Isabelle Fontaine

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

Sports Injury

• Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome): An overuse injury affecting the lower leg, common in athletes, dancers, and military recruits, characterized by diffuse pain along the tibia.
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee / Anterior Knee Pain): Knee discomfort frequently experienced by runners, cyclists, and those involved in activities with repetitive knee bending, which physiotherapy can effectively manage through exercise and biomechanical correction.
• Stress Fractures (Activity-Related - Conservative Management/Rehab): Tiny cracks or severe bruising within a bone caused by repetitive force, overuse, or cumulative stress, common in weight-bearing bones of the lower leg (tibia, fibula), foot (metatarsals, navicular), or hip in athletes involved in high-impact sports.

Pelvic Health

• Constipation / Bowel Dysfunction (Pelvic Floor Related): Addressing functional constipation, fecal incontinence, or other bowel issues that are related to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS - Men & Women): Helping to reduce chronic pain in the pelvis, improve muscle function, desensitize painful areas, and enhance your quality of life when dealing with persistent pelvic pain.
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse (Conservative Management): Strengthening and improving the function of your pelvic floor muscles to provide better support for your pelvic organs and manage prolapse symptoms effectively.

Pregnancy Postpartum

• C-Section Scar Management and Abdominal Recovery: Addressing adhesions, discomfort, and functional limitations related to C-section scars, promoting better movement and core engagement.
• Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) / Low Back Pain / Sciatica: Physiotherapy to alleviate common aches and pains experienced by expectant mothers, helping them to enjoy a more comfortable pregnancy and prepare for labor.
• Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (e.g., Incontinence, Pain, Prolapse): Addressing the physical challenges and changes to the pelvic floor and core that can occur after childbirth, helping you regain confidence and function.
• Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Muscle Separation) Assessment & Rehabilitation: Assessment and targeted exercise programs prescribed by a Physiotherapist to help manage and improve abdominal muscle separation postpartum, focusing on deep core muscle activation, safe movement strategies, and gradual progression.

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

• Congenital Muscular Torticollis & Plagiocephaly (Flat Head) Treatment: Gentle stretching exercises, specific handling and positioning advice, and parent/caregiver education provided by a Physiotherapist for infants with congenital muscular torticollis (neck tightness causing a head tilt/turn preference) and associated plagiocephaly or brachycephaly (asymmetrical or flattened head shape).
• Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Assessment: An in-depth examination to fully understand your specific condition, allowing your Physiotherapist to create an effective and personalized rehabilitation plan.
• Patient Education & Self-Management Strategies: Providing clear guidance on self-care techniques, activity modifications, and beneficial lifestyle adjustments for long-term well-being and injury prevention.
• Functional Movement Screening (FMS™/SFMA™ if certified): Evaluation of your body's basic movements (like squatting, lunging, reaching) to highlight areas for improvement in stability, mobility, and motor control.
• Postural Assessment and Correction: Detailed analysis of your static and dynamic posture, with tailored exercises, stretches, and advice to help you improve alignment and reduce strain on your body.
• Pediatric Physiotherapy (Infants, Children & Adolescents): Specialized physiotherapy assessment and treatment for a wide range of conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents, including developmental delays (e.g., not meeting motor milestones), congenital muscular torticollis, plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome), orthopedic conditions (e.g., fractures, growing pains, sports injuries like Osgood-Schlatter or Sever's disease), and some neurological issues.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Isabelle. 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 CHU Sainte-Justine / CR Marie-Enfant, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Isabelle frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Isabelle believes that everyone deserves to move well and feel their best. If numbness, tingling, or weakness in my hands, arms, feet, or legs is hindering your ability to swimming laps at the pool for fitness and relaxation, a personalized plan focusing on getting their strength back after surgery or a period of inactivity can make all the difference.
• Struggling with the frustration of difficulty getting out of a chair or bed due to stiffness or pain? Isabelle develops individualized physiotherapy programs specifically aimed at achieving feeling less fatigued during physical activities and throughout the day. This is key to helping you get back to doing working at your desk all day without developing back or neck stiffness with confidence and significantly reduced discomfort.
• Through personalized physiotherapy at Isabelle's clinic, common concerns like recovering from surgery to my hand or wrist are thoroughly assessed and addressed with the objective of resuming gardening, hobbies, or household tasks without strain or discomfort. This often involves a combination of in-clinic treatment, education, and self-management strategies, helping people to once again enjoy activities like cycling longer distances with your cycling club.

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

Isabelle practices at CHU Sainte-Justine / CR Marie-Enfant, situated in a modern clinic located in the heart of Montréal's central neighborhood. This public healthcare facility is conveniently positioned near various community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access comprehensive care. The clinic is well-connected via multiple public transit routes, ensuring ease of reach for patients traveling from different parts of the city. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

What is CHU Sainte-Justine / CR Marie-Enfant's appointment cancellation policy?

We understand that schedules can change unexpectedly. To ensure we can accommodate all our patients efficiently, we kindly request at least 24 hours' notice (or one business day) for any appointment cancellations or rescheduling. This allows us to offer the time slot to other patients who may be waiting for care. A fee equivalent to 50% of the service cost or a set amount like $50 may be charged for late cancellations (less than 24 hours' notice) or missed appointments (no-shows) without sufficient notice. Please contact our clinic as soon as possible if you need to make any changes to your appointment.

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.

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 allows 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.

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

Generally, RAMQ does not cover physiotherapy services provided in private clinics. Patients typically pay out-of-pocket or rely on private insurance for coverage. Care received directly within a public hospital or CLSC might be covered if specific criteria are met, but private outpatient physiotherapy remains generally not covered. Patients are advised to verify their eligibility with RAMQ and consult their private insurance plans for coverage details.

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

In Quebec, patients can typically access physiotherapy services directly without a physician's referral, known as direct access. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement purposes. It is recommended to check the requirements of your insurance plan before your first appointment.

Is there anything specific I should bring to my first physiotherapy appointment?

It is helpful to bring your health card, any referral letters from other healthcare providers if applicable, and relevant medical test reports such as X-rays or MRI results. If you have private insurance coverage, please bring your insurance card or policy details for billing. Wearing comfortable clothing that allows easy movement during the assessment is also recommended.

CHU Sainte-Justine / CR Marie-Enfant
3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine
Montréal, QC H3T 1C5

Phone: (514) 345-4931

Isabelle Fontaine 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.