Cuevas Medek Exercise (CME)

Our CME Therapists work with children to build mental and physical strength that produces improved motor outputs.

What is Cuevas Medek Exercise (CME Therapy)?

Cuevas Medek Exercise (CME Therapy) was developed by Ramon Cuevas in the 1970s, and “Medek” stands for a dynamic method of motor stimulation. It is a treatment approach that uses exercises that provoke the automatic postural responses from motor delayed children. The theory behind the approach is that the more distal support is applied by a therapist over the child’s body segments, the stronger the functional antigravity reactions that are provoked. Therefore, the further from the center of the child’s body that therapists give support, the more the child’s brain and body must work and respond against gravity to provoke the responses for motor output, such as walking, standing, and sitting.

Our CME Therapists

CME certified therapists are registered Physical Therapists (PT) or Occupational Therapists (OT) with the appropriate degree in their respective field and experience in pediatrics who have taken CME Continuing Education Program. There are 4 levels to the Continuing Education Program. Level I participants learn the theoretical principles and core concepts of CME therapy as well as the assessment and 42 exercises ranging from head control to gait control. After 8 months of practicing at Level I, therapists are able to take the Level II course. This course is a practicum with participants learning 50 additional exercises. Level III is an advanced course with an internship with Ramon Cuevas in which the participant learns 150 additional exercises. Level IV certification allows the practitioner to teach levels I and II. Only therapists who are in possession of a registered certificate are authorized to deliver CME therapy.

What are the Benefits of CME?

Helping children develop balance and independence

Cuevas Medek Exercises are unlike any other current treatment protocol for children to acquire developmental mobility and independence. The intensive model helps teach a child, by developing body awareness, postural control and motor planning, how to create movement patterns and control their own body so they can quickly build the skills needed to achieve targeted motor milestones. These skills are learned without external equipment or support, so a child can learn independence with these motor abilities.

If CME is appropriate for a child, results such as gaining skills for positional stability independence, sitting and standing alone, and mobility and transitions, getting in and out of sitting, rolling, crawling, and walking can often be achieved when other therapy methods have not worked. A child should always be assessed to determine if CME is appropriate for them and results and outcomes will vary per child.

Our Experts are Experienced in

TES CME providers are certified in Level 1 Cuevas Medek Exercise

TES’ approach to Cuevas Medek Exercise

How do we make therapy fun?

We provide an engaging and motivating experience for each kid. We take the time to learn a child’s interests and incorporate these into ideas and motivating factors for each treatment session.

How do we work as a team?

We work with all disciplines for an individualized and all-encompassing approach to treatment. We have knowledgeable PT- and OT-certified CME specialists who collaborate in order to develop appropriate gross motor and fine motor goals for the child and family.

How do we include the family?

Each family is important to us and to our client’s success. We strive for family involvement in therapy, in teaching kids how to apply techniques at home, and in motivating and celebrating each victory with the child. We strive to always keep our families first in our therapy.

CME Therapy in Troy, MI

Cuevas Medek Therapy is offered in our Troy, MI location. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our specially-trained, certified therapists who will work with your child to develop mobility, achieve postural control and gain increased independence.

FAQs About CME

How do you explain CME to a child?

We usually do not go into detail on each exercise as we are provoking automatic response already in the body so the less the child is aware of what is going to happen next, the more he or she can respond automatically and create motor patterns for these skills. When describing CME to a child, we would say, “CME is going to teach your body to move without help. It will be challenging as your therapists give you support and your body does more work, but your body will learn to move and balance on its own.”

What is Cuevas Medek Exercise used for?

CME is used to teach children with developmental neurological disabilities motor movement patterns including rolling, pushing up on tummy, sitting, crawling, pulling up to stand, standing, walking, and navigating stairs.

How many times a week will a child need therapy?

There is no definite answer since each child and family will be different. However, session models can be intensive (5x a week with a shorter overall duration of 3-4 weeks) or traditional (1-3x a week with a longer overall duration of 8+ weeks). Intensive models can be repeated after a few months, if appropriate for the child, to carryover and continue the progress to independence and for new skill acquisition.

CME in Action

CME Therapy

CME in Action

CME Therapy

At TES Therapy we are seeing amazing results using Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME)! Watch Sheldon’s progression from his beginning experience with CME Therapy to four months later.

Credentials

Our Therapists' Credentials

CME Level 1

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Masters' of Physical Therapy

Bachelors' of Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy Assistants

Occupational Therapist Registered Licensed

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant