I would recommend this course to anyone looking to develop their skills, or who feel that their patient have plateaued and want to do something about it.
I was lucky enough to get full funding last year from my employer to attend a Movement Analysis and Education Strategies (M.A.E.S.) course in July and August 2019.
This 4-week course is delivered in two 2-week blocks with a 3-week break in between to enable participants to put their new knowledge and skills into practice before returning to complete the second part of the course.
The course is delivered by physiotherapist, Jean-Pierre Maes. Jean-Pierre has over 25 years experience of treating babies, children and adults with cerebral palsy and other neurological-developmental conditions. Jean-Pierre worked at the Bobath Centre (London) between 1998 - 2013 as a Consultant Neuro-developmental Physiotherapist and Senior Bobath Tutor before moving on to establish Maes Therapy where he now practices and teaches the M.A.E.S. Therapy Approach.
The course is targeted at experienced paediatric therapists (physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists) and medics. The other participants on my course consisted of UK physiotherapists from the NHS and private practice, some physiotherapists from overseas and 1 occupational therapist.
The first week was mainly theoretical with practical demonstrations from Jean-Pierre and was designed to introduce the M.A.E.S. Therapy Approach and the framework that structures assessment and the underlying aims of therapeutic input. The following 3 weeks consisted of a mixture of theory and of practical sessions, including hand-on therapy with a number of infants and children with a variety of abilities and needs.
The course was described as having an 'unusually high level of supervised practical sessions' and it certainly did! The mixture of theory blended with this high level of practical sessions enabled participants to put the theory into practice and I found that this, together with the supportive tutoring, really helped build my confidence as my knowledge and skills developed over the 4 weeks.
The M.A.E.S. Therapy tutors continue to provide follow-up support when required and I have also found their online tutorials really helpful for maintaining and developing my skills.
I found the course really beneficial and feel that it has really changed my clinical practice. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to develop their skills, or who feel that their patients have plateaued and want to do something about it!
Further information about about M.A.E.S. Therapy can be found on the M.A.E.S. Therapy website.
Jo Nye
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust