firehorse

MEDEK stands for Metodo Dinamico de Estimulacion Kinesica or Dynamic Method for Kinetic Stimulation. It was developed by a Venezuelan physical therapist named Ramon Cuevas. You can Google it for more info, or to find therapists trained in the technique, but basically MEDEK trained therapists know how to hold children with CP in such a way that they are able to balance themselves without support and stand upright. Only licensed PT/OTs can receive MEDEK training, so I'm sure there are websites listings of MEDEK certified PT/OTs.

My nephew acted as a 'demonstration kid' for a training session - the trainer would stand Nick on his hands by holding him by the bottoms of his feet. Then without any other support from the therapist, Nick would just be standing on his own. When you see it live it looks like a circus trick - you will think that there are unseen strings holding the child up, like a marionette. My nephew hasn't had treatment by a MEDEK therapist since that one session, both because there aren't any in our immediate area, and because he's having good results with a Conductive Education therapist.

I believe the theory behind the technique is that by holding the child in this way they are able to learn balance skills and strengthen muscles that they can't by using crutches, walkers or standers. And it does work across a wide range of tone, including low tone kids like my nephew, who often have problems supporting themselves on crutches so are rarely upright. The kids sort of relax into the proper alignment, which could help with spasticity, I suppose. But since the children don't just start standing alone after right after treatment, I'm not sure how it actually translates into standing and walking by the child later on, or how much benefit it provides over just plain PT/OT.