Office Hours
Mon: 7:30am - 8:00pm
Tues: 7:30am - 8:00pm
Wed: 7:30am - 8:00pm
Thurs: 7:30am - 8:00pm
Fri: 7:30am - 4:00pm
Sat: closed
Sun: closed
Our Location
1325 Cote Vertu,
Suite 100
Saint-Laurent, Quebec,
Canada
H4L 1Z1
(514) 748-0004
physiomk@bellnet.ca
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that are frequently asked as well as some brief answers. Should you need more information, please feel free to contact us at 514-748-0004 or via email: physiomk@bellnet.ca
Q: What can I expect upon my initial visit to the clinic?
A: We suggest that new patients arrive 10 minutes prior to their scheduled treatment time in order to fill out a health questionnaire and to become acquainted with the clinic's policies. The therapist will perform a detailed initial assessment including a thorough physical examination. This initial assessment can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 60 minutes. By the end of the session, the therapist will discuss a treatment plan with you.
Q: Do I get treatment on the first physiotherapy visit?
A: This will depend on the extent and complexity of the problem. Some problems require our full time for assessment whereas other less involved conditions may allow time to start some treatment.
Q: Do I need a doctor's referral?
A: Direct access to physiotherapy has been available in Quebec since 1990, which means that a doctor's referral is not necessary to receive physiotherapy treatment. However, the physiotherapist may suggest that you consult a doctor for their opinion or to get further tests done. Note that some insurance companies still require a doctor's referral for reimbursement of physiotherapy treatments. It is the responsibility of the patient to check their coverage.
Q: How much time should I allow for treatment?
A: Physiotherapy treatment can take up from 30 minutes to 60 minutes on average. Massage therapy can either be for 60 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on the condition. Osteopathy treatments are 60 minutes in duration. Acupuncture treatments can vary between 40 minutes to 45 minutes.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Your therapist will be able to give you an approximate number of treatments needed but this is easier to determine once the patient has been seen a few times. Some long-standing conditions will probably take more time to treat than recent, acute conditions.
Q: What is the difference between manual physiotherapy treatments and Chiropractic treatments?
A: The philosophy behind the two forms of treatments are quite different. Although some tools, such as spinal manipulation, may be similar, they are not used for the same purposes. Manipulations are only one of many tools that a manual therapist can use. Mobilizations and soft tissue techniques may often be more indicated than manipulations, especially with recurring problems. Physiotherapy emphasizes the active component of the treatment. This is achieved by teaching the patient specific exercises and proper movement patterns in order to give the patient tools to self-treat. This will help minimize dependency and recurrence of problems.
Q: I have a disc problem that has been diagnosed by MRI. Can I be helped by physiotherapy?
A: When a disc problem is diagnosed through imagery, one of the roles of the initial physiotherapy assessment is to decide if these findings correlate with the clinical picture. In an average asymptomatic population, some people present with disc pathology on MRI. This is why it is so important to treat the clinical signs and symptoms of the patient and not the radiology finding. Disc problems present in many different ways. Some patients will have back pain only, others will have leg pain from nerve irritation and others will have both. No recipe exists for treatment and everyone's condition must be treated individually. Physiotherapy is often very helpful for patients presenting with disc problems. Only those with severe, unrelenting symptoms and with positive neurological findings that are not responding to conservative treatment, may need to have surgery. There should always be a trial of conservative treatment prior to any surgical decision and physiotherapy is a very good and safe option.
Q: I suffer from migraines. Can professionals at your clinic help me?
A: Migraine is a term that is often misused as many patients suffer from headaches that are not necessarily migrainous in origin. Many headaches have a mechanical component to them that is often related to the neck. Manual therapists, as well as osteopaths, have the tools to assess and treat the various factors that can contribute to headaches. These treatments often help decrease the intensity and frequency of headaches.
Q: What is the difference between regular physiotherapy and manual therapy treatments?
A: Manual therapy is a specialization in orthopedic physiotherapy. It is mostly taught at the post-graduate level and consists of various level courses that are taken over a number of years. A manual therapist acquires advanced knowledge and skills in clinical biomechanics, pathology, assessment and feel of joint movement, soft tissue flexibility, nerve mobility and muscle recruitment. To become recognized in the field of Manual Therapy, the physiotherapist must successfully go through an examination process set up by the Orthopedic Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. The successful completion of the examination process leads to a residency and then a fellowship degree in the field.