor control under the influence gravity force”. Since 1999 the name MEDEK was changed to CME-which stands for Cuevas-MEDEK-Exercise.

The basic motor functions such as head control, upright sitting, standing and walking, are initiated essentially from the genetic organization process of the central nervous system, which, under the influence of gravity force, and the appropriate postural-functional reactions for each level of age is programmed to produce.

CME applies a step-by-step escalation of gravity force influence in the exercise program, which makes it possible to upgrade the child’s neuro-muscular response by the gradually enhanced difficulty of the exercises provoking the child’s systems to take gradual control of the new postures and movements.

Gravity force is the main external element that stimulates the child to react and produce the expected motoric responses at any given developmental stage. CME therapy challenges sensory receptors to produce the appropriate postural-functional reaction when the child is gradually exposed to the gravity force.

The child’s brain contains potential for recovery which is a latent power of developmental improvement. CME uses specific dynamic exercises to place the child in standing position and force the systems to recognize the posture and react accordingly.

CME therapy is administered on the floor or treatment table. CME does not use any assistive devices or structures. However, it uses special set of wooden boxes, boards and platform (also created by Ramon Cuevas) to facilitate antigravity position during application of CME, therapists increase difficulty of exercises by changing support points from trunk to hips, to knees, to ankles. The child is working harder when point of support is farther away from the trunk.