Christine Harvey – Physiotherapist | Joliette, QC

Christine Harvey is a dedicated Physiothérapeute practicing at Clinique Optiforme in Joliette, QC. She is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care that aligns with the standards set by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ). Christine’s approach emphasizes individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique needs, promoting optimal recovery and functional improvement.

With a focus on addressing a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, Christine specializes in helping patients recover from injuries, manage chronic pain, and regain mobility. Her scope includes treating conditions related to muscles, joints, bones, tendons, and ligaments. She also offers comprehensive rehabilitation for neurological conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease, supporting individuals of all ages—including children, adolescents, and adults—in restoring their independence and improving their quality of life.

Christine completed her degree in Physiotherapy and has accumulated valuable clinical experience. She is dedicated to ongoing professional development and adheres to evidence-based practices. Her particular interests include Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy as well as Neurological Physiotherapy. Her practice philosophy centers on a strong commitment to continuous learning, incorporating the latest research into her treatments to ensure the best outcomes for her patients.

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

Vestibular Balance

• Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD / 3PD): A common cause of chronic dizziness that can be helped with specific physiotherapy strategies aimed at desensitizing the brain to provocative stimuli and normalizing reliance on sensory inputs.
• Vestibular Hypofunction (Unilateral or Bilateral): Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) for inner ear balance problems, involving customized exercises that promote central nervous system compensation and adaptation to the weakened vestibular input.
• 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.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Brief, often intense, episodes of dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo) triggered by specific changes in head position (e.g., rolling over in bed, looking up, bending down), caused by displaced inner ear crystals (otoconia).

Back Neck Pain

• Spinal Stenosis Symptoms: Symptoms like 'neurogenic claudication' – leg pain, cramping, or heaviness with walking or prolonged standing that typically eases with rest or bending forward (flexion).
• Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): A range of neck and related symptoms including pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and sometimes arm pain or cognitive difficulties, following a rapid acceleration-deceleration injury to the neck, most typically from a motor vehicle accident.

Post Surgical

• Post-Fracture Fixation Surgery Rehabilitation (e.g., ORIF): Targeted physiotherapy to help you recover from operatively treated fractures, addressing common issues like joint stiffness, muscle weakness, swelling, pain, and functional limitations in the affected limb.
• Post-Hip Replacement Rehabilitation (Total or Partial Hip Arthroplasty - THA/PHA): A tailored physiotherapy program following hip joint replacement to optimize your recovery, manage pain, ensure adherence to any precautions, and facilitate a return to an active lifestyle.
• Post-Spinal Surgery Rehabilitation (e.g., Discectomy, Laminectomy, Fusion - with surgeon clearance): Supportive physiotherapy to aid your recovery and help you manage symptoms after back or neck surgery, focusing on education, safe movement strategies, and specific exercises.

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

• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation: Utilizing therapeutic laser to enhance tissue regeneration, reduce pain signals, and manage inflammation as part of your comprehensive physiotherapy care.
• 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.
• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: The use of specific electrical stimulation devices (IFC or TENS) by your Physiotherapist to provide pain relief, reduce muscle spasm, decrease swelling, or promote muscle activation and re-education.
• 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.
• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): The application of cold packs, ice massage, or other cold modalities by your Physiotherapist to reduce swelling, inflammation, muscle spasm, and acute pain, particularly after an injury.
• 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.

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

• Many individuals seek help from Christine, their physiotherapist, when soreness and tightness in my Achilles tendon, especially after exercise starts impacting daily life. Through a personalized physiotherapy plan, they often achieve noticeable strength gains in their limbs, supporting more demanding tasks, empowering them to joyfully return to activities like getting in and out of the car smoothly and without wincing.
• If frequent headaches that seem to start from tension in my neck or shoulders is preventing you from fully enjoying going on birdwatching outings in various terrains, Christine offers expert guidance and tailored treatment. Physiotherapy focuses on attaining a smoother and stronger postpartum recovery, often utilizing targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education to help you regain your previous level of function.
• Struggling with the frustration of recovering from a burn and needing help with scar mobility and movement? Christine develops individualized physiotherapy programs specifically aimed at achieving a better ability to cope with the physical stresses of daily life. This is key to helping you get back to doing performing self-care tasks like hair washing or reaching your back with confidence and significantly reduced discomfort.

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

Christine practices at Clinique Optiforme, situated in the central Joliette neighborhood of Joliette, QC. The clinic is housed within a modern private facility that offers a welcoming environment for patients seeking physiotherapy services. Located conveniently near local community services and pharmacies, the clinic is easily accessible by public transit routes, making it simple for patients to attend their appointments. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

What should I expect during my first physiotherapy appointment?

Your initial physiotherapy appointment is a comprehensive assessment. Your Physiothérapeute will start by discussing your medical history, the details of your current symptoms or injury, your concerns, and what you hope to achieve with physiotherapy (your functional goals). This is followed by a thorough physical examination, which may include evaluating your range of motion, strength, posture, balance, and specific movement patterns, as well as performing special tests relevant to your condition. Based on these findings, your therapist will provide a clinical impression or diagnosis, discuss a personalized treatment plan with you, and often begin some initial treatment or provide education and a home exercise program to get you started.

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 Physiothérapeute in QC?

In Quebec, patients can typically access a Physiothérapeute directly without a physician’s referral, a process known as direct access. However, while a referral is not legally required to see a Physiothérapeute, some private or extended health insurance plans may require one for reimbursement purposes. Patients are advised to verify their insurance policy’s specific requirements before booking their appointment.

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.

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

In Quebec, RAMQ generally does not cover physiotherapy services performed in private clinics. Patients typically pay out-of-pocket or through private insurance. Care received directly within a public hospital or CLSC may be covered if meeting their criteria, but private clinic physiotherapy is usually not included. It is recommended to verify your coverage with RAMQ and check your private insurance plans as many offer substantial physiotherapy benefits.

Clinique Optiforme
274, Chemin des Prairies
Joliette, QC J6E 4J5

Phone: (450) 752-8814 | Website: cliniqueoptiforme.com

Christine Harvey 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.