Kateri Martineau

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

Joint Pain

• Osteoarthritis (Knee, Hip, Spine, Hands, Other Joints): A degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage and underlying bone, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility in affected joints like the knees, hips, spine, or hands.
• Tendinopathy/Tendonitis (e.g., Achilles, Patellar, Rotator Cuff, Tennis/Golfer's Elbow): Persistent tendon pain that can interfere with your sports, work, or daily activities, often requiring specific loading programs and advice from a physiotherapist for effective management.

Common Musculoskeletal Conditions

• Ankle Sprains and Instability: Common ankle injuries causing acute pain, persistent swelling, and instability, significantly affecting your ability to walk, run, or participate in sports.
• Hip Pain (e.g., Bursitis, Muscle Strains, Labral Issues - conservative): Aching, sharp, or deep pain in the hip that may worsen with activity, specific movements, or even at rest.
• Low Back Pain (Acute or Chronic): Pain, discomfort, or stiffness in the lumbar spine region, whether it's a sudden onset or a long-lasting issue affecting your daily life.
• Muscle Strains and Tears: Damage or tearing of muscle fibers, ranging from a mild overstretch (Grade 1 strain) to a partial or complete rupture (Grade 2 or 3 tear), typically caused by sudden forceful contraction, excessive stretch, or direct trauma.

Back and 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).
• Postural Back/Neck Pain: Discomfort, aching, stiffness, or muscle fatigue in the back or neck arising from sustained or awkward postures during daily activities, prolonged work (e.g., desk work, computer use), or sleep.
• 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.
• Herniated Disc / Sciatica / Radiculopathy: Sharp, shooting, electric-like, or burning pain that travels along the path of a nerve due to issues with intervertebral discs or other spinal structures.

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

• Geriatric Physiotherapy & Seniors' Health: Tailored exercise prescription, education on safe movement, manual therapy (gentle techniques), and functional training to help seniors maintain their independence, enhance safety in their home and community, and promote active and healthy aging.
• Soft Tissue Mobilization & Release Techniques: A variety of hands-on methods such as therapeutic massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and active release style techniques to reduce muscle tension, break down scar tissue, improve circulation, and enhance tissue flexibility.
• Manual Therapy (Joint Mobilization & Manipulation): Manual treatments specifically designed to improve joint mechanics, alleviate discomfort, reduce stiffness, and enhance your range of motion in the spine or limbs.
• Muscle Energy Techniques (MET): Gentle, active manual therapy techniques where you use your own specific muscle contractions against your therapist's controlled resistance to improve joint mobility, lengthen tight tissues, and reduce pain.
• Neural Mobilization Techniques (Nerve Gliding): Gentle, specific movements and mobilizations designed to address nerve-related pain (like sciatica or carpal tunnel symptoms), tingling, numbness, or restrictions by improving the nerve's ability to glide freely and reducing irritation.
• Rehabilitation for Age-Related Deconditioning & Loss of Autonomy: Rehabilitation focused on reversing the effects of deconditioning, combating frailty, and restoring autonomy for seniors, enabling them to live more fully.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Kateri. 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 Action Sport Physio (Rive Sud), physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Kateri frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Many find that awful foot pain first thing in the morning, like I'm walking on glass (plantar fasciitis), significantly impacts their ability to challenge themselves with indoor or outdoor rock climbing. Kateri helps patients target feeling less fatigued during physical activities and throughout the day, making a return to these activities possible.
• At Kateri's physiotherapy practice, individuals with persistent dizziness that isn't a spinning vertigo but makes them feel unsteady are guided towards improved performance in work-related physical demands. The focus is on enabling them to once again participate fully and comfortably in activities they enjoy, such as family outings and vacations without holding others back.
• With Kateri's help, managing tendonitis pain flaring up in the shoulder, knee, elbow, or foot to achieve feeling more positive, capable, and optimistic about their physical health becomes a clear journey, allowing patients to confidently re-engage with life and activities like skiing or snowboarding in winter.

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

Kateri practices at Action Sport Physio (Rive Sud), situated in a modern clinic in the central Saint-Bruno neighborhood of Saint-Bruno. The facility is conveniently located near local community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access care as part of their routine. The clinic is accessible via multiple local public transit routes, ensuring that those using public transportation can reach their appointments comfortably. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

What is Action Sport Physio (Rive Sud)'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 should I do if my condition seems to worsen after a physiotherapy session?

It's not uncommon to experience some temporary soreness or a mild increase in symptoms after certain physiotherapy treatments, especially in the initial stages or if you're starting new exercises. This usually subsides within 24-48 hours. However, if you experience a significant or sharp increase in pain, new or worsening neurological symptoms (like numbness, tingling, or weakness), or if your soreness lasts longer than expected, it's important to contact Kateri or your healthcare provider directly. They can provide advice, adjust your treatment plan if necessary, or determine if you need to be reassessed.

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 Kateri's 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.

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

In Quebec, patients can typically see 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. We recommend checking your insurance policy details before your appointment to confirm whether a referral is necessary for coverage.

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 patient assessments, establish diagnoses, create and modify treatment plans, and perform certain restricted activities such as spinal manipulations or needle-based therapies if certified. A Technologue en physiothérapie (Physiotherapy Technologist) holds a college-level diploma (CEGEP) and works under the supervision or treatment plan of a physiotherapist or physician. They apply prescribed modalities, guide exercises, and monitor progress but do not diagnose or independently develop treatment plans. Both professions 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)?

Generally, physiotherapy services provided in private clinics are not covered by RAMQ. Patients usually pay out-of-pocket or through private insurance. Care received within a public hospital or CLSC may be covered under certain conditions, but outpatient private physiotherapy typically isn't. It is advisable to verify your specific eligibility directly with RAMQ and check your private insurance plans, as many offer substantial coverage for physiotherapy services in private clinics.

Action Sport Physio (Rive Sud)
694, Montée Montarville
Saint-Bruno, QC J3V 6B1

Phone: (450) 441-1451

Kateri Martineau 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.