Suzanne Van Wijk – Physiotherapist | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC

Suzanne Van Wijk is a dedicated Physiothérapeute practicing at Kinatex Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC. She is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care that aligns with the standards set by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ). With a compassionate approach, Suzanne focuses on addressing a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, ensuring her patients receive personalized treatment plans tailored to their unique needs and goals. Whether managing acute injuries or chronic conditions, her goal is to restore mobility, reduce pain, and promote long-term wellness within a supportive community environment.

Suzanne's role as a Physiothérapeute involves comprehensive assessment, targeted treatment, and preventive strategies aimed at enhancing her patients' overall quality of life. She specializes in the assessment, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries, working closely with individuals of all activity levels—from recreational enthusiasts to competitive athletes. Her expertise extends to managing post-operative recovery, arthritis, and musculoskeletal pain, always emphasizing education and empowerment to help patients maintain their progress and prevent future issues.

Educated in physiotherapy and continually committed to professional development, Suzanne has developed particular interests in Orthopedic, Musculoskeletal, and Sports Physiotherapy. She believes in a collaborative approach, working hand-in-hand with her patients to achieve their movement and functional goals. Suzanne is fluent in English, French, and Dutch, enabling her to serve a diverse community with warmth and understanding.

Suzanne Van Wijk provides skilled physiotherapy care for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

Common Msk

• 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.
• Low Back Pain (Acute or Chronic): Common back problems that can impact your posture, ability to perform daily activities, and overall mobility, addressed with targeted physiotherapy.

Sports Injury

• IT Band Syndrome (Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome): A common cause of lateral knee pain in athletes, often linked to training errors, muscle imbalances (e.g., weak hip abductors), or poor biomechanics, which physiotherapy aims to address.
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee / Anterior Knee Pain): Dull, aching pain in the front of the knee, often related to issues with the alignment and movement of the patella within the femoral groove.
• Ligament Sprains (e.g., ACL, MCL, PCL, Ankle Ligaments): Stretching or tearing of ligaments (the strong, fibrous bands that connect bones to each other at joints) due to sudden force, twisting, overstretching, or impact. Common in sports involving jumping, cutting, pivoting, or collisions. Examples include ACL/MCL tears in the knee or ankle sprains.
• Muscle Strains (e.g., Hamstring, Calf, Groin, Quadriceps, Rotator Cuff): Damage to muscle tissue that can range from minor micro-tears to more significant partial or complete tears, impacting strength, power, and range of motion.

Post Surgical

• Post-Spinal Surgery Rehabilitation (e.g., Discectomy, Laminectomy, Fusion - with surgeon clearance): Gentle and progressive physiotherapy rehabilitation following spinal surgery (e.g., for disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or spinal fusion), initiated once cleared by your surgeon, to improve mobility, core strength, posture, reduce pain, and safely return to daily activities.
• Post-Hip Replacement Rehabilitation (Total or Partial Hip Arthroplasty - THA/PHA): Guidance on hip precautions (if applicable for your surgical approach), a progressive exercise program, and functional retraining after hip surgery to help you achieve your goals.
• 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): Specialized physiotherapy focused on regaining shoulder movement, strength, stability, and function after various types of shoulder surgeries, such as rotator cuff repair, labral tear repair, shoulder stabilization procedures (e.g., Bankart repair), or shoulder joint replacement (arthroplasty).

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

• Gait Analysis & Running/Walking Re-training: Expert analysis of your gait with personalized corrective strategies, exercises, and cues to optimize your walking or running form for pain-free movement and enhanced performance or efficiency.
• 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.
• Concussion / Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Management & Rehabilitation: Baseline concussion testing (if offered by the clinic/practitioner) and evidence-based post-injury management to ensure a safe and effective recovery from mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI).
• Sports Injury Rehabilitation & Management: Specialized and progressive physiotherapy care for athletes of all levels, focusing on accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, sport-specific exercise, and safe, timely return-to-sport protocols.
• Soft Tissue Mobilization & Release Techniques: Hands-on treatment focusing on your body's soft tissues to restore pliability, reduce discomfort, and optimize movement quality.
• Sports Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention: Working with you to identify areas for improvement and enhance your performance in your chosen sport through targeted physiotherapy, biomechanical correction, and preventative conditioning.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Suzanne. 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 Kinatex Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Suzanne frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Suzanne frequently assists patients in overcoming the effects of hip pain when I walk, climb stairs, or try to sleep on my side. A carefully designed physiotherapy program, potentially including specialized manual techniques and progressive exercises, targets a return to intimacy without the fear of pain or discomfort and supports your enthusiastic engagement in desired activities like reading a good book for hours without experiencing neck pain or headaches.
• Patients struggling with swelling in my arm or leg, possibly lymphedema, after surgery or treatment can find dedicated and compassionate support from Suzanne. The therapeutic focus is squarely on achieving feeling significantly stronger and more capable in their physical abilities, using a range of physiotherapy services to facilitate a return to meaningful daily activities such as maintaining an upright posture while working on your computer for hours.
• Many individuals seek help from Suzanne, their physiotherapist, when a 'frozen shoulder' feeling, where my shoulder feels completely stuck starts impacting daily life. Through a personalized physiotherapy plan, they often achieve enhanced recovery from post-surgical procedures with fewer complications, empowering them to joyfully return to activities like participating in light recreational activities like bowling or mini-golf.

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

Suzanne practices at Kinatex Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, located in the Saint-Jean Sector North neighborhood of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The private clinic facility is conveniently situated near Fort Saint-Jean (Royal Military College) and is easily accessible via Transport Urbain / Taxibus du Haut-Richelieu. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

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 our 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.

Is physiotherapy covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) in QC?

In Quebec, physiotherapy services in private clinics are generally not covered directly by RAMQ. Patients usually pay out-of-pocket or through private insurance. However, care received within public hospitals or CLSCs may be covered under specific conditions. It's important to verify your eligibility directly with RAMQ and consult your private insurance plans, as many offer coverage for physiotherapy in private clinics.

Is there anything specific I should bring to my first physiotherapy appointment?

It’s helpful to bring your health card, any referral letters from other healthcare providers if you were referred, and any reports or images from relevant medical tests (X-rays, MRIs, etc.) related to your condition. If you have private insurance coverage for physiotherapy, please bring your insurance card or policy details for billing purposes. Wearing comfortable attire that allows for easy movement during the assessment is also recommended.

Will I be given exercises to do at home?

Yes, in almost all cases, you will receive a customized home exercise program. These exercises are carefully chosen by your Physiothérapeute to specifically target your issues and help you achieve your functional goals faster and more effectively. Performing them as recommended is very important for your progress and for maintaining the improvements you make during your clinic visits.

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

A Physiothérapeute in Quebec has completed master’s level university education, granting them the autonomy to assess patients, make a physiotherapy diagnosis, and develop comprehensive treatment plans. They can also perform certain advanced procedures if they have the required additional qualifications. A Technologue en physiothérapie, on the other hand, has a college diploma (DEC) focused on the technical application of physiotherapy treatments. They play a crucial role in delivering care by implementing treatment plans designed by a physiotherapist or physician, assisting patients with their exercises, applying modalities, and reporting progress back to the supervising professional.

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, which is known as direct access. 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 any specific requirements.

Kinatex Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
86, Boulevard Saint-Luc, Suite 130
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC J3A 1G1

Phone: (450) 349-3333 | Website: www.kinatex.com

Suzanne Van Wijk 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.