Ariel Desjardins Charbonneau
in a nutshell
"There is always hope for improvement"
This is my mantra, and it's what has motivated the last 12 years of my professional life, where I've dedicated over 1000 hours to continuing my education after my master's degree in physiotherapy.
This has led me to complete a Fellowship in Manual Therapy (FCAMPT), be part of a research team and publish articles, teach at the university, and present at numerous conferences.
You'll get along well with me if:
- You're curious and like to understand what's going on
- You're open to trying something new
- You like food, wine, and physical activity
I have a particular interest in:
- Complex and chronic pain, no matter where it is in the body
- Injuries related to canoeing, kayaking, and skiing, which are the sports I love and practice.
There are 2 things in life that give me infinite energy: learning and feeling useful. I also like being close to people.
This combination made physiotherapy a perfect fit for me, but I had no idea what physiotherapy was before starting university, and even after my master's degree, it wasn't 100% clear what my daily life would look like. It was really in my first weeks of work that I discovered that the guidance counselor I spoke with at the end of my final year of high school had really identified my interests and skills, much better than I would have myself.
I took a gap year after my CEGEP (pre-university college) in science to… study! I completed a one-year program in my other passion: the outdoors. So, for pleasure, I studied to become an adventure tourism guide at CEGEP St-Laurent to clear my head before university. One year after finishing my master's degree, I began assisting professors in physiotherapy labs, initially with students starting their bachelor's degree. Now, I'm a teaching assistant in the master's program. For the past 3 years, I've been the main instructor for the pain course, the most important course in the program… in my opinion.
Since then, I've completed my Fellowship (levels 1 to 5) in manual therapy and become a senior associate at Physioactif clinics. After all these years, I'm still just as passionate and have the same thirst for learning as I did at the beginning.
- Explaining pain and the 'neuromatrix' approach to chronic pain, Lorimer Moseley (March, 2005)
- Complex regional pain syndrome, Lorimer Moseley (October, 2006)
- Explaining and understanding pain, Lorimer Moseley (April, 2008)
- Mental health issues associated with musculoskeletal conditions: implications for a physiotherapist, Michael Sullivan (January, 2012)
- FCAMPT, (2012)
- Sub-classification & clinical prediction rules for neuromuscular rehab, Sean Gibbons (November, 2012)
- Primitive reflexes changing the brain for movement, pain and function: assessment and rehabilitation of primitive reflexes & influencing motor control, tone & pain, Sean Gibbons (November, 2012)
- Proprioceptive sensory motor training, Sean Gibbons (November, 2012)
- Highlighting psychosocial risk factors in physiotherapy practice, Michael Sullivan (April, 2013)
- Integrating brain and pain sciences into our clinical approach, Lorimer Moseley (May, 2013)
- Sub-classification & clinical prediction rules for neuromuscular rehab, Sean Gibbons (October, 2013)
- Forearm & hand: movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining, Sean Gibbons (October, 2013)
- Lower quadrant: movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining for functional movement control, Sean Gibbons (October, 2013)
- Sub-classification & clinical prediction rules for neuromuscular rehab, Sean Gibbons (February, 2014)
- Shoulder girdle movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining for functional movement control, Sean Gibbons (February, 2014)
- Movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining for functional movement control, Sean Gibbons (February, 2014)
- Sub-classification & clinical prediction rules for neuromuscular rehab, Sean Gibbons (September, 2014)
- Body image, midline and central pain presentation evidence based diagnosis and treatment, Sean Gibbons (September, 2014)
- Sub-classification & clinical prediction rules for neuromuscular rehab, Sean Gibbons (January, 2015)
- Thorax spine & breathing retraining: movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining, Sean Gibbons (January, 2015)
- Cervical spine movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining for functional movement control, Sean Gibbons (January, 2015)
- Differential diagnosis in orthopedic physiotherapy, Chad Cook (April, 2015)
- Sub-classification & clinical prediction rules for neuromuscular rehab, Sean Gibbons (November, 2015)
- Lumbar Course, Sean Gibbons (November, 2015)
- PsyMontreal, Jean-Marc Assad (January, 2016)
- The Cervical Region Based on Scientific Evidence, Chad Cook (November, 2016)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (February, 2016)
- Primitive Reflexes, Sean Gibbons (February, 2016)
- Proprioceptive Sensory Motor Training, Sean Gibbons (February, 2016)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (October, 2016)
- SIJ & Hip Force Closure, Movement Analysis, & Specific Motor Control Retraining, Sean Gibbons (October, 2016)
- Temporomandibular Dysfunction: Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining for Functional Movement Control, Sean Gibbons (October, 2016)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (February, 2017)
- Shoulder Girdle, Forearm & Hand Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining for Functional Movement Control, Sean Gibbons (February, 2017)
- Which Clients Are Most at Risk of Delayed Healing Following an Injury? Michael Sullivan (March, 2017)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (October, 2017)
- Hip & Lower Limb: Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining, Sean Gibbons (October, 2017)
- Cervical Spine: Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining, Sean Gibbons (October, 2017)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (February, 2018)
- Central Sensitization, Body Image, Midline & Motor Skill Learning: Evidence Based Diagnosis & Treatment, Sean Gibbons (February, 2018)
- The Neuromeningeal System and its Interfaces, Sylvain St-Amour and Ariel Desjardins-Charbonneau (May, 2018)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (September, 2018)
- Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining for Functional Movement and Translation Control of the Lumbar Spine & Pelvis, Sean Gibbons (September, 2018)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (February, 2019)
- Neurodynamic Treatment with Motor Control Retraining: Neck and Upper Quadrant – Trunk and Lower Quadrant, Sean Gibbons (February, 2019)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (November, 2019)
- Cervical Spine and TMJ Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining, Sean Gibbons (November, 2019)
- Sub-classification & Clinical Prediction Rules for Neuromuscular Rehab, Sean Gibbons (February, 2020)
- Shoulder girdle & forearm: movement analysis, sub-classification & neuromuscular retraining for functional movement control, Sean Gibbons (February, 2020)
- The neuromeningeal system and its interfaces, Sylvain St-Amour and Ariel Desjardins-Charbonneau (November, 2020)
- Advanced clinical reasoning for the neuromeningeal system, Sylvain St-Amour and Ariel Desjardins-Charbonneau (May, 2021)
- New basic training in motivational interviewing, INSPQ (May, 2021)
- Advanced Concussion; Body Image and Midline Presentations, Sean Gibbons (November, 2021)
- SIJ; Hip & Lower Limb: Movement analysis; Sub-classification; Neuromuscular Retraining for Functional Movement Control, Sean Gibbons (May, 2022)
- Shoulder Girdle; Forearm and Hand: Movement and Loading Analysis for Motor Behavior Therapy, Sean Gibbons (October, 2022)
- Cervical Spine & Temporo-mandibular Joint: Loading Analysis for Motor Behavior Therapy, Sean Gibbons (April, 2023)
I love seeing my patients' reactions when I feel they truly understand what they have and how we can treat it together. I enjoy teaching as much as learning.
My fondest memory is a patient who told me, "Thank you, Ariel, you've restored my confidence in my body. It's something that had been gone for years." At the end of the day, that's my real reward.
I've been biking year-round for about 10 years. My favorite sports are off-piste skiing and whitewater canoeing. Otherwise, I'm a social athlete; I'll do any sporting activity if it means being with my friends.
Everywhere and nowhere at the same time, I always have minor aches and pains, but no major injuries. Except maybe once at the cottage... a crazy carpet accident gave me a solid concussion.
- In 2017, I went on an expedition in the Far North of Quebec to map a river that had never been descended before.
- I've been baking my own bread for 3 years.
- I'm colorblind.
Services offered by Guillaume
We offer a full range of healthcare services tailored to your individual needs. Whether you’re seeking treatment for a specific condition or looking to maintain your overall well-being, we’re here to help.
In most cases, a blockage or stiffness doesn't originate solely from the area where you feel the limitation. It could be due to joint irritation, a protective muscle spasm, or a mechanical restriction that prevents normal movement.
Simply treating the pain or “forcing” movement does not solve the problem. At Physioactif, our approach involves precisely identifying the underlying issue through advanced manual physical therapy and restoring effective movement starting with the very first sessions.
Numbness or neuralgia does not always originate solely from the area where the symptoms appear. The problem may be related to irritation or compression of the nerve in the spine or elsewhere along its peripheral course, as in the case of jaw neuralgia, where the pain radiates to the face.
When the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, numbness is often caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. An evaluation helps pinpoint the exact cause of the symptom and allows for the use of appropriate techniques, such as neurodynamic mobilization, to improve the nerve’s tolerance to movement and reduce radiating pain.
When symptoms affect the inner ear, treatment for vertigo involves targeted exercises for the vestibular system. Our guide to physical therapy for nerve-related pain explains these techniques in detail.
It’s common to have received several different explanations or to have not received a satisfactory answer to a persistent problem. When faced with conflicting explanations or a persistent problem, getting a second opinion from a physical therapist can help clarify your condition. A thorough evaluation allows for a structured review of your case and an analysis of factors that are often overlooked during initial consultations.
At Physioactif, the evaluation aims to establish precise clinical reasoning, validate or invalidate certain hypotheses, and propose a clear direction based on your actual situation.
Chronic pain is rarely caused by a single factor. It can involve mechanical and neurological components, as well as increased sensitivity of the body’s pain system. This is also true in oncology physical therapy, where pain requires specialized management. It is often for this reason that passive or overly general treatments yield few lasting results. Balance disorders and dizziness also respond well to active, targeted management.
At Physioactif, the approach involves analyzing all the factors that maintain pain and gradually reintroducing adapted movements and loads to desensitize the system and improve function.
Rehabilitation doesn't start after surgery, but well before. Good preparation helps improve mobility, strength, and understanding of exercises, which greatly facilitates post-operative recovery.
After surgery, the goal is to gradually restore movement, protect the healing tissues, and regain the abilities needed for your daily activities without compromising the results of the surgery—a process supervised by physical therapists certified by the FCAMPT.
Sports-related pain isn't just caused by trauma; it often results from repeated stress that the body can't handle, as in the case of anterior knee pain in runners. Continuing to train without addressing the cause increases the risk of a relapse.
The evaluation helps identify the limitations involved, whether related to mobility, strength, or control. Treatment then aims to reduce pain, correct functional deficits, and prepare for a gradual return to sports. To resume physical activity during or after pregnancy, prenatal physical therapy provides guidance to ensure a safe return.
Accident-related injuries can affect the neck, back, or nervous system, even if symptoms initially seem mild.
An assessment helps identify the affected structures and establish a tailored treatment plan recognized by the SAAQ to promote full recovery.
Work-related injuries can be mechanical, muscular, or caused by repetitive movements.
The assessment helps us understand the specific demands of your job and tailor treatment to ensure a safe and lasting return to work under the CNESST program.
The physical consequences of a criminal act can include muscle pain, stiffness, or more complex injuries.
The goal is to precisely assess your condition and implement a progressive treatment that respects your recovery pace and the requirements of the IVAC program.
Injuries in veterans are often complex and can affect multiple systems, such as joints, muscles, or the nervous system.
Our approach aims to precisely understand your condition and provide structured treatment that meets program requirements while supporting a gradual return to your activities.
Techniques mastered by Guillaume
The McKenzie Approach is a globally recognized assessment and treatment method that is particularly effective for back problems. It is often combined with manual therapy provided by an FCAMPT-certified physical therapist to create a comprehensive treatment plan. This approach gives you the tools to manage and prevent your pain on your own. The same principle of guided self-treatment applies to jaw joint pain, where targeted exercises help restore a comfortable range of motion.
The Mulligan approach, recognized worldwide, combines active movement and mobilization to produce immediate results. This unique technique restores joint function without pain, even in cases where other approaches have failed. It is part of our arsenal of orthopedic manual therapy techniques.
Knowledge is the key to a successful recovery. Our educational approach helps you better understand your pain-related issues and provides you with the tools you need to actively participate in your recovery and prevent relapses. For example, it helps you understand the mechanisms behind urinary incontinence.
An ill-suited workstation can cause strain and pain that affect your productivity. Our professional ergonomic assessment identifies the adjustments needed to create a comfortable and efficient workspace.
A personalized exercise program is the key to achieving your strength and endurance goals, as well as to strengthening your thigh muscles and relieving patellofemoral pain. Our expertise in designing tailored programs allows you to progress safely while taking your abilities and lifestyle into account. To understand how these therapeutic rehabilitation exercises fit into a recovery plan, check out our comprehensive guide.
Weak stabilizing muscles can cause pain during prolonged postures or everyday movements. Core exercises are often taught incorrectly and can hinder your progress—a common challenge in postpartum physical therapy when it’s necessary to reactivate the abdominal core. Our specialized approach activates these essential deep muscles, creating a solid foundation for all your movements and daily activities. The pelvic floor is one of these deep muscles, and its rehabilitation follows the same principles of control and coordination.
Complex musculoskeletal conditions require in-depth expertise for accurate diagnosis and treatment. FCAMPT certification represents the highest level of training in manual therapy in Canada, ensuring specialized care based on the latest evidence.
Joint pain and stiffness can significantly limit your daily activities. Our physical therapists, trained inthe FCAMPT approach, use specialized joint mobilization and manipulation techniques to restore the natural movement of your joints and reduce your pain, including for temporomandibular joint disorders that limit your ability to open your mouth. This expertise is based on FCAMPT certification.
Poor posture can be the source of many everyday aches and discomforts, including jaw tension related to the position of the head and neck. Our approach combines precise postural analysis with practical solutions to improve your natural alignment and prevent chronic muscle tension. For toddlers, posture assessment is part of pediatric physical therapy for children ages 0 to 7.
Always moving the same way can lead to injuries because repetitive movements eventually overburden the same structures in your body, which often explains persistent pain in the front of the knee. Our approach precisely analyzes and corrects your movement patterns to restore biomechanics that won’t cause microtrauma. This focus on quality of movement also applies to children’s motor development, where we support the acquisition of proper movement patterns from an early age.
Therapeutic taping uses adhesive strips to support a joint and guide movement in the short term. Among our approaches, we use the McConnell method in particular, which focuses on biomechanical correction rather than a neuromuscular effect—a technique sometimes used as a complementary treatment for patellar pain. Taping aimed at altering biomechanics can provide short-term relief; however, according to available data, so-called neuromuscular taping approaches do not show a clear advantage over placebo taping. We do not deny that some people still experience a benefit from it, but it is not an approach we recommend as a first resort: taping always complements an active treatment plan tailored to your evaluation—it is never a substitute for it.
Tele-physical therapy offers the flexibility of professional care from the comfort of your own home. No matter where you are in the world, you can benefit from our unique expertise. This modern solution provides effective, personalized care tailored to your schedule, while maintaining the highest quality of care.
Contact Guillaume Lamothe
If you have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Phone
Office
8801 Lajeunesse Street,
Montreal,
QC H2M 1R8
Located in Ahuntsic, near Villeray, the Physioactif clinic is easily accessible to residents of both neighborhoods
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