The physiotherapist is helpful in many circumstances. These include:

• chronic ailments of the musculoskeletal system;
• muscle and joint problems (such as sprain, for an torticollis, etc.) ;
• domestic accidents or accidents at work;
• the after-effects of surgical intervention;
• various motor disorders;
• or even breathing difficulties.

The physiotherapist can practice in private or as an employee (in a hospital center, a rehabilitation center, or other private structures).

Its role is to have recourse to massage and medical gymnastics to re-educate its patients, to help them recover their capacities.

To do this, he:

• questions his patient to find out what brings him about;
• assess their posture and mobility by performing a palpatory examination, muscle assessment or other specific tests;

Depending on the needs of his patient, he performs acts manually or through materials or devices:

• acts of rehabilitation, such as active or passive mobilizations, muscle strengthening, proprioception, etc. ;
• electro-physiotherapy, massages (classic, repeated on a painful area, manual lymphatic drainage, etc.);
• he can propose exercises or gymnastic movements using apparatus, weights;
• During the sessions, he can use water, heat, ionization or ultrasound.

The physiotherapist can carry out capacity assessments, on medical prescription. He can also, without prescription this time, intervene for the fitness, the relaxation or the massage of sportsmen.

Note that in Quebec, the physiotherapist does not use machines or tools.

The consultation with a physiotherapist does not involve any particular risks for the patient.

Training as a physiotherapist in France

To work as a physiotherapist, you must have a state diploma in physiotherapist masseur. It is obtained by following 3 years of study at a Training Institute in Masso-Kinesitherapy (IFMK) (3):

• after having obtained an entrance examination at the end of a preparatory year;
• or after having completed a first year of the first cycle of medical studies (better known by the abbreviation PCEM1).

Training in physiotherapy in Quebec

The training includes a basic training in massage therapist, lasting 10 months. Then training in physiotherapy, lasting about 300 to 700 hours, depending on the establishment.

Before going to the appointment with a physiotherapist, it is important to bring the medical prescriptions and any imaging examinations already carried out (x-rays, MRI, etc.).

To find a physiotherapist:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the association of kinesiologists, physiotherapists, orthotherapists, massage therapists of Quebec (4);
• in France, via the website of the order of physiotherapists (5) or simply on the Yellow Pages. 

In France, consultation with a physiotherapist is covered by health insurance, when prescribed by an attending physician.

In Quebec, this is not covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie (RAMQ).