Annie Fortin – Physiotherapist | Alma, QC

Annie Fortin is a dedicated Physiothérapeute (Neurological Rehabilitation Focus). Practicing at CSSS de Lac St-Jean-Est, CLSC Secteur Centre in Alma, QC, Annie is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ) standards. Her approach emphasizes empowering patients through education and individualized treatment plans that focus on improving movement, reducing pain, and restoring function. Annie’s goal is to support her clients in regaining independence and optimizing their athletic performance, whether recovering from neurological events or managing musculoskeletal conditions.

Specializing in assisting individuals in recovering function, improving mobility, managing symptoms, and enhancing quality of life after neurological events such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Parkinson's Disease, Annie also addresses a wide range of muscle, joint, bone, tendon, and ligament conditions. This includes everything from acute injuries like sprains and strains to chronic pain management, arthritis care, and comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation. Her focus is on delivering evidence-based, performance-oriented physiotherapy tailored to athletes and active individuals of all ages, including seniors seeking to maintain their movement and strength.

With a solid educational background and ongoing professional development, Annie completed her degree in Physiotherapy and has cultivated a particular interest in neurological and musculoskeletal physiotherapy. She is committed to staying current with the latest techniques and research to provide effective, innovative care. Annie’s practice philosophy centers on empowering her patients through clear communication, practical self-management strategies, and active collaboration, ensuring each individual can achieve their movement and performance goals. Annie is fluent in French.

Annie Fortin provides skilled physiotherapy care for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

Concussion

• Concussion / Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) & Post-Concussion Syndrome: Physiotherapy management of acute and persistent symptoms of a concussion, including addressing associated neck pain/dysfunction (cervicogenic component), vestibular (balance/dizziness) issues, oculomotor (eye movement) problems, and exertional intolerance.

Vestibular Balance

• General Balance Deficits and Increased Fall Risk: Difficulty maintaining stability during standing, walking, or changing positions, which may be due to various factors including age-related changes, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal weakness, sensory impairments, or medication side effects, often leading to an increased risk of falls.
• Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD / 3PD): A chronic functional dizziness disorder characterized by persistent sensations of dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-spinning vertigo (often lasting for 3 months or more), typically exacerbated by upright posture, active or passive motion, or exposure to complex or moving visual environments (e.g., busy supermarkets, scrolling on a screen). Often follows an acute vestibular event, medical illness, or period of psychological distress.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Effective, non-invasive treatment for positional dizziness and vertigo using specific head and body movements performed by a trained Vestibular Physiotherapist.

Arthritis

• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): Supportive physiotherapy for individuals with psoriatic arthritis, focusing on managing joint pain and swelling, maintaining range of motion and strength, improving function, and providing advice on activity modification and joint protection.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS): Specific exercises (e.g., McKenzie exercises, stretching, postural exercises) and strategies to help individuals with ankylosing spondylitis maintain function, reduce stiffness, and prevent long-term spinal changes.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) & Other Inflammatory Arthropathies: Helping you live well with rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory arthropathies through targeted physiotherapy interventions designed to manage symptoms, preserve function, and promote overall well-being.
• Gout (Management of Musculoskeletal Impairments): Supportive physiotherapy care for joint recovery and function after gout flares, focusing on restoring range of motion, reducing inflammation, and providing advice on joint protection and lifestyle factors.

This list offers examples of conditions commonly addressed. If your specific concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic. Annie can assess your needs.

• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): Cold therapy techniques applied by your therapist to effectively alleviate acute pain, reduce inflammation, and manage muscle soreness or spasm.
• Therapeutic Heat Application: The use of moist heat packs, paraffin wax, or other heat sources by your Physiotherapist to relax muscles, increase local blood flow, reduce stiffness, alleviate chronic pain, and improve tissue extensibility.
• Other Electrotherapy Applications (e.g., NMES, FES): The therapeutic use of different electrical currents by your Physiotherapist to achieve specific physiological effects, such as improving muscle contraction, reducing atrophy, or enhancing functional movement.
• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: Utilizing targeted electrical currents to help alleviate pain, manage discomfort, and support healing in conjunction with other physiotherapy interventions.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation: The application of specific wavelengths of light energy (cold laser) by your Physiotherapist to targeted tissues to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration at a cellular level.
• Therapeutic Ultrasound Application: Using therapeutic ultrasound as an adjunct treatment to help reduce pain, decrease inflammation, break down scar tissue, and accelerate the repair of injured soft tissues.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Annie. For a full list or to discuss your specific needs, please contact the clinic.

All services are provided in accordance with standards set by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).

At CSSS de Lac St-Jean-Est, CLSC Secteur Centre, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Annie frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• The path to recovery from an old ankle sprain that never seems to fully heal and still feels weak and achieving feeling equipped with effective self-management strategies and exercises for getting back to your regular, consistent gym workouts often starts with expert guidance. Annie, a skilled physiotherapist, provides just that.
• Many find that one leg feeling shorter than the other, causing hip or back pain significantly impacts their ability to playing a few sets of tennis without shoulder pain. Annie helps patients target a greater sense of body confidence and trust in their physical abilities with physiotherapy, making a return to these activities possible.
• Annie believes that everyone deserves to move well and feel their best. If clicking, popping, or pain in my jaw (TMJ issues) when I eat or talk is hindering your ability to playing a full game of recreational hockey with your friends, a personalized plan focusing on successfully avoiding or delaying the need for more invasive treatments or surgery can make all the difference.

Your personalized physiotherapy plan, developed with Annie, will be designed to help you reach your specific functional and wellness objectives.

Annie practices at the CSSS de Lac St-Jean-Est, CLSC Secteur Centre, situated in a central Alma clinic. This public healthcare facility is conveniently located in the heart of Alma, close to community services and pharmacies, making it easy for clients to access. The clinic is well-connected via local public transit routes, ensuring accessible transportation options for all patients. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance.

Approximately how many physiotherapy sessions will I need?

The number of physiotherapy sessions required varies greatly from person to person. It depends on several factors, including the nature and severity of your condition, how long you've had the issue (acute vs. chronic), your individual treatment goals, your body's unique response to therapy, and how consistently you are able to follow your prescribed home exercise program and self-management advice. Your Physiothérapeute will discuss a proposed treatment frequency and estimated duration after your initial assessment and will continually re-evaluate your progress with you.

What is the difference between a Physiotherapist (Physiothérapeute) and a Physiotherapy Technologist (Technologue en physiothérapie) in Quebec?

In Quebec, a Physiothérapeute (Physiotherapist) holds a university master's degree in physiotherapy. They are autonomous healthcare professionals authorized to perform patient assessments, establish a physiotherapy diagnosis, create and modify treatment plans, and apply a wide range of therapeutic interventions. This includes certain restricted activities if they hold the specific attestations (e.g., spinal manipulations, specific needle-based therapies). A Technologue en physiothérapie (Physiotherapy Technologist or Phys. T.) holds a college-level (CEGEP) diploma in physiotherapy technology. They work under the supervision of, or based on a treatment plan established by, a physiotherapist or a physician. Technologists apply prescribed treatment modalities, guide patients through exercises, monitor progress, and adapt interventions within the established plan, but they do not diagnose or independently create treatment plans. Both professions are regulated by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).

Does CSSS de Lac St-Jean-Est, CLSC Secteur Centre offer direct billing to private insurance companies?

Yes, CSSS de Lac St-Jean-Est, CLSC Secteur Centre offers direct billing for most major private insurance companies such as Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, Blue Cross, etc. Please bring your insurance card and policy details to facilitate this process. If direct billing is not available for your insurer, you will receive an official receipt to submit directly to your insurance provider. Patients are encouraged to verify their coverage with their insurer prior to treatment to understand any deductibles, limits, or restrictions.

Is physiotherapy covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) in QC?

In Quebec, RAMQ generally does not cover physiotherapy services provided in private clinics. Coverage may be available if the treatment occurs within a public hospital or CLSC under specific criteria, but outpatient private physiotherapy typically requires private insurance or out-of-pocket payment. Patients are advised to check with RAMQ and their private insurer to understand their coverage options.

Will I be given exercises to do at home?

Yes, a personalized home exercise program is a crucial and integral component of most physiotherapy treatment plans. Your Physiothérapeute will prescribe specific exercises tailored to your condition, abilities, and goals. These exercises are designed to complement your in-clinic treatment, help you manage your symptoms effectively between sessions, accelerate your recovery, and empower you with tools for long-term self-management. Your active participation in your home program is key for optimal results.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Physiothérapeute in QC?

In Quebec, patients can generally see a Physiothérapeute directly without a physician's referral. This is known as direct access. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement purposes. It is recommended to verify your insurance policy requirements before your appointment to ensure coverage and reimbursement eligibility.

CSSS de Lac St-Jean-Est, CLSC Secteur Centre
100, Rue Saint-Joseph
Alma, QC G8B 7A6

Phone: (418) 319-1239

Annie Fortin is regulated by the Code des professions and Professional Integration Arrangement for physiotherapists in QC and is a member of the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).

Registration can be verified with the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).

Always consult with your primary healthcare provider before starting any new treatment program.