Veronique Routhier

Veronique Routhier provides skilled physiotherapist care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Back Neck Pain

• Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Symptoms resulting from a whiplash injury, which can vary in severity (WAD Grades I-III) and duration, requiring a comprehensive physiotherapy approach for recovery.
• 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: Back or neck pain that often radiates into an arm or leg, potentially with numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning sensations, due to a spinal disc problem (herniation, protrusion, or bulge) compressing or irritating a nearby nerve root (radiculopathy). Sciatica specifically refers to radicular pain down the leg.
• Postural Back/Neck Pain: Muscular pain, trigger points, and tension headaches resulting from habitual poor posture, which can be addressed with postural re-education, exercises, and ergonomic advice.

Sports Injury

• Ligament Sprains (e.g., ACL, MCL, PCL, Ankle Ligaments): Damage to ligaments that can range from mild (Grade 1 - overstretched) to moderate (Grade 2 - partial tear) to severe (Grade 3 - complete tear), impacting joint integrity and function.
• Stress Fractures (Activity-Related - Conservative Management/Rehab): Tiny cracks or severe bruising within a bone caused by repetitive force, overuse, or cumulative stress, common in weight-bearing bones of the lower leg (tibia, fibula), foot (metatarsals, navicular), or hip in athletes involved in high-impact sports.

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. Veronique can assess your needs.

• 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.
• Manual Therapy (Joint Mobilization & Manipulation): Hands-on physiotherapy focused on mobilizing restricted joints and soft tissues to promote healing, restore normal biomechanics, and alleviate pain.
• 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.
• Strength & Conditioning for Rehabilitation and Performance: Developing muscular strength and endurance to aid in injury recovery, support affected joints, improve biomechanics, and enhance athletic performance or demanding physical tasks.
• Neural Mobilization Techniques (Nerve Gliding): Gentle, specific movements and mobilizations designed to address nerve-related pain (like sciatica or carpal tunnel symptoms), tingling, numbness, or restrictions by improving the nerve's ability to glide freely and reducing irritation.
• General Reconditioning & Fitness Programs: Graded exercise programs designed to improve your overall physical fitness, endurance, strength, and functional capacity, especially beneficial after illness, surgery, or periods of prolonged inactivity.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Veronique, 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 Montfort Hospital, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Veronique frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• If my child complaining of 'growing pains' that keep them up at night is preventing you from fully enjoying safely meeting the lifting requirements at their workplace, Veronique offers expert guidance and tailored treatment. Physiotherapy focuses on attaining decreased frequency and intensity of headaches related to neck or postural issues, often utilizing targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education to help you regain your previous level of function.
• Veronique frequently assists patients in overcoming the effects of numbness, tingling, or weakness in my hands, arms, feet, or legs. A carefully designed physiotherapy program, potentially including specialized manual techniques and progressive exercises, targets feeling more like their 'old self' before their injury or condition began and supports your enthusiastic engagement in desired activities like resuming their weightlifting routine at the gym safely.
• Many individuals seek help from Veronique, their physiotherapist, when recovering from a burn and needing help with scar mobility and movement starts impacting daily life. Through a personalized physiotherapy plan, they often achieve improved balance and coordination, leading to safer and more confident mobility in seniors, empowering them to joyfully return to activities like maintaining an upright posture while working on their computer for hours.
• Patients struggling with my infant having a tilted head or a flat spot on their head (torticollis/plagiocephaly) can find dedicated and compassionate support from Veronique. The therapeutic focus is squarely on achieving enhanced pelvic floor function and control (for relevant conditions), using a range of physiotherapy services to facilitate a return to meaningful daily activities such as playing in their competitive volleyball league again.

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

Veronique practices at Montfort Hospital, located in the Overbrook, Castle Heights, Vanier South neighborhood of Ottawa. The clinic is conveniently located near Lord Elgin Hotel and is accessible via OC Transpo (O-Train LRT, Bus). Our clinic is accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

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

OHIP generally does NOT cover physiotherapy services in private outpatient clinics for most Ontarians. Publicly funded physiotherapy is available in specific situations (e.g., post-hospitalization for certain conditions, for children/youth, seniors, or through Community Physiotherapy Clinics/Family Health Teams), but eligibility criteria are strict and waitlists may apply. Always check your private/extended health insurance plan, as many offer significant physiotherapy coverage for services in private clinics.

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

In Ontario, you can usually see a Physiotherapist directly without a doctor's referral (direct access). However, some private/extended health insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement. Check your insurance policy before your first appointment.

Will I be given exercises to do at home?

Absolutely! Home exercises are a vital part of your rehabilitation journey and empower you to take an active role in your recovery process. Your Physiotherapist will carefully select and teach you exercises specific to your needs. These exercises help to reinforce what's done in the clinic, manage your condition effectively, and ensure you continue progressing towards your goals even when you're not in a session.

What types of conditions do Physiotherapists at Montfort Hospital treat?

Our Physiotherapists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, back and neck pain (including nerve entrapments like carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica), joint problems (such as arthritis or post-surgical recovery), and sports injuries (like muscle strains). We also have therapists with specialized skills in areas like pelvic health and other general physiotherapy needs. Our treatments often involve manual therapy, exercise prescription, and patient education to help you achieve your functional goals.

What should I do if my condition seems to worsen after a physiotherapy session?

Some temporary post-treatment soreness can be normal. However, if your pain significantly worsens, you develop new concerning symptoms, or the discomfort doesn't settle down within a day or two, please call us. Your Physiotherapist would want to know so they can offer guidance and make any necessary adjustments to your care plan. Open communication is key to your successful recovery.

How long do physiotherapy appointments typically last?

Your initial visit will be around an hour long for a comprehensive assessment. Follow-up sessions are generally between 30 and 45 minutes, but this can be adjusted based on your needs.

Montfort Hospital
713 Montreal Rd.
Ottawa, ON, K1K 0T2

Phone: (613) 746-4621

Veronique Routhier 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: XXX84

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=52c056ee-8e02-e811-8134-480fcff4f671

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