3 questions to Stéphanie Langlois, physiotherapist in neurology at Kinatex Sports Physio Ste-Rose
April 7th is World Health Day, an opportunity for Parkinson’s Montreal-Laval to thank all the health professionals who are committed to providing people living with the disease with adapted care and thus enabling them to maintain their quality of life. To talk about this essential care for the health of those affected, we met with Stéphanie Langlois, a physiotherapist in neurology, to talk about her job and the upcoming challenges.
And don’t forget, in April we #FlowerHope. You too can help make a difference by donating virtual tulips. It’s easy, visit CanadaHelps.org and select the “Virtual Tulips” option.
To start, could you quickly introduce yourself?
Stéphanie: I have been a physical therapist since 2015 and have primarily practiced in a hospital environment with neurological clients. I have worked with people with Parkinson’s disease and various parkinsonian syndromes. Most of my work with this clientele was to establish a functional portrait and to direct the patients towards the appropriate post-hospitalization resources. I have recently joined the team at Kinatex Ste-Rose, which has been offering a neurological rehabilitation service since April.
Could you explain simply what it means to live with Parkinson’s disease for patients and their relatives?
Stéphanie: living with Parkinson’s disease or any other Parkinson’s syndrome means that the person must be resilient in the face of a degenerative disease. The challenge is not to lose the motivation to act to maintain autonomy and quality of life. Dealing with the loss of autonomy can be very difficult for the person living with the disease, but also for their relatives. Physiotherapists are professionals trained to support and advise people living with this disease as well as their relatives.
What do you consider to be the next major challenges related to Parkinson’s disease?
Stéphanie: the population is aging in Quebec, which poses challenges in terms of access to care and the availability of resources. On the one hand, the public health network is more and more overloaded. And on the other hand, not all people have the financial means to have care in the private sector, so there may be a gap in the care of conditions that require a rehabilitation service. There is scientific evidence on the effectiveness of physical training, so it would be of great importance that people have access to it.
About Kinatex Sports Physio Ste-Rose
The Kinatex Sports Physio Ste-Rose clinic is the first private clinic in the Laval region to offer rehabilitation for neurological disorders in addition to orthopedic rehabilitation, bringing together physiotherapy and orthotics under one roof.
The therapists treat people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke in order to help them become more mobile, independent, and confident in carrying out their activities without being restricted by pain.
The administrative team and the therapists adopt a multidisciplinary approach to support the patients in achieving their goals. Educational tools are used as a guide while making it fun and professional.
