Audrey Labonté

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

Common Msk

• Shoulder Pain (e.g., Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, Impingement, Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis): Difficulty with activities like reaching for objects, dressing, personal care, or carrying items due to underlying shoulder issues, which physiotherapy can help diagnose and treat.
• Ankle Sprains and Instability: Injuries to ankle ligaments, typically from twisting or 'rolling' motions, leading to pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty bearing weight. Can result in recurrent sprains and chronic instability if not properly rehabilitated.

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

• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: Utilizing targeted electrical currents to help alleviate pain, manage discomfort, and support healing in conjunction with other physiotherapy interventions.
• Other Electrotherapy Applications (e.g., NMES, FES): Employing different types of electrotherapy to support your rehabilitation goals, including promoting tissue healing or improving motor control.
• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): Using therapeutic cold to manage the initial stages of an injury (e.g., sprains, strains) and control inflammatory responses, helping to limit tissue damage.
• 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: Ultrasound therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, often used to prepare tissues for manual therapy or exercise, or to manage acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.
• 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.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Audrey. 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 CISSS-AT (VAL D'OR), physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Audrey frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Tired of pain in my shins when I try to run or be active (shin splints) interfering with getting back to golfing 18 holes without your back acting up? Audrey uses a blend of physiotherapy techniques to help you achieve improved overall mobility, making it easier to navigate their home and community and regain your freedom of movement.
• It's truly rewarding for Audrey to witness patients conquer shoulder pain that makes simple things like lifting my arm or reaching overhead difficult and experience enjoying cycling or swimming regularly without pain or limitation. A tailored approach to physiotherapy, focusing on your specific needs, can make a significant difference in your ability to participate in shoveling snow or raking leaves without aggravating your back again.
• Many patients have found lasting relief from numbness, tingling, or weakness in my hands, arms, feet, or legs and achieved improved performance in work-related physical demands under the skilled care of Audrey. This renewed physical ability often allows them to re-engage with beloved activities such as travelling more comfortably on planes, trains, or in cars for longer durations with a new lease on life.

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

Audrey practices at CISSS-AT (VAL D'OR), situated within a modern clinic in the central neighborhood of Val-d'Or. This public healthcare facility is conveniently located near local community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access. The clinic is well-connected via local public transit routes, ensuring that patients can reach their appointments with ease. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

I have private health insurance. How does that work with physiotherapy payments?

Many private health insurance plans offer full or partial coverage for registered physiotherapy services. We recommend you contact your insurance provider directly before your first appointment to understand the specifics of your plan. Key things to check are: your annual maximum for physiotherapy, any per-visit limits or co-payments, whether a doctor's referral is required for reimbursement, and if your plan allows for direct billing by the clinic. If our clinic offers direct billing and your plan permits it, we can often bill your insurer directly for the covered portion. You would then be responsible for any co-payment or remaining balance not covered by your plan at the time of service. Please bring your insurance card and all necessary policy details to your first appointment. If direct billing is not possible, we will provide you with an official receipt that you can submit to your insurer.

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

In Quebec, patients can typically see a Physiotherapy Technologist directly without a physician's referral, a process known as direct access. However, while a referral isn't legally required to *see* a Physiotherapy Technologist, some private or extended health insurance plans do require one for reimbursement purposes. It is advisable to check your individual insurance policy to confirm specific requirements before your appointment.

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 and is authorized to perform assessments, establish diagnoses, create and modify treatment plans, and apply a wide range of therapeutic interventions. They can also perform certain restricted activities if they hold specific attestations. A Technologue en physiothérapie (Physiotherapy Technologist or Phys. T.) holds a college-level (CEGEP) diploma and works under the supervision of a physiotherapist or physician. They apply prescribed treatment modalities, guide patients through exercises, monitor progress, but do not diagnose or independently create treatment plans. Both are regulated by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).

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. Patients usually pay out-of-pocket or use private insurance. Care received directly within a public hospital or CLSC might be covered under certain conditions, but private clinic physiotherapy is typically not. It is recommended to verify your eligibility directly with RAMQ and check your private insurance plans, as many offer substantial coverage for physiotherapy services in private clinics.

How long do physiotherapy appointments typically last?

Your initial appointment, which includes a detailed assessment and treatment planning, usually lasts about 60 minutes. Follow-up sessions are typically scheduled for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your treatment needs and goals. The exact duration may vary based on the specific interventions planned by Audrey to help you progress effectively.

CISSS-AT (VAL D'OR)
975, Rue Germain
Val-d'Or, QC J9P 7H7

Phone: (819) 825-3337

Audrey Labonté 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.