Nathalie Y. Larocque

Nathalie Y. Larocque provides skilled physiotherapist care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Back 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).
• Herniated Disc / Sciatica / Radiculopathy: Pain, pins and needles, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg resulting from irritation or compression of a spinal nerve, often managed effectively with physiotherapy techniques like McKenzie method or neural mobilization.
• 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.

Common Musculoskeletal

• Hip Pain (e.g., Bursitis, Muscle Strains, Labral Issues - conservative): Pain affecting the hip joint and surrounding musculature, which can limit activities like walking, standing for long periods, rising from a chair, or lying on the affected side.
• Ankle Sprains and Instability: A 'rolled' or twisted ankle with subsequent swelling, tenderness, and difficulty putting your full weight on the foot.
• Shoulder Pain (e.g., Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, Impingement, Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis): Common shoulder problems such as rotator cuff issues (tendinopathy, small tears), impingement syndrome, or adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) significantly affecting arm function and daily comfort.
• Musculoskeletal Injuries (General - Tendinitis, Bursitis, Capsulitis, Sprains, Strains): Damage to the body's movement system, including issues like joint inflammation, ligament tears, or muscle overstretching, often requiring physiotherapy for optimal recovery.

Sports Injury

• IT Band Syndrome (Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome): An overuse injury resulting from repetitive friction of the IT band over the lateral femoral epicondyle (at the knee) or greater trochanter (at the hip).
• Ligament Sprains (e.g., ACL, MCL, PCL, Ankle Ligaments): Injuries like a 'twisted ankle', 'knee ligament injury', or 'shoulder separation' (AC joint sprain) sustained during athletic activity or accidental falls.
• 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.

This list offers examples of conditions commonly addressed. Diagnosis for physiotherapist is based on individual assessment, so if your specific concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic. Nathalie can assess your needs.

• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): The application of cold packs, ice massage, or other cold modalities by your Physiotherapist to reduce swelling, inflammation, muscle spasm, and acute pain, particularly after an injury.
• General Reconditioning & Fitness Programs: A progressive approach to rebuilding your physical condition, allowing for a safe return to daily activities, work demands, and hobbies you enjoy.
• Core Stability & Strengthening Training: A progressive program designed to build a strong and stable core, improving your body's foundation for all movements and reducing strain on other structures.
• 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.
• Strength & Conditioning for Rehabilitation and Performance: Targeted exercises using resistance (such as bodyweight, resistance bands, free weights, or gym equipment) to build muscle strength, power, and endurance, tailored to your specific rehabilitation needs or performance goals.
• 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.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Nathalie, or to discuss your specific needs, please contact the clinic.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Physiotherapists in ON and the standards set by The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

At La Cite Collegiale, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Nathalie frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Living with difficulty getting out of a chair or bed due to stiffness or pain doesn't have to be your norm. Nathalie applies expert physiotherapy knowledge to work towards greater ease with dressing, bathing, and other self-care activities, so you can get back to the simple pleasure of safely meeting the lifting requirements at their workplace.
• Nathalie believes that everyone deserves to move well and feel their best. If facial weakness or drooping on one side (like Bell's Palsy) is hindering your ability to challenging myself with indoor or outdoor rock climbing, a personalized plan focusing on feeling equipped with effective self-management strategies and exercises can make all the difference.
• The path to recovery from tendonitis pain flaring up in my shoulder, knee, elbow, or foot and achieving seeing their child achieve developmental milestones with greater ease (for pediatric physio) for getting back to golfing 18 holes without their back acting up often starts with expert guidance. Nathalie, a skilled physiotherapist, provides just that.
• Patients often come to Nathalie feeling defeated by feeling generally stiff, achy, and less mobile than I used to be. With a supportive and targeted physiotherapy approach, achieving achieving their specific mobility goals, whether big or small and resuming managing the physical demands of their job without constant pain becomes a realistic and attainable goal.

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

Nathalie's practice at La Cite Collegiale is situated in the Overbrook, Castle Heights, Vanier South neighborhood of Ottawa. The clinic is conveniently located near the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum and is accessible via OC Transpo (O-Train LRT, Bus). Our clinic is accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Physiotherapist in ON?

In Ontario, you can typically see a Physiotherapist directly without a doctor's referral. This is known as direct access. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement of physiotherapy services. It is strongly recommended that you check with your insurance provider before your first appointment to understand their specific requirements.

What should I expect during my first physiotherapy appointment?

Your initial physiotherapy appointment is a comprehensive assessment. Your Physiotherapist will start by discussing your medical history, the details of your current symptoms or injury, your concerns, and what you hope to achieve with physiotherapy (your functional goals). This is followed by a thorough physical examination, which may include evaluating your range of motion, strength, posture, balance, and specific movement patterns, as well as performing special tests relevant to your condition. Based on these findings, your therapist will provide a clinical impression or diagnosis, discuss a personalized treatment plan with you, and often begin some initial treatment or provide education and a home exercise program to get you started.

How long do physiotherapy appointments typically last?

Initial assessment appointments are generally longer to allow for a thorough evaluation and discussion, typically lasting between 45 to 60 minutes. Subsequent follow-up treatment sessions are usually shorter, often ranging from 30 to 45 minutes. However, the duration can vary depending on your specific needs, the complexity of your condition, the type of treatment being provided, and the treatment plan designed by your Physiotherapist.

Can physiotherapy help prevent injuries or recurring pain?

Yes, absolutely! Physiotherapy plays a significant role in injury prevention and managing recurring pain. Your Physiotherapist can identify underlying risk factors such as muscle imbalances, poor movement patterns, postural issues, or biomechanical inefficiencies. By addressing these through targeted exercises, education on proper body mechanics, ergonomic advice, and activity modification, physiotherapy can help reduce your risk of initial injury, prevent re-injury, and manage chronic conditions more effectively, keeping you active and healthy.

Is physiotherapy treatment supposed to be painful?

Physiotherapy should not be painful. While you might feel some discomfort or a stretching sensation as you work to regain movement or strength, especially in the initial stages of treatment for an acute injury or chronic stiffness, it's rarely 'painful' in a distressing or harmful way. Your Physiotherapist will guide you through each step, modify treatments to suit your comfort and tolerance, and ensure that the overall experience is positive. The ultimate aim is to make you feel better, not worse.

What kind of clothing should I wear to my physiotherapy appointment?

It's recommended to wear or bring clothing that allows unrestricted movement and provides easy access for your physiotherapist to examine the body part being assessed or treated. For instance, if you have a knee problem, please wear or bring shorts. For shoulder issues, a sleeveless top or a top with loose armholes is often helpful. The goal is to make the assessment and treatment as effective as possible.

Is physiotherapy covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) generally does NOT cover physiotherapy services provided in private clinics. Publicly funded physiotherapy is available through specific programs, such as after hospitalization for certain conditions, for children/youth, seniors, or through Community Physiotherapy Clinics/Family Health Teams, but eligibility criteria are strict and there may be waitlists. Most people will need to rely on private insurance or pay out-of-pocket for physiotherapy services in private clinics. It is strongly recommended that you check your private insurance coverage to determine your eligibility and coverage details.

La Cite Collegiale
801 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa, ON, K1K 4R3

Phone: (800) 267-2483

Nathalie Y. Larocque is regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and Physiotherapy Act, 1991 in ON and is a registered member of The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

Registration Number: XXX59

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=8cd0b3d2-8a02-e811-813c-480fcff44541

Always consult with your primary healthcare provider before starting any new treatment program.