Cathie Savard – Physiotherapy Technologist | Baie-Comeau, QC

Cathie Savard is a dedicated Physiotherapy Technologist (Phys. T.). Practicing at CISSS de la Côte-Nord in Baie-Comeau, QC, Cathie is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with the standards set by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ). Her approach emphasizes understanding each patient's unique needs and working collaboratively to develop tailored treatment strategies that promote recovery, mobility, and overall wellness.

With her role in the healthcare team, Cathie assists in the implementation of treatment plans prescribed by physiotherapists or physicians. She guides patients through therapeutic exercises, applies various modalities, and monitors progress to ensure effective outcomes. Her focus is on helping adults and seniors regain their independence and improve their quality of life through compassionate and evidence-based physiotherapy practices.

Cathie completed her degree in Physiotherapy and has accumulated clinical experience that fuels her ongoing professional development. She has cultivated skills in therapeutic exercise instruction, modality application, and patient monitoring. Her practice philosophy centers on empowering patients through education, involving them actively in their treatment planning, and utilizing the latest evidence to achieve lasting results.

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

Common Msk

• Knee Pain (e.g., Patellofemoral Syndrome, Meniscal Issues - conservative, Ligament Sprains): Common knee complaints that can affect your ability to walk, climb stairs, squat, run, or participate in sports, addressed through a tailored physiotherapy program.
• Muscle Strains and Tears: Injury to muscle tissue that limits your strength, range of motion, and ability to perform specific movements or activities, requiring careful rehabilitation.
• Wrist and Hand Pain (e.g., Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, Strains): Pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or stiffness in the wrist, hand, or fingers, often resulting from overuse, repetitive tasks, arthritis, or specific conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or De Quervain's tenosynovitis.

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

• 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): Utilizing electrophysical agents as an adjunct to your physiotherapy treatments to aid recovery, improve muscle function, manage pain, or reduce swelling, tailored to your specific condition.
• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: A non-invasive electrotherapy modality aimed at reducing pain, muscle guarding, or swelling, and sometimes used for muscle strengthening, as part of your physiotherapy treatment.
• 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.
• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): Cold therapy techniques applied by your therapist to effectively alleviate acute pain, reduce inflammation, and manage muscle soreness or spasm.
• 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.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Cathie. 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 de la Côte-Nord, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Cathie frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• With Cathie's help, managing post-operative stiffness and weakness that's slowing down my recovery to achieve enhanced ability to participate in social and community events becomes a clear journey, allowing patients to confidently re-engage with life and activities like engaging in volunteer work that might have physical demands.
• Are you finding that trouble performing repetitive tasks at work without pain stops you from enjoying easily carrying groceries in from the car in one or two trips? Cathie is dedicated to helping patients like you achieve learning specific exercises that provide ongoing relief and maintain their progress through a hands-on, active approach to physiotherapy.
• If my infant having a tilted head or a flat spot on their head (torticollis/plagiocephaly) is preventing you from fully enjoying getting in and out of the car smoothly and without wincing, Cathie offers expert guidance and tailored treatment. Physiotherapy focuses on attaining being able to climb stairs with ease and confidence once again, often utilizing targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education to help you regain your previous level of function.

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

Cathie's practice is situated within CISSS de la Côte-Nord, a public healthcare facility located in the central Baie-Comeau neighborhood of Baie-Comeau, QC. The clinic is conveniently positioned near various community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access comprehensive healthcare. It is well-connected via local public transit routes, facilitating transportation for those without private vehicles. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance.

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

A Physiothérapeute in Quebec has completed master's level university education, granting them the autonomy to assess patients, make a physiotherapy diagnosis, and develop comprehensive treatment plans. They can also perform certain advanced procedures if they have the required additional qualifications. A Technologue en physiothérapie, on the other hand, has a college diploma (DEC) focused on the technical application of physiotherapy treatments. They play a crucial role in delivering care by implementing treatment plans designed by a physiotherapist or physician, assisting patients with their exercises, applying modalities, and reporting progress back to the supervising professional.

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

In Quebec, patients can typically access a Physiotherapy Technologist directly without a physician's referral, a process known as direct access. However, while a referral is not legally required to initiate treatment, some private or extended health insurance plans may require one for reimbursement purposes. It is advisable to check with your insurance provider before your appointment to confirm their specific requirements.

What is physiotherapy and how can it help me?

Physiotherapy, delivered by a qualified Physiotherapy Technologist, is a science-based profession that focuses on restoring movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness, or disability. It can also help to reduce your risk of future problems. Your physiotherapist will use techniques such as therapeutic exercise, manual therapy (hands-on treatment), education, and advice, empowering you to manage your health independently and achieve your physical goals.

What is manual therapy in physiotherapy?

In physiotherapy, manual therapy encompasses a range of 'hands-on' interventions. Your Physiotherapy Technologist may use these techniques to help reduce your pain, increase joint movement, relax tight muscles, or improve the mobility of your nerves. Common approaches include joint glides, sustained pressures, specific soft tissue massage, and, when indicated, joint manipulations. It's a key part of helping your body move better.

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 rely on private insurance. Care received directly within a public hospital or CLSC may be covered if meeting specific criteria, but physiotherapy in private clinics is typically not reimbursed by RAMQ. Patients are encouraged to verify their coverage with RAMQ and check their private insurance plans for coverage options.

CISSS de la Côte-Nord
835, Boulevard Jolliet
Baie-Comeau, QC G5C 1P5

Phone: (418) 233-2931

Cathie Savard 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.