Specialization
Since 2005, I offer the jaw assessment and treatment as a specialized service in physiotherapy in Saint-Georges de Beauce. Temporo-mandibular physiotherapy can help you to recover from : a jaw trauma, a long dental intervention that has caused pain, a malocclusion problem, a meniscal problem with the temporo-mandibular joint, a post-injection syndrom, a temporal bone dysfunction and a facial pain. It can also solve tinnitus problems or facial numbness (trigeminal nerve). I treat my patients with intra and extra oral jaw manual therapy, cranio-vertebral manual therapy, postural exercises (to decrease hypertonicity of the breathing muscles vs diaphragm) and jaw passive mobilisations.
Since 2011, I'm specialized in the cranio-oro-facial disorders associated with the temporo-mandibular joint. This specialization allows me to make links between cranium, mouth, face, and the jaw pain. That way, we can have a better knowledge of the source of the problem, whether it has a muscular, dental, postural, cervical or cranial origin. Then, we can do a more accurate treatment in physiotherapy or refer to the right profesionnal (dentist, denturologist, ORL, neurologist, ...), if we can't treat the problem in TMJ physiotherapy.
Also, since 2011, we have been developing an innovative approach in the treatment of the sleep apnea. Following my advanced formation on the oral and cranio-facial disorders and following many researches in scientific articles, I developed a personal competence in the sleep apnea. The recent international studies support the fact that a physiotherapy alternative approach in the treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea is a privileged instrument. For more information, please consult our section on the obstructive apnea.
In 2012, I started a case study (cases series) about the sleep apnea with the help of: Mrs Chantal Lafreniere, MSc PT, a professor treating the TMJ at the “Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec”; Mrs Anita Gross MSc PT, a professor at McMaster University in Hamilton; and Pierre Grondin, who owns the « Laboratoire de Polysomnographie Ambulatoire du Sommeil du Québec ». Then I presented this case study at the world congress of manual therapy in Quebec City, the IFOMPT (International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists) . I had the opportunity to present my research to the international community and the response was very positive and encouraging. I had the opportunity to present my study at the side of Dr. Jean-Marc Retrouvey, dentist and professor at the Faculty of Dentistry at the McGill University, and also at the side of Dr. Mariano Rocabado, PT and teacher in Chile, well known internationally. They both found that our project is very innovative, very evidence-based and promising for the world of physiotherapy in general.
Also, in 2012, I had the chance to attend, in Ottawa, a conference by Dr. Jeffrey Okeson, a dentist recognized worldwide for the treatment of the TMJ and orofacial pain. I listened carefully to his conference and greatly appreciated this dominant figure of dentistry. I was able to draw many parallels between dentistry and TMJ physiotherapy, which are two complementary subjects. This training enabled me to help my patients and even more to learn about the solutions that are available in dentistry. So I can now better combine my efforts with their dentists’ to promote an optimal treatment plan for them.
Since 2012, I have been conference speaker on the physiotherapy of the temporomandibular joint and on sleep apnea for health professionals . Among other things, I have been conference speaker at the International Congress of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) in Quebec City in 2012 and then at the congress of the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (Physiotherapy 360 degrees) In Boucherville in 2013.
In 2018, I participated, via the Web, in a conference called : «the facial pain under all its faces», given via the «Ordre Professionnel de la Physiothérapie du Québec». This one stated situation in 2018 of the cranio-facial conditions, seen by various health professionals : neurologist, ENT, dentists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
In 2019, I took courses in vestibular approach in physiotherapy to assess and treat different conditions related to dizziness and vertigo. These are: the assessment and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Vestibular approach: dizziness, vertigo and dual task impairment. Also, I attended a training given by Orosphère maxillofacial surgery clinic (Dr. Jean-Philippe Fréchette, maxillofacial surgeon and Dr. Geneviève Romanesky, dentist) to improve my temporomandibular joint (jaw) practice in physiotherapy.
In 2022, I took a very interesting course on myofunctional therapy applied to obstructive sleep apnea given by Ms. Marie-Emmanuelle Marchand, a speech therapist in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. This course provides a multidisciplinary vision of the management of patients with this disorder. Also, I took a course on orofacial pain and dysfunctions and complex TMJ in 2022 given by Mrs. Chantal Lafrenière, pht, M. Sc., osteopath.