Marie-Élizabeth Coulombe – Physiotherapist | Rimouski, QC

Marie-Élizabeth Coulombe is a dedicated Physiothérapeute. Practicing at Physiothérapie Mouvement Plus in Rimouski, QC, Marie-Élizabeth 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 pelvic health conditions, ensuring each patient receives personalized treatment that promotes recovery and wellness. Her approach emphasizes understanding each individual's unique needs, fostering a supportive environment where patients feel empowered and cared for.

Marie-Élizabeth's focus includes comprehensive assessment and treatment for issues related to muscles, joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and the pelvic floor. She provides expert care for conditions such as acute injuries like sprains and strains, chronic pain management, arthritis, and post-operative rehabilitation. Additionally, she offers specialized services for pelvic health concerns across all genders, including incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, sexual dysfunction, and pre/post-natal conditions. Her goal is to help patients regain their mobility and confidence, improving their overall quality of life.

With a strong foundation in evidence-based practice, Marie-Élizabeth completed her degree in Physiotherapy and has developed her skills through clinical experience and ongoing professional development. She has a particular interest in Orthopedic, Musculoskeletal, and Pelvic Health Physiotherapy. Her practice philosophy centers on a patient-centered, collaborative approach, actively involving individuals in their treatment planning and goal setting. Marie-Élizabeth is fluent in French, ensuring clear and compassionate communication with her diverse community of patients.

Marie-Élizabeth Coulombe provides skilled physiotherapy care for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

Pregnancy Postpartum

• C-Section Scar Management and Abdominal Recovery: Guidance on scar massage techniques, desensitization strategies, specific exercises to reactivate abdominal muscles safely, and postural advice after a C-section.
• Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Muscle Separation) Assessment & Rehabilitation: Restoring core strength, stability, and function when dealing with diastasis recti, helping to improve posture, reduce back pain, and improve the appearance of the abdomen.
• 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.

Pelvic Health

• Urinary Incontinence (Stress, Urge, Mixed - Men & Women): Addressing bladder control problems and improving continence with the help of a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, focusing on restoring pelvic floor muscle function.
• Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia) / Vaginismus / Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder: Pelvic or genital pain experienced before, during, or after sexual activity (dyspareunia), often related to pelvic floor muscle overactivity (hypertonicity/guarding), trigger points, scar tissue (e.g., from childbirth or surgery), nerve irritation, or conditions like vulvodynia or vestibulodynia. Vaginismus involves involuntary spasm of pelvic floor muscles making penetration difficult or impossible.
• Prostatitis Symptoms / Chronic Pelvic Pain in Men (Supportive Care): Addressing male pelvic pain, which can manifest as testicular pain, penile pain, or suprapubic discomfort, through specialized physiotherapy techniques targeting musculoskeletal and neuromuscular dysfunctions.
• Constipation / Bowel Dysfunction (Pelvic Floor Related): Addressing functional constipation, fecal incontinence, or other bowel issues that are related to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Back Neck Pain

• 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).
• 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.
• 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.

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

• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): A common physiotherapy treatment for acute injuries, designed to help numb pain, decrease bleeding into the tissues, and minimize secondary hypoxic 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.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation: A non-invasive light therapy used in physiotherapy to treat various musculoskeletal conditions, promote faster healing, reduce pain, and modulate inflammation without generating heat.
• 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.
• 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.

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

• Marie-Élizabeth believes that everyone deserves to move well and feel their best. If trouble performing repetitive tasks at work without pain is hindering your ability to feeling energetic enough to engage in social activities in the evenings, a personalized plan focusing on being able to climb stairs with ease and confidence once again can make all the difference.
• Are you finding that needing help to get moving again after a long period of illness or inactivity stops you from enjoying playing actively and roughhousing with your young kids or grandkids? Marie-Élizabeth is dedicated to helping patients like you achieve greater ease with dressing, bathing, and other self-care activities through a hands-on, active approach to physiotherapy.
• The path to recovery from my baby/child having trouble with their motor skills, like delayed rolling, sitting or walking and achieving a safe and confident return to their favorite sport or recreational activity for using garden tools effectively and without pain often starts with expert guidance. Marie-Élizabeth, a skilled physiotherapist, provides just that.

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

Marie-Élizabeth practices at Physiothérapie Mouvement Plus, located in a modern clinic situated in the heart of the central Rimouski neighborhood of Rimouski. The clinic is conveniently positioned near local community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access comprehensive healthcare in one location. Public transit routes serve the area well, ensuring accessible transportation options for everyone. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

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 usually pay out-of-pocket or rely on private insurance. However, care received directly within a public hospital or CLSC might be covered if meeting specific criteria. It is recommended to verify your eligibility directly with RAMQ and check your private insurance plans, as many offer substantial physiotherapy coverage for services in private clinics.

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

Patients in Quebec can typically see a Physiothérapeute through direct access, meaning a referral from a physician is not legally required. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a doctor's referral for reimbursement purposes. It is advisable to check your individual insurance policy before your first appointment.

Can physiotherapy help prevent injuries or recurring pain?

Yes, physiotherapy plays a vital role in injury prevention and managing recurring pain. Your Physiothérapeute can identify risk factors such as muscle imbalances or poor movement patterns and provide targeted exercises, ergonomic advice, and activity modifications to help reduce the likelihood of injury and re-injury, supporting long-term health and mobility.

Is there parking available at or near Physiothérapie Mouvement Plus?

Yes, there is ample free patient parking available directly in front of and beside our building. Look for designated patient spots. Additional street parking may be available on nearby streets, and there is usually paid parking in nearby public parkades. Please check local signage for restrictions.

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

A Physiothérapeute in Quebec has completed a master's level university education, granting them the autonomy to assess patients, make diagnoses, and develop treatment plans. They can perform advanced procedures if qualified. A Technologue en physiothérapie holds a college diploma (DEC) and focuses on implementing treatment plans, assisting with exercises, and applying modalities under supervision, playing a crucial role in patient care.

Physiothérapie Mouvement Plus
92, Rue 2e O, bureau 24
Rimouski, QC G5L 8B3

Phone: (418) 727-8773

Marie-Élizabeth Coulombe 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.