Specialized Treatments

Occupational Therapy Services

For some patients, the ability to complete everyday activities or tasks independently requires assistance beyond the scope of physical therapy. Occupational Therapy (OT) is a healthcare discipline that often works closely with PT to help individuals participate in the activities and tasks of everyday life with a greater sense of ease (dressing, eating, reading, writing, bathing). CYP is pleased to offer OT services at the north and south clinics.

CYP can help!

With the addition of OT services, we can work on co-treatments, collaborative assessment/treatment/intervention planning, connection to community services and overall care planning for patients. OT can look at and address many elements that may be inhibiting someone’s ability to participate in their activities of everyday life. These may include:

• Independence in Activities of Daily Living
• Home Visits/Environmental Assessments
• Equipment Prescription
• School Readiness
• Concussion Management
• Play Skills
• Sensory Regulation
• Developing Fine Motor Skills
• Feeding Concerns
• Promoting Mental Health
• Sensory Integration

Cuevas Medek Exercise (CME)

What is CME? Cuevas Medek Exercise or CME is a specific treatment technique created by Chilean physiotherapist Ramon Cuevas. After treating many children with neurodevelopmental conditions, he found that passive treatment of neurological conditions alone was not enough to create independent mobility and that more was needed. With this in mind, he designed a specific set of exercises for these children, and became the founder of Cuevas Medek Exercise. CME is a treatment technique that does not rely on active participation from your child. With CME the therapist moves the child’s body to provoke a movement response. The movements that are being provoked are movements that your child has not been observed to do or are incredibly difficult for your child to complete. These movements are focused on postural reactions and protective reactions. Who can benefit from CME? Many children who have a motor goal can benefit from CME. This includes children with a gross motor delay, as well as children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, seizure disorder, children with traumatic brain injury or certain non-degenerative genetic disorders. Some children may not be candidates for this type of therapy, such as those with degenerative neurological disorders or those with conditions which cause their bones to break easily. After assessing your child, your therapist will guide you and let you know if your child is a candidate for this type of therapy. What is the difference between traditional physiotherapy support and CME therapy? Traditional physiotherapy focuses on facilitating movement, or guiding movements. Many traditional exercises require the child to focus actively and intentionally, choosing to move their body in a specific manner. CME focuses on provoking movement that is subconscious to develop strength and active movement. Can all therapists do CME? No, therapists who do CME treatment are specifically trained over multiple days and hours to become certified CME therapists. Only those trained in CME are permitted to use CME techniques in their treatments. Physios Linette and Tracy are Level One trained CME therapists, and Holly is Level Two trained CME therapist.

Acupuncture and Dry Needling

 Acupuncture and Dry Needling can be useful techniques in the treatment of muscle and joint issues. Both techniques use fine, sterile, disposable needles inserted in the skin to alleviate pain, but there are slight differences between the two. Acupuncture is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It helps to decrease pain by stimulating the release of endorphins, promoting a decrease in inflammation and relief from pain by penetrating the skin with a fine needle. Dry Needling aims are relieving trigger points, or hard “knots” in the muscle that cause discomfort and limit function. The needle is inserted in the skin and the muscle, which helps to reduce muscle tension, improve pain and assist in speeding up the rehabilitation process.

CYP can help!

Several of our team members are trained in Medical Acupuncture and Dry Needling and can advise on whether treatment is beneficial for specific types of conditions.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Were you and/or your newborn or child in a motor vehicle accident? A variety of injuries can occur as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Some, like broken bones are obvious, but soft-tissue damage or whiplash can be less apparent and take several days to appear.  At CYP we know what’s “normal” for infants and young children, and can provide you with an appropriate assessment, and effective treatment strategies.

CYP can help!

Injury from motor vehicle accidents may include:

• Torticollis
• Headaches
• Neck and Back Pain
• Whiplash
• Decreased Range of Motion
• Muscle strains
• Ligament sprains
• Post-surgical and post-fracture
• Concussion

Other Specialized Treatments:

Cuevas Medek Exercise (CME), manual therapy, therapeutic taping, pre and post-op therapy, home exercise program, fitness classes, postural retraining, off-site assessment and treatment (in home, school, and community settings), formalized assessment/testing for gross motor scores, pre-participation screening and injury prevention programs, concussion management.