Live Reviews From Google
Shane Brassell
18:46 05 Feb 24
I was trained in M.A.E.S Therapy 9 years ago in South Africa. It has truly changed the course of my professional life as a physiotherapist. The approach encourages continual analysis, child specific assessment and treatment, understanding a child from the child's perspective taking into account not only the physical but the social, emotional, environmental, cognitive and sensory factors too. It is truly a holistic approach. I look forward to continued leaning under the excellent mentorship of Jean-Pierre Maes and his colleagues.
Yikay Lee
11:32 15 Jan 24
Our daughter started MAES in the summer of 2022 and we cannot recommend the therapy enough. It has taught us to look at her CP in a different way by going back to the cause of her movement pattern and looking at how the brain functions. With this we have been able to analysis and gain a better understanding of how to interpret why she is moving a certain way and more importantly how to treat it more holistically.We really like how the MAES approach is about working within your child's capabilities in order to help them progress and widen their movement repertoire. Also the focus on the quality of movement and body awareness is definitely a long term gain which we have seen vast improvements since she started MAES therapy. I highly recommend looking into this therapy if your child has a movement disorder such as Cerebral Palsy.
Jaco Stols
18:10 16 Dec 23
MAES Therapy opened up a whole new world to both my CP child and myself as a parent. By focusing on the root of the problem and addressing my child as an individual with his own uniqueness, we are able to work towards goals that is specifically within reach for my child, prioritising a quality outcome above quantity. I am truly amazed by every session. Thank you so so much to JP and his team.
LM Fourie
18:31 05 Dec 23
After nearly two weeks of daily MAES therapy my daughter (spastic quad CP) is so much more relaxed, alert and content. She has regained some lost skills and her arms and hands are open and relaxed. The unique and gentle approach to therapy has brought the joy back to movement and exploration.
Antonia Milin
10:35 17 Oct 23
I had an opportunity to meet Mr. Maes. He gave his opinion and observations on my son's development. Although we had a Zoom session with my son's therapist after we provided him with some videos, the amount of prediction about what my son would do in some poses gave me goosebumps. He unlocked some things for him and helped him overcome difficulties in his development. My son was born prematurely and had asphyxia and intravascular hemorrhage.
Lenora Adam
20:18 28 Aug 23
We have been with MAES therapy for the past 2 years after first attending one of their courses with my eldest son, I have found the MAES approach to physio unique and impactful. They have always put his long term needs over short term gains, so while I obsessed about him walking they prioritised making sure that when the time came he walked right. Therapists have always taken the time to explain to me the science behind what they're doing and why so I can incorporate it into our home life which I appreciated. I would definitely recommend MAES to anyone looking for physio for their child(ren).
Helena Clark
09:44 25 Aug 23
After my son appeared to have some developmental delay, we embarked upon an investigations process which led to the discovery that he had abnormal brain development, primarily in the cerebellum, which was caused by a genetic disorder. As with most parents who experience something like this, I was utterly lost and despairing. I was told by the neurologist that physiotherapy may help, and so after some Google searching I came across MAES Therapy.We had not tried traditional physiotherapy so I don't really have much to compare it to, but what I can say is that since my son started MAES therapy with Tara and Jean-Pierre 4 months ago his progress has been astonishing. They have a holistic approach which does not exclusively focus on movement, but also his cognitive and communication skills. My son went from being very rigid in the torso and unable to do much by way of movement other than rolling and sitting (when placed in a sitting position), to sitting up from lying down, pulling to stand, reaching and very nearly crawling within 3/4 months. He is so much more ambitious with his movement because he has confidence and awareness in his body. His cognitive and play skills have improved enormously, and we now have a few words. I will be eternally grateful for Tara and JP's support, and cannot recommend them more highly.
Katherine May
06:26 13 Dec 22
As an Occupational Therapist based in South Africa, I attended the 4-week MAES therapy course in 2021, in which I learnt an entirely different way of understanding children with cerebral palsy and how to improve their brain skills. I have found MAES therapy to be an incredibly helpful and impactful therapy approach which I am so grateful to understand. Thank-you to JP and the team for all your hard work. I would highly recommend this course to any therapist working with children with cerebral palsy.
Michelle Perks
03:59 09 Dec 22
Jean- Pierre Maes has a novel and very intelligent approach to harnessing neuroplasticity in the rehabilitation of children with brain-related movement disorders. In a field where there seems to be a strong push for accommodation of disabilities instead of remediating them, he gives us hope that the developing brain can adapt and learn when given the stimulus it needs.
Elin Hem Stenersen
09:44 07 Dec 22
MAES, “Movement Analysis and Education Strategies”, Therapy model is a pioneering, specific treatment approach for children with Cerebral Palsy and other neurological conditions. The model looks at the child with a lesion in the brain from the perspective of the child`s brain. The understanding is that due to the lesion, the child will have an atypical brain that lacks certain skills (X) essential in development of problem-solving and execution of tasks, while over-relaying on available skills (Y), thus resulting in atypical expressions and development. The aim in MAES Therapy is to intervene in the course of the child`s development, by encouraging the development of a variety of brain-skills, (strengthening X) and limiting the use of dominant skills (Y) that inhibits further progression. It`s an holistic approach with long term perspective - acknowledging that what we do today will impact the future to come.A challanging, but rewarding approach that meets each child in the unique way! Thank you for the refresher at the MAES Foundation Course in Cape Town! Keep up the good work!
Adrianna Wywiał
18:39 22 Feb 22
Professionally, I am a doctor. I have heard about MAES Therapy as I am a mother of a disabled daughter with ataxic CP and her physiotherapist has completed the course. I have decided to attend a 4-weeks MAES course to get to know the MAES approach and help my daughter and my pediatric patients.The course gives a completely new perspective on children with CP. MAES approach allows to adjust the therapy to a specific patient through a careful analysis of their movement and behavior. It does not focus only on the patient's body and muscle tone - it treats the patient as a whole, helping them to function better, developing new strategies for movement, behavior and other spheres of life. In each treated child it sees primarily an adult who they will become in a few years and who must be given the opportunity to live as independently as possible.My daughter has been participating in MAES therapy for a year. This year I was also invited to the ART course with her as a demo child. I notice a lot of positive changes in her. Her repertoire of movements has increased, and she has developed cognitively. During the ART course, Jean-Pierre gave me a lot of helpful tips and just after a few days her behavior has improved considerably.I highly recommend this course to every pediatric therapist. It is really worth attending it as it opens up completely new horizons for therapy. Also, as a physician and as a parent, I recommend the MAES approach to all children with CP. I am grateful that my daughter has got the chance to be treated this way.
Hannah Head
11:42 03 Feb 22
As a mum to a 3 1/2 year old with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and as a Physiotherapist professionally it was really important to me to find the right physiotherapists to support my daughter's overall development. My daughter, Orla, was born full term but she failed her newborn hearing screen and from there further investigations indicated she had been affected by congenital Cytomegalovirus when she was in the womb, which had also damaged her brain. It became clear she had cerebral palsy when she did not meet the typical developmental milestones in the first few months. I explored many different types of therapy available when my daughter was first diagnosed not knowing what approach was best. Then following recommendations from other parents as well as colleagues it became clear, very quickly, that the MAES team were the best in the field of neurodevelopmental paediatric physiotherapy. Jean-Pierre is well known world-wide for his high level of expertise and understanding in this field and his handling skills are second to none.Our daughter, Orla, has been attending weekly sessions, since she was 6-months old, with Joanna at the MAES centre in Mill Hill, North London. Jean-Pierre regularly joins our sessions to advise on further strategies for progression. Orla is very excited each week when we arrive at the centre as she knows it's a place where she has fun, at the same time being handled in a way which allows her to move in ways she cannot do independently. This is often in contrast to the more traditional NHS approaches where she gets frustrated by being placed in a piece of equipment or when practising static holds such as 4-point kneeling. I am convinced Orla's progress to date has been due to the MAES therapy sessions and their principles we continually implement at home. She is a cognitively alert little girl with much improved movement quality, she has no muscle shortening/tightness anywhere, which has continued to surprise her NHS professionals and no need for medications, which are often used to help similar children with pain and muscle spasms. Orla is now able to sit crossed legged but at the same time move her body to reach for toys and play so it is a functional sitting rather than one that is static and hard for her to maintain.MAES therapy is forward thinking, it is different from many other physiotherapy approaches. It makes you think differently about your child's development and how to work on their brain's capacity for change. Understanding that a typically developing child's brain naturally learns complex/nuance movements which is key to learning to sit, crawling and walking and all positions in-between. In Orla's case she has an atypical brain following the damage done by the Cytomegalovirus, which has not allowed her to naturally develop these complex/nuance movements needed to reach these typical milestones. MAES therapy allows her brain to have these opportunities to learn the complex/nuance movements through specific handling of her body, in many varied positions. Initially I thought this was just passive handling of Orla's body (i.e. I was doing the movements to her) but with guidance and practise from Joanna and Jean-Pierre it was soon clear we were far from passively moving Orla. She was continuously learning an awareness of her body and an increasing repertoire of movements in all positions. Just practising sitting or standing statically (as it is so often done in typical NHS settings) when a child does not have all the in-between complex/nuance movements means they will not have much ability to function in these positions, they will be having to work really hard just to maintain their body in these positions. Maes therapy has allowed Orla to improve her movement quality and more importantly work towards more independence.We have since moved over 90minutes drive away from the MAES centre but we still attend once a week as I firmly believe this is the right approach for our daughter and we will continue indefinitely. Thank you Joanna and Jean-Pierre for your ongoing support!
Dalya Rosen
15:06 04 Nov 21
I had the opportunity to join online during Part 1, MAES Course South Africa 2021.It was so great to be back. I wish I could have attended more. MAES has been phenomenal for me and for my therapy. And I keep thinking of Jean-Pierre when I treat patients and think what he would say and do. MAES has been so ingrained in my brain, it is impossible to not think differently. And I love it!
Debra Haynes
16:58 11 Feb 21
My daughter was born via elective C-section at 38+2 weeks after a normal pregnancy. She started showing signs of stiffness early on and missed multiple milestones. At 7 months she had an MRI scan which identified significant leukodystrophy. To date, we still have no diagnosis.We started MAES therapy just before Emma’s 4th birthday, a little over a year ago. Since starting therapy, Emma is more flexible, more aware of her own body, more fluid in her movements and seems to be much more cognitively aware. She has started talking, albeit not always understandable, and can now not only sit cross legged, she can get herself into a cross-legged position. We notice subtle differences with her each and every day. She seems to understand that MAES therapy is helping her as she is always keen to go to her appointments. That could also be because J-P and his amazing team manage to make hard work fun!MAES therapy is different to anything you will experience in the NHS or elsewhere. It requires you to think differently about how best to help your child. I think it has made an enormous difference to our daughters development and plan to continue with therapy indefinitely.In addition to providing MAES therapy, the team have also been incredibly supportive in other areas of Emma’s care. I ensure J-P and team are copied on Emma’s medical reports as they always have incredibly useful insights. J-P even spoke to my daughter’s NHS physio when he disagreed with a consultants diagnosis and encouraged us to seek a second opinion. The second opinion and that of other healthcare providers aligned with J-P’s thinking. They don’t just provide therapy - they actually care. They care about what happens to my child before and after she comes to therapy. I think at times the therapy is doing me as much good as it is doing Emma as I now feel I have someone to go to to discuss my concerns and fears.I can’t recommend JP and the team highly enough and can’t thank them enough for all they have done for my daughter.G
Patricia Kaiser López
17:42 20 Dec 20
The online MAES Therapy 1-Week Advanced Course was more than I expected! It was an amazing week, with time to re-visit the principles of MAES Therapy, time to watch videos, analyse, comment, answer questions…. with lots of learnings, and go deeper in the analyse of children’s movements from different perspectivesDo not be afraid of taking an online MAES course!! It is so very well organized, with lots of content, easy to follow, well explained… We went so much deeper into the video treatment analyses, which gives the chance to learn in a very M.A.E.S way: without hands on pressure !Thanks to the organization and participants for being brave and making this possible, because in the current times, is a very good idea to move forward.Patricia Kaiser López, PhysiotherapistM.A.E.S. Trained TherapistSpain
Helen King
09:46 06 Dec 20
I have completed the 4 week MAES Therapy course and Advanced course, I recently joined the 2020 online ART (Advanced MAES Course). This was a fantastic course of like minded MAES Trained therapists who prioritised their learning for the benefit of their clients. The online forum enabled discussion, review of treatment sessions, both face to face and online and an update of the MAES Therapy approach. Highly recommend the ART course to Advance, Refresh and Troubleshoot your application of MAES Therapy.
Ana Milosevic
20:54 04 Dec 20
When I was attending Foundation M. A. E. S. Course, the key point of my learning process was Course Leader Jean-Pierre’s guidance whilst I was treating the child.I had no doubts that by attending the recent online Advanced MAES A.R.T. Course "Advance-Refresh-Troubleshoot" I would gain a deeper understanding and a better analysis of the problems of children with CP, but I was concerned that without the possibility for that kind of interaction, my treatment will not improve. Crazy me!Since the course, I have been re-watching videos of my treatment sessions and it’s not just that I can understand the child better, I can clearly see my own strengths and weaknesses; I can see how to improve my handling; I have ideas how to develop the play and how to structure my treatment better and I have the confidence that I will implement all of these into my practice for all the children I treat.Have I mentioned the opportunity to observe JP’s thinking process and reasoning? Priceless!Ana MiloševićM.A.E.S. Trained, Neurodevelopmental PhysiotherapistSerbia
Jakub Faber
19:55 04 Dec 20
I recently completed the first MAES Therapy 1-Week Advanced Course online.If someone wants to deepen their knowledge of MAES Therapy, this course is essential! A huge amount of knowledge transferred to participants in a phenomenal way. Although this is an online course, it is not a theoretical course. Thanks to in-depth video analysis and appropriate questions from the Course Leader Jean-Pierre, the participants are guided to develop a solution to the problem themselves, which significantly increases the retention of the information obtained. If anyone was afraid that it would be 8 hours a day spent in front of the screen, let me reassure you - the course is so interesting that time passes unnoticed. Additionally, thanks to the fact that the course takes place online, we have the opportunity to meet MAES Trained Therapists from all over the world and their different therapeutic horizons.This M.A.E.S. Advanced course took me to a whole new level of understanding. After completing the 4-week Foundation Course two years ago, a world of completely new therapeutic possibilities opened up to me.Now, after the MAES Advanced A.R.T. Course "Advance-Refresh-Troubleshoot", all the gaps in understanding my patients' behaviour were filled with so much more information. I gained a much broader perspective, deeper understanding and many therapeutic ideasJakub FaberM.A.E.S. TrainedNeurodevelopmental PhysiotherapistPoland
Simon Thompson
21:41 01 Dec 20
To parents of children with CP we would like to share our experience of MAES Therapy with you.Our twins were born 10 weeks premature. At 6 weeks old we were taken into a little room in NICU and told our son had bilateral PVL. This is one the hardest things as a parent you will have to hear. We were told that he would have cerebral palsy, that his future was uncertain as the spectrum was vast but that early intervention is critical. It's at this point that we started to do lots of research, searching for the support to unleash his potential, to give him the best quality of life.For those parents in the same situation as us, you will understand the thought processes of wanting to try anything which you think will help. And then once you have tried it, not wanting to stop in case it is that approach that would make him reach his full potential. That was us.Whilst we had support from the NHS, we knew they followed a very rigid approach to dealing with these cases. We also knew that we wanted to try alternative forms of therapy. We had a few different private physios and one of those introduced us to MAES Therapy. Since then we have been having at least one session a week. When possible we increase these and also put our son through intensive week courses. We also try to do what we can at home but obviously not being a trained physio we were not entirely sure what to do.This for me is where MAES has really helped us. Jean-Pierre and his team bring you into the session. They talk you through what they are doing and more importantly why they are doing it. They set the goals and you can monitor the progress. This has been truly invaluable. The time we have at home now is much more focused. We understand it's not about just trying to get our son walking, that there is much more he needs to achieve which has given us more understanding of his challenges. We now introduce therapy into everyday activities that previously without MAES we wouldn't have been able to do. With the MAES teams' support we have seen clear progress in our sons development often in areas we hadn't even considered. He is able to move better and he also now has a better understanding of why he needs to do it and his surrounding environment. This is critical to his quality of life.Even during lockdown, MAES Therapy has continued to support us via Zoom calls. What's great is at the end of the session we play back parts of what's just happened and discuss what we can work on before the next sessions which has really helped us.We can't put into words how grateful we are for MAES supporting us. They have played a massive part in our sons progress so we will continue to use them and trust that they will help our son reach his full potential.Simon Thompson
Lisa Waters
15:02 03 Nov 20
During a prolonged and traumatic birth, our daughter suffered oxygen deprivation to her brain due to medical negligence. She was born without a heartbeat, had to be resuscitated, and underwent 72 hours of brain cooling at a children's hospital. Her MRI showed a minimal amount of injury to her basal ganglia, and we were assured by top neonatologists that she would have no lasting effects from her birth injury. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case at all, and she was diagnosed with dystonic cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs when she was 1 year old.I was feeling rather hopeless about this situation, as she will be 3 years old soon, is nonverbal, and has no motor skills except for rolling. However, one day I stumbled upon an online post from another mother whose child has dystonic CP, and in it she stated that MAES therapy was the only therapy that had really helped her son. I had never heard of MAES therapy before, but after a little investigation, I soon discovered that there was a MAES therapy clinic in London. This presented a slight problem, as we are located in the United States, it's 2020, and there is no international travel allowed during the pandemic. But, after a consultation with Jean-Pierre, he agreed to try virtual MAES therapy sessions with us.We've been participating in virtual one-on-one MAES therapy sessions with Jean-Pierre since September using Zoom, and I can honestly say it's the first time I've felt hopeful about my daughter's future in quite some time. We’ve had no issues with connectivity, and it feels like Jean-Pierre is in our living room rather than thousands of miles away.MAES therapy is much more than traditional PT/OT/Speech therapies—it's a set of principles, strategies, and exercises that we have been able to incorporate into daily life with our daughter. Jean-Pierre has explained how we need to focus on helping our daughter to reduce her learned, compensatory, and atypical movement patterns and development and to replace them with new and more functional movements and development. He has also taught us about the importance of expanding our daughter's cognitive skill-set and how to help her engage in play at a level that is age-appropriate. In addition, he has given us practical, tangible ways to manage emotional and behavioral issues related to her birth injury. Importantly, explains complex concepts in a very accessible and easy-to-understand way.Over these past several weeks, we have seen an improvement in our daughter’s behavior and in her ability to play, as well as a reduction in some of her atypical movements. We plan to continue MAES therapy for as long as we can, and are very excited about its potential to enhance our daughter’s quality of life for years to come.c
Lisa Waters
14:39 30 Oct 20
During a prolonged and traumatic birth, our daughter suffered oxygen deprivation to her brain due to medical negligence. She was born without a heartbeat, had to be resuscitated, and underwent 72 hours of brain cooling at a children's hospital. Her MRI showed a minimal amount of injury to her basal ganglia, and we were assured by top neonatologists that she would have no lasting effects from her birth injury. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case at all, and she was diagnosed with dystonic cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs when she was 1 year old.I was feeling rather hopeless about this situation, as she will be 3 years old soon, is nonverbal, and has no motor skills except for rolling. However, one day I stumbled upon an online post from another mother whose child has dystonic CP, and in it she stated that MAES therapy was the only therapy that had really helped her son. I had never heard of MAES therapy before, but after a little investigation, I soon discovered that there was a MAES therapy clinic in London. This presented a slight problem, as we are located in the United States, it's 2020, and there is no international travel allowed during the pandemic. But, after a consultation with Jean-Pierre, he agreed to try virtual MAES therapy sessions with us.We've been participating in virtual one-on-one MAES therapy sessions with Jean-Pierre since September using Zoom, and I can honestly say it's the first time I've felt hopeful about my daughter's future in quite some time. We’ve had no issues with connectivity, and it feels like Jean-Pierre is in our living room rather than thousands of miles away.MAES therapy is much more than traditional PT/OT/Speech therapies—it's a set of principles and exercises that we have been able to incorporate into daily life with our daughter. Jean-Pierre has explained how we need to focus on helping our daughter to reduce her learned, compensatory, and atypical movement patterns and development and to replace them with new and more functional movements and development. He has also taught us about the importance of expanding our daughter's cognitive skill-set and how to help her engage in play at a level that is age-appropriate. In addition, he has given us practical, tangible ways to manage emotional and behavioral issues related to her birth injury. Over these past several weeks, we have seen an improvement in our daughter’s behavior and in her ability to play, as well as a reduction in some of her atypical movements. We plan to continue MAES therapy for as long as we can, and are very excited about its potential to enhance our daughter’s quality of life for years to come.
Julianne Barnard
14:17 15 Aug 20
Maes therapy has worked really well for our son Tom, who is hemiplegic. He is encouraged to understand the movements and be mentally present throughout the therapy session. This means he can talk about it after and think about his movements, taking account of what he has learnt. We worked remotely with Anais during lockdown and I found it very useful to have a better understanding of the therapy and how Tom’s body will resist some movements but through careful therapy Tom can learn new movements that enable him to move more easily.
Anita Barry
10:03 10 Jul 20
Remote Treatment Sessions with MAES Therapy.I have found these sessions to be very effective.My son Xavi has continued to make progress over lockdown; he now walks with his right heel down, and, more recently, his right arm is increasingly straight.The sessions have also been extremely helpful in broadening my understanding of the MAES Approach, and the specific needs that Xavi has, both with movement and play. Joanna has been excellent in guiding me in all aspects of each session.I feel that if we had not been able to continue with therapy over the last three months Xavi would be in a very different position, so a huge thank you both! The MAES Approach continues to amaze me as I can see the quality of Xavi's movements keep improving.Best,Anita
Anais Dumon
11:02 05 Nov 19
The M.A.E.S. Therapy Course exceeded my expectations and was by far the best learning experience I ever had. The course is an aMAESing opportunity to broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding of Cerebral Palsy to the smallest details. It made me understand how I can treat on a higher level by focusing on how the child’s brain is coordinating the body, instead of focusing solely on the child’s physical and secondary symptoms. The approach has taught me to observe and analyse from a different perspective and to look at CP in a holistic way. The course provides a brilliant framework and is multifaceted as it includes live demonstrations, workshops, analyzing videos, having group discussions and theoretical lessons. I really enjoyed the course and gained so much. I highly recommend M.A.E.S. Therapy to every therapist who wants to go deeper into the treatment of Cerebral Palsy.Anaïs Dumon, Neurodevelopmental Physiotherapist, Antwerp, Belgium
Nicki Dain
10:33 01 Oct 19
I have just completed the MAES therapy course and I have learned so much! It was absolutely brilliant. The course completely exceeded my expectations and has given me a whole new load of therapy tools to use in my practise. I honestly can't recommend the approach enough. Thank you MAES team!
Charlotte Reid
21:11 12 Jun 19
My son has dystonic cp from a full term birth injury.We were told to wait and see how he would develop but from day one, I knew that things weren’t right. In NICU, I struggled to get breastfeeding going as his head pulled to one side and he struggled to latch. At 2 months, he was pushing back and arching constantly. His lips were often pursed with his tongue thrusting out and he had tremors in his arms. Also breastfeeding had become incredibly difficult - I was having to sit him facing me with his neck craned back so that he was looking upwards to feed. He would also often cough and choke when feeding.We got a ‘diagnosis’ of emerging cp at about 4 months. My son’s arms and legs were becoming increasingly stiff at this point. Nobody could give us any answers as to the type of cp or severity - just more waiting and seeing.It seemed to me that we were looking at the severe end of the spectrum from my son’s state at only 4 months old. This also seemed to be in line with his MRI which had showed “acute profound hypoxia”. If this was the case, I knew from contact with other parents with children with full term birth injuries that we would likely be facing a non-verbal and non-mobile child.At this point, I felt utterly lost and anxious for my son’s future. I decided that there had to be somebody out there that could help my son. So I phoned every therapy that I knew of in the UK that related to cp. Out of 12 calls that day, only one person made any sense to me - Jean-Pierre Maes.He spoke to me about my son’s brain - he explained that his therapy would target the underlying cause of my son’s difficulties (his brain) rather than focus on his symptoms. He explained that his therapy would use movement so that the brain would make connections through the damaged areas. This would therefore reduce atypical movement. And these connections would need constant upgrading as my son developed physically and cognitively to achieve long term maximum functionality. Essentially, neuroplasticity at its best. I instantly knew from just this short conversation that I had found someone that was technically brilliant. Whereas other professionals in this field couldn’t answer my questions, Jean-Pierre could answer every single one - and in detail. A week later we started MAES therapy.This decision has paid off hugely. We see no involuntary movement typically seen with dyskinesia and we don’t see our son getting ‘stuck’ as often seen in dystonic children.At 16 months, my son does not extend/arch; has no stiffness in his limbs; eats most solid food; makes sounds in most positions when exhaling (ie he can coordinate his breathing); can roll across the floor; can put his feet in his mouth; takes no medication; and needs no equipment. And he has recently started sitting independently for short periods in a quality way. Overall though, the main thing for us is that our son is making quality improvements all the time.I often feel that non MAES therapists do not believe there is a credible treatment option with dystonic cp besides drugs. My son is a testament to the opposite.Also, because MAES therapy targets the injury to my son’s brain rather than dealing with his symptoms, as our son progresses, all areas that he has difficulty with as a result of his cp (movement, speech, respiration and eating) all improve together. This is crucial to us as it means that we are not overwhelmed with medical appointments - we have it all at MAES.I personally cannot recommend MAES therapy highly enough. Whilst many therapies remain stuck in traditional teachings and may exacerbate symptoms, the MAES approach is innovative, visionary and effective.On a personal level, I will never be able to express my heartfelt gratitude to Jean-Pierre, Ellie, Zorana and the team. They are giving my son a chance at having a good quality of life. I don’t know exactly where he will end up but I believe that MAES is giving him the best possible outcome. I sincerely believe MAES therapy is the future for children with cp.
Charlotte Reid
21:11 12 Jun 19
My son has dystonic cp from a full term birth injury.We were told to wait and see how he would develop but from day one, I knew that things weren’t right. In NICU, I struggled to get breastfeeding going as his head pulled to one side and he struggled to latch. At 2 months, he was pushing back and arching constantly. His lips were often pursed with his tongue thrusting out and he had tremors in his arms. Also breastfeeding had become incredibly difficult - I was having to sit him facing me with his neck craned back so that he was looking upwards to feed. He would also often cough and choke when feeding.We got a ‘diagnosis’ of emerging cp at about 4 months. My son’s arms and legs were becoming increasingly stiff at this point. Nobody could give us any answers as to the type of cp or severity - just more waiting and seeing.It seemed to me that we were looking at the severe end of the spectrum from my son’s state at only 4 months old. This also seemed to be in line with his MRI which had showed “acute profound hypoxia”. If this was the case, I knew from contact with other parents with children with full term birth injuries that we would likely be facing a non-verbal and non-mobile child.At this point, I felt utterly lost and anxious for my son’s future. I decided that there had to be somebody out there that could help my son. So I phoned every therapy that I knew of in the UK that related to cp. Out of 12 calls that day, only one person made any sense to me - Jean-Pierre Maes.He spoke to me about my son’s brain - he explained that his therapy would target the underlying cause of my son’s difficulties (his brain) rather than focus on his symptoms. He explained that his therapy would use movement so that the brain would make connections through the damaged areas. This would therefore reduce atypical movement. And these connections would need constant upgrading as my son developed physically and cognitively to achieve long term maximum functionality. Essentially, neuroplasticity at its best. I instantly knew from just this short conversation that I had found someone that was technically brilliant. Whereas other professionals in this field couldn’t answer my questions, Jean-Pierre could answer every single one - and in detail. A week later we started MAES therapy.This decision has paid off hugely. We see no involuntary movement typically seen with dyskinesia and we don’t see our son getting ‘stuck’ as often seen in dystonic children.At 16 months, my son does not extend/arch; has no stiffness in his limbs; eats most solid food; makes sounds in most positions when exhaling (ie he can coordinate his breathing); can roll across the floor; can put his feet in his mouth; takes no medication; and needs no equipment. And he has recently started sitting independently for short periods in a quality way. Overall though, the main thing for us is that our son is making quality improvements all the time.I often feel that non MAES therapists do not believe there is a credible treatment option with dystonic cp besides drugs. My son is a testament to the opposite.Also, because MAES therapy targets the injury to my son’s brain rather than dealing with his symptoms, as our son progresses, all areas that he has difficulty with as a result of his cp (movement, speech, respiration and eating) all improve together. This is crucial to us as it means that we are not overwhelmed with medical appointments - we have it all at MAES.I personally cannot recommend MAES therapy highly enough. Whilst many therapies remain stuck in traditional teachings and may exacerbate symptoms, the MAES approach is innovative, visionary and effective.On a personal level, I will never be able to express my heartfelt gratitude to Jean-Pierre, Ellie, Zorana and the team. They are giving my son a chance at having a good quality of life. I don’t know exactly where he will end up but I believe that MAES is giving him the best possible outcome. I sincerely believe MAES therapy is the future for children with cp.
Hannah Head
20:29 03 Feb 19
We feel lucky to have found Maes therapy as it has been very difficult finding good quality therapy for our daughter which is not the prescriptive traditional approach. I myself am a physiotherapist (although in a different speciality) and it has been reassuring for me to have expert therapists within their field treating my daughter. I can follow the principles they are applying into my everyday care of my daughter rather than just setting aside a 'therapy' time each day.
Tandi Kolbe
08:08 19 Jan 19
Recently Evie volunteered on a MAES training course held by Jean-Pierre in Johannesburg, and after attending a parents training presentation given by Jean-Pierre, I now understand why Evie made such significant improvements following her physiotherapist completing a MAES course. From being completely immobile, with regular MAES therapy, Evie started moving all her limbs, and she is now demonstrating a lot more head control. She loves movement, and with MAES she is gaining the awareness and the self-confidence to move. Even though Evie is unable to talk, Jean-Pierre is able to communicate with Evie, and discern her ability, and her potential. Watching their engagement left me teary eyed, and full of hope. “Evie has cognitive ability far greater than what we see. Do not limit her. If you do everything for her, she will not learn to move.” This advice has changed how I parent Evie; from picking her up, to playing with her, to getting her ready for bath time, and even feeding her. I talk to her knowing that she understands far more than what I ever imagined. Thank you Jean-Pierre for not only giving Evie more confidence to move, but for helping me to let go of trying to do everything for her. I can see Evie continuing MAES for a very long time, and with the most genuine an appreciative heart, my hope is that many children like Evie get the incredible opportunity to work with Jean-Pierre who truly sees and understands them.
Beth Plummer
21:00 05 Dec 18
When I was told my son had a brain injury I felt frightened and lost. The nhs offered limited physio with lots of repetitive, generic exercises. The MAES team offer regular personalised movement therapy which has allowed my son to discover and become creative and confident with his movement. Catia and JP have taken time to understand him: his areas for development; what motivates him. They have also been a huge support for me and I am no longer afraid - I am excited!
Bev Chambers
21:02 30 Nov 18
It has been fascinating watching the transformation in Jess's body over the past eight months since beginning MAES therapy. We have been given a new perspective on, and a different approach to, cerebral palsy - which has allowed a freedom not just physically but cognitively and emotionally too. The balance that Jess is finding between caution and courage is freeing a sense of risk-taking we haven't seen for years. Thank you all!!Jess's words...MAES has given me a fundamental understanding of where I am in space and a much needed sense of stability in a world where cerebral palsy often makes me feel unstable and disconnected. I am learning so much about my body and how it interacts with the environments around me, and this holistic approach is allowing me to achieve much more than previous therapies. It offers me a safe space in which to explore and push boundaries, which means I can meet outcomes as a by-product of larger work rather than them being the main focus. Thank you Jean Pierre, Ellie and the team!
Helen Kilby
09:49 29 Aug 18
Impressed with the concept and framework as well as the approach and enthusiasm of the team
perpetual curving
18:11 11 Aug 18
My three year old, who has Down's Syndrome has made fantastic progress since his MAES therapy with Ellie. We've seen a massive improvement with his co-ordination and balance and fine motor skills, but also his motivation to communicate and sign with us. He's a much happier little boy now.
Nikki Kennedy
13:44 27 Apr 18
MAES Therapy and its team provide specialist physiotherapy for children and babies with movement and coordination presentations, including cerebral palsy. Their in-depth knowledge and analytical skills enable them to provide high quality, individualised therapy and advice for children and their families. MAES therapy is far in advance of other approaches in this field and provide a range of courses for healthcare professionals. If you have a child with cerebral palsy or you are a therapist looking for a deeper understanding of children with movement disorders then this is the place for you.
Portia Webb
21:07 05 Apr 18
I cannot recommend MAES therapy highly enough. We came across it when our daughter had just been diagnosed with CP at 10 months old. My husband and I actually initially set out to find a private physio to top up our NHS support, and accidentally came across MAES therapy. Not knowing what it was we decided to just give it a try (it is not widely known about in the UK yet - although that is changing fast) and after just the first session we were hooked. It was the first time that someone had actually taken a true holistic approach to assessing and treating our daughter - explaining not just her physical difficulties but also the impact on her psychological and cognitive traits, and how these pieces all fitted together. The MAES's approach is about working within your child's capabilities in order to help them progress and widen their movement repertoire. My child has made such significant progress in the last 8 months and as a parent I feel equipped from the sessions to apply the MAES approach at home. It takes understanding, persistence and commitment but the results are so worth it.
Charlotte Jarman
09:47 13 Mar 18
For me, the wonderful thing about MAES Therapy is how it is tailored specifically to the needs of each child. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it looks very different to any other kind of physiotherapy I have seen before. Jean Pierre and Ellie and the rest of the MAES team are totally committed to improving outcomes for each child that they see, and they start by identifying the specific challenges that your child faces. They then develop ways to help your child address those challenges, with a big emphasis on what we as parents can do at home. JP and Ellie also have a wonderful way with children, and make the sessions fun (as well as challenging, in a good way!). I would highly recommend MAES Therapy to any parents of a child with a neurodevelopmental condition.
Ben Zammit
21:38 06 Mar 18
The MAES team's depth of knowledge of cerebral palsy and their dedication to improving their skills and understanding makes this place a center of excellence. You can expect an extremely high quality service and some great outcomes, (including a better ability to interpret your child's movement and behaviour) if you choose to work with MAES therapy. Would definitely recommend investigating this clinic if you have a child with cerebral palsy.
Beatriz Zerolo
14:51 13 Feb 18
“MAES Therapy is for our family something magic, mainly because it gives what many other therapists don’t. It is also magic because it keeps all the family happy, not only our daughter but also her brothers and parents. It shows you specifically the way things can be improved and you get a clear idea of where you are with your child and what you can do to improve. Also what you can expect from the child, which is key for me in order not to ask her too much.Not only has our daughter improved more than we thought possible, and as her mother I get confidence to treat her in the right way, helping her to become independent and to make her own effort to improve (with help when needed).I highly recommend the MAES Therapy Approach and in fact this is what I say when I am asked about how my daughter is doing so well”