Katia Hebert – Physiotherapist | Rimouski, QC

Katia Hebert is a dedicated Physiothérapeute. Practicing at CISSS du Bas-St-Laurent (CHR Rimouski) in Rimouski, QC, Katia is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ) standards. She specializes in addressing a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, offering comprehensive assessments and personalized treatment plans to facilitate optimal recovery and improved quality of life for her patients.

Katia's approach emphasizes evidence-based practice, ensuring that each patient receives care tailored to their specific needs and goals. Her expertise encompasses managing acute injuries such as sprains and strains, chronic pain conditions, arthritis, and post-operative rehabilitation. She also provides specialized support for neurological conditions, including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson's Disease, assisting individuals in regaining mobility, function, and independence.

With a strong foundation in orthopedic and neurological physiotherapy, Katia continuously advances her skills through ongoing professional development. She is fluent in English and French, enabling her to effectively communicate and build trust with a diverse patient population in Rimouski and the surrounding community.

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

Peripheral Nerve

• Nerve Entrapments / Compressions (e.g., Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Sciatica, Meralgia Paresthetica): Addressing conditions affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, aiming to relieve pressure on the nerve, reduce inflammation, restore normal nerve function, and alleviate symptoms.
• Peripheral Neuropathy (e.g., Diabetic, Chemotherapy-Induced, Idiopathic): Improving safety, function, and quality of life for those with impaired sensation or strength due to various types of peripheral neuropathy.

Vestibular Balance

• Vestibular Hypofunction (Unilateral or Bilateral): Helping your brain adapt to a weakened inner ear balance sense, reducing chronic dizziness, improving visual focus during movement, and enhancing your overall balance and stability.
• 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).
• Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD / 3PD): A chronic functional dizziness disorder characterized by persistent sensations of dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-spinning vertigo (often lasting for 3 months or more), typically exacerbated by upright posture, active or passive motion, or exposure to complex or moving visual environments (e.g., busy supermarkets, scrolling on a screen). Often follows an acute vestibular event, medical illness, or period of psychological distress.
• General Balance Deficits and Increased Fall Risk: Practical strategies, exercises, and environmental modification advice to improve your balance, prevent falls, and maintain your independence and activity levels.

Back Neck Pain

• Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Post-traumatic neck pain, restricted movement, and associated issues common after car accidents, which benefit from early and appropriate physiotherapy intervention.
• Spinal Stenosis Symptoms: Often age-related changes leading to pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs with walking (neurogenic claudication in lumbar stenosis) or in the arms/hands (cervical stenosis).

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

• 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.
• Neural Mobilization Techniques (Nerve Gliding): Targeted therapy to alleviate symptoms such as shooting pain, pins and needles, or weakness arising from neural tension or entrapment.
• Personalized Therapeutic Exercise Prescription: Development of a tailored therapeutic exercise program by your Physiotherapist, focused on your specific rehabilitation needs, strength goals, flexibility improvements, balance, and overall conditioning.
• 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.
• Core Stability & Strengthening Training: Developing control, strength, and endurance in your core musculature for improved functional performance, pain reduction, and prevention of re-injury.
• Soft Tissue Mobilization & Release Techniques: Hands-on treatment focusing on your body's soft tissues to restore pliability, reduce discomfort, and optimize movement quality.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Katia. 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 du Bas-St-Laurent (CHR Rimouski), physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Katia frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Many individuals seek help from Katia, their physiotherapist, when trying to get back to my best after a frustrating sports injury starts impacting daily life. Through a personalized physiotherapy plan, they often achieve feeling significantly stronger and more capable in their physical abilities, empowering them to joyfully return to activities like enjoying long, challenging hikes on weekends again.
• Discover how physiotherapy with Katia can help you move beyond feeling unsteady on my feet or experiencing dizziness and balance problems. The focus is on sleeping more soundly through the night due to reduced pain and discomfort, enabling a joyful return to the activities you love, such as reading a good book for hours without experiencing neck pain or headaches.
• Don't let that 'pins and needles' feeling that won't go away dictate what you can and cannot do. Katia offers physiotherapy solutions aimed at seeing their child achieve developmental milestones with greater ease (for pediatric physio), helping you reclaim walking up and down several flights of stairs without issue or breathlessness and enjoy a more functional life.

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

Katia practices at the CISSS du Bas-St-Laurent (CHR Rimouski), situated in a central clinic within the Rimouski neighborhood. This public healthcare facility is conveniently located near various community services and pharmacies, making access straightforward for local residents. It is easily reachable via multiple public transit routes, ensuring that patients can attend their appointments with ease. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

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 typically pay out-of-pocket or rely on private insurance for coverage. However, care received within a public hospital or CLSC may be covered under specific circumstances. It is essential for patients to verify their eligibility directly with RAMQ and consult their private extended health insurance plans for reimbursement options.

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

A Physiothérapeute in Quebec holds a university master’s degree in physiotherapy, allowing them to perform assessments, establish diagnoses, and create treatment plans independently. They are autonomous healthcare professionals regulated by the OPPQ. Conversely, a Technologue en physiothérapie holds a college diploma and works under the supervision of a physiotherapist or physician. They apply prescribed treatments, guide exercises, and monitor progress but do not diagnose or develop treatment plans independently. Both professions are regulated by the OPPQ.

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

In Quebec, patients can generally access a Physiothérapeute directly through a process known as direct access, without needing a physician's referral. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement purposes. It is advisable to check with your insurance provider before your first appointment to confirm their requirements.

What should I expect during my first physiotherapy appointment?

Your first appointment will be a comprehensive assessment. The Physiothérapeute will review your medical history, discuss your symptoms and concerns, and evaluate your physical condition through various tests. They will then provide a clinical impression, discuss a personalized treatment plan, and may initiate some initial interventions or give you advice and exercises to start your recovery.

How can I book an appointment at CISSS du Bas-St-Laurent (CHR Rimouski)?

You can book an appointment by calling the clinic directly at (418) 724-3000 during business hours. Many practitioners also offer online booking through the clinic’s website. The friendly reception staff will assist you in scheduling an appointment with the appropriate physiotherapist to meet your needs.

CISSS du Bas-St-Laurent (CHR Rimouski)
150, Avenue Rouleau
Rimouski, QC G5L 5T1

Phone: (418) 724-3000

Katia Hebert 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.