Marie-Claude Marcotte-Montambault – Physiotherapist | Québec, QC

Marie-Claude Marcotte-Montambault is a dedicated Physiothérapeute (Neurological Rehabilitation Focus). Practicing at CHU de Québec (Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement) in Québec, QC, Marie-Claude is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with the standards set by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ). With a compassionate approach, she strives to support each individual’s journey toward recovery and improved well-being, emphasizing personalized attention and evidence-based practices.

Marie-Claude's role involves assisting individuals in recovering function, improving mobility, managing symptoms, and enhancing quality of life after neurological events or conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Parkinson's Disease. She also addresses a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, including acute injuries like sprains and strains, chronic pain management, arthritis care, and comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation. Her goal is to empower her patients through education and tailored treatment plans that promote long-term health and independence.

With a solid foundation in physiotherapy, Marie-Claude completed her degree in Physiotherapy and has accumulated valuable clinical experience. She is dedicated to ongoing professional development, staying current with the latest research and techniques. Her particular interests lie in Neurological Physiotherapy and Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal physiotherapy, ensuring she provides the most effective interventions for her patients. Fluent in French, Marie-Claude fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, helping her patients achieve their movement and functional goals with confidence.

Marie-Claude Marcotte-Montambault provides skilled physiotherapy care for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

Neurological

• Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) - Movement Retraining: Supporting individuals with FND to improve their physical function, reduce symptom burden, and enhance participation in daily life activities through specialized physiotherapy.
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation (Incomplete/Specific Cases): Comprehensive physiotherapy focusing on improving strength in available muscles, enhancing functional mobility, and promoting health and wellness after a spinal cord injury.
• Muscular Dystrophy / Myopathy - Supportive Physiotherapy Care: Physiotherapy aimed at maintaining optimal function, managing contractures (joint stiffness), optimizing mobility (including prescription of mobility aids), adapting activities, and managing respiratory function (if applicable) for individuals with progressive muscle weakness due to muscular dystrophy or other myopathies.
• Facial Palsy / Bell's Palsy Rehabilitation: Targeted exercises and techniques provided by a Physiotherapist to manage symptoms of facial palsy and support optimal recovery of facial muscle control.

Post Surgical

• Post-Fracture Fixation Surgery Rehabilitation (e.g., ORIF): Helping you manage pain, improve scar mobility, and regain optimal strength and range of motion in a limb following fracture fixation surgery.
• Post-Shoulder Surgery Rehabilitation (e.g., Rotator Cuff Repair, Labral Repair, Stabilization, Replacement): Comprehensive shoulder rehabilitation after surgical intervention, following surgeon-specific protocols, to ensure optimal healing, manage pain and swelling, and restore your arm's functional capacity.
• Post-Hip Replacement Rehabilitation (Total or Partial Hip Arthroplasty - THA/PHA): Physiotherapy rehabilitation after total or partial hip replacement surgery, aimed at restoring mobility, strength, balance, and improving your gait pattern, allowing you to perform daily activities safely and effectively.

Vestibular Balance

• General Balance Deficits and Increased Fall Risk: Physiotherapy aimed at improving your balance, coordination, lower limb strength, reaction time, and confidence to reduce your risk of falling and enhance safe mobility in your home and community.
• 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.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Resolving the spinning sensations caused by BPPV quickly and effectively through targeted canalith repositioning techniques, often providing immediate relief.
• Vestibular Hypofunction (Unilateral or Bilateral): Reduced function of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) inner ear balance systems (vestibular organs), leading to persistent dizziness, gaze instability (difficulty keeping vision clear during head movement), imbalance, and sometimes nausea.

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

• Concussion / Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Management & Rehabilitation: Comprehensive care for concussion recovery, including initial assessment of symptoms (headache, dizziness, etc.), management of associated neck pain or dysfunction, vestibular and oculomotor (eye movement) rehabilitation, and guided, gradual return-to-learn, work, and sport protocols.
• Stretching & Flexibility Programs: Personalized programs incorporating various stretching techniques (e.g., static, dynamic, PNF) to alleviate stiffness, increase tissue extensibility, and promote better posture.
• Personalized Therapeutic Exercise Prescription: Evidence-based exercise programs designed by your physiotherapist, including instruction and progression, to optimize your recovery and enhance your physical well-being.
• General Reconditioning & Fitness Programs: Structured physical activities and exercises aimed at helping you safely regain strength, stamina, and confidence in your body's abilities, tailored to your current level.
• Balance Training & Falls Prevention Programs: Specific training programs to enhance your sense of body position, improve your reaction times to unexpected balance disturbances, and build confidence in your ability to move safely in various environments.
• Core Stability & Strengthening Training: Developing control, strength, and endurance in your core musculature for improved functional performance, pain reduction, and prevention of re-injury.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Marie-Claude. 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 de Québec (Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement), physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Marie-Claude frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• If feeling 'off-balance' and worried about falling, especially as I get older is preventing you from fully enjoying reaching for items on high shelves or in cupboards without shoulder strain, Marie-Claude offers expert guidance and tailored treatment. Physiotherapy focuses on attaining reduced swelling and inflammation in injured areas, often utilizing targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education to help you regain your previous level of function.
• At Marie-Claude's physiotherapy practice, individuals with hip pain when I walk, climb stairs, or try to sleep on my side are guided towards feeling more resilient and less vulnerable to minor strains or injuries. The focus is on enabling you to once again participate fully and comfortably in activities you enjoy, such as performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and dexterity with ease.
• Patients often come to Marie-Claude feeling defeated by recovering from surgery to my hand or wrist. With a supportive and targeted physiotherapy approach, achieving personal fitness goals that once seemed out of reach and resuming getting back to golfing 18 holes without your back acting up becomes a realistic and attainable goal.

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

Marie-Claude practices at CHU de Québec (Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement), situated in a central neighborhood of Québec. This public healthcare facility is conveniently located near local community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access care. The clinic is well-connected by local public transit routes, ensuring accessible transportation options for everyone. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

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. They are autonomous healthcare professionals authorized to perform patient assessments, establish a physiotherapy diagnosis, create and modify treatment plans, and apply a wide range of therapeutic interventions. This includes certain restricted activities if they hold the specific attestations (e.g., spinal manipulations, specific needle-based therapies). A Technologue en physiothérapie (Physiotherapy Technologist or Phys. T.) holds a college-level (CEGEP) diploma in physiotherapy technology. They work under the supervision of, or based on a treatment plan established by, a physiotherapist or a physician. Technologists apply prescribed treatment modalities, guide patients through exercises, monitor progress, and adapt interventions within the established plan, but they do not diagnose or independently create 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) in QC?

Generally, physiotherapy services performed in private clinics are not covered by RAMQ. Patients typically pay out-of-pocket or through private insurance. Care received directly within a public hospital or CLSC may be covered if criteria are met. It is important to verify your eligibility directly with RAMQ and consult your private health plan for coverage details.

What is manual therapy in physiotherapy?

Manual therapy involves specialized hands-on techniques used by a Physiothérapeute to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. This includes joint mobilization, joint manipulation, soft tissue mobilization, and neural mobilization, all aimed at reducing pain, improving range of motion, and restoring optimal joint and tissue function.

What should I expect during my first physiotherapy appointment?

The initial session is an in-depth assessment where your Physiothérapeute will discuss your history, perform physical tests, and develop a tailored treatment plan. You may also receive initial hands-on care and home exercises to begin your recovery.

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 insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement. It is advisable to check your insurance policy beforehand.

Is physiotherapy treatment supposed to be painful?

While some discomfort might occur, physiotherapy should not be excessively painful. Your Physiothérapeute will adjust techniques to ensure your comfort and will communicate throughout your treatment to maintain your well-being.

CHU de Québec (Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement)
1050, Chemin Sainte-Foy
Québec, QC G1S 4L8

Phone: (418) 525-4444

Marie-Claude Marcotte-Montambault 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.