Isabelle Ranger

Occupation:
Physiotherapist
Main clinic:
Physioactive Montreal
Pronoun:
She
Isabelle Ranger, physical therapist at Physioactif, smiling, with blonde hair and a dark top, in a black-and-white portrait against a white background

Isabelle Ranger

in a nutshell

"What I love most about my job is explaining something to a client and seeing a spark in their eyes as they understand why the pain is there!"

This is one of the things that motivated me the most during my studies: realizing the connection between anatomy, painful sensations, and everyday movements. In my current practice, I place great importance on clients understanding their problem so that everyone becomes increasingly independent in managing painful episodes.

You'll get along well with me if:

  • You want to ask questions to a trusted person to better understand your pain;
  • You are a parent who wants to be equipped to optimize your child's motor development and understand the details;
  • You enjoy discussing literature, activities in the Laurentians, and Beyoncé! 

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I have a particular interest in:

  • Pediatric and adolescent clientele.
  • Injuries related to alpine skiing and swimming, since I dedicate several hours a week to these passions.
What has your career path been like?

What initially attracted me to physiotherapy was wanting to understand the workings of the human body, anatomy, and biomechanics. So I did a DEC (pre-university diploma) and was accepted to the University of Montreal. After four years of study, I am still amazed by the sophistication that years of evolution have given to the body!

Continuing education?
  • Certifications for peripheral and vertebral manipulations (2020-2021)
  • New basic training in motivational interviewing, INSPQ (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)
  • QI2 (Fall, 2022)
  • Cervical spine & temporo-mandibular joint: loading analysis for motor behavior therapy, Sean Gibbons (April, 2023)
  • Helping people with complex lower back pain, OPPQ (2023)
  • Thoracic spine: movement & loading analysis for motor behavior therapy, Sean Gibbons (November, 2023)
  • QS2 (Spring, 2024)
  • Toe walking, Liesa Ritchie (2024)
  • The neuromeningeal system in musculoskeletal problems: assessment; exercises and treatment - 1.0 (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)
  • Mastering psychosocial challenges in physiotherapy (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)
  • Headache and Orofacial Pain (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)
What do you find most rewarding about your job?

I especially like to explain to my clients the likely causes of their injury, the aggravating factors, and the good lifestyle habits to adopt. A well-informed client is less at risk of getting injured!

What sports do you play?

My favorite sport is swimming! I swam for 8 years in a competitive club. Then, I taught swimming to toddlers and trained triathletes who wanted to improve their swimming style. Otherwise, I have always practiced several sports in parallel: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, soccer, running, yoga, tennis, basketball, hiking. In short, I like to move and have fun while expending energy. I also jump at any invitation to try new activities. Start a sentence with "I dare you" and you will automatically have my attention!

Have you ever been injured?

My worst injury ever is my left shoulder blade broken while playing basketball in 6e grade! I guess I have good health karma. I also injured my left shoulder/cervical spine during my 6e swimming season. At that point, I understood that it was a simple overload injury. That didn't stop me from continuing to swim and race. Or should I say that I decided not to stop myself from doing it, at the risk of the injury taking time to heal. From this episode, I learned that physiotherapy exercises are key to promoting rapid healing and that sometimes you have to slow down a little to move forward better. My lesson is boring but essential I think.

Three funny facts about you
  • My dream trip: A ski trip to Japan
  • I have a very sweet tooth.
  • I am a huge Beyonce fan. I would be happy to discuss it during a treatment session.

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.

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Stiffness, rigidity, or loss of mobility

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.

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Common reasons for seeking medical advice
Nerve pain and numbness

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.‍

Common reasons for seeking medical advice
Comprehensive evaluation and second opinion

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.

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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.

Common reasons for seeking medical advice
Persistent (chronic) pain

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.

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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.

Common reasons for seeking medical advice
Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation

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.

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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.

Common reasons for seeking medical advice
Pediatric Physical Therapy

Children’s motor development is a precious and delicate process. Every child grows at their own pace and may sometimes need a little help to develop their motor skills. Our guide to developmental disorders in children helps you recognize the signs. Our expertise in pediatrics allows us to support your child’s development while respecting their pace and personality.

Learn what pediatric physical therapy is all about.‍

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Areas of expertise in physical therapy
Sports injuries

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.

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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.

Areas of expertise in physical therapy
SAAQ Program (Traffic Accidents)

Accident-related injuries can affect the neck, back, or nervous system, even if symptoms initially seem mild.

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An assessment helps identify the affected structures and establish a tailored treatment plan recognized by the SAAQ to promote full recovery.

Access to healthcare and reimbursement
CNESST Program (Workplace Accidents)

Work-related injuries can be mechanical, muscular, or caused by repetitive movements.

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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.

Access to healthcare and reimbursement
IVAC Program (Criminal Offenses)

The physical consequences of a criminal act can include muscle pain, stiffness, or more complex injuries.

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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.

Access to healthcare and reimbursement
Veterans Program

Injuries in veterans are often complex and can affect multiple systems, such as joints, muscles, or the nervous system.

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Our approach aims to precisely understand your condition and provide structured treatment that meets program requirements while supporting a gradual return to your activities.

Access to healthcare and reimbursement

Techniques mastered by Guillaume

McKenzie Approach

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.

Mulligan Approach

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.

Teaching about the condition

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.

Workplace Assessment

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.

Strength and Endurance Exercises

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.

Exercises for stabilizing muscles

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.

Joint mobilization and manipulation

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.

Posture

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.

Movement Rehabilitation

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.

Taping

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.

Telerehabilitation

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.

Neurodevelopmental Therapy and Primitive Reflexes

Primitive reflexes that persist into adulthood can disrupt your balance, coordination, and posture, causing chronic tension and pain. The symmetrical tonic neck reflex during lateral flexion can also be assessed. The integration of these reflexes is a cornerstone of pediatric physical therapy for children ages 0 to 7. The Galant spinal reflex test is one such assessment. When balance disorders are predominant, vestibular rehabilitation complements this approach. Our specialized approach targets these primitive motor patterns to restore more mature and efficient movements, specifically by assessing the Galant spinal reflex. These treatments are indicated for persistent pain.

Nerve treatment

We are pioneers in Quebec in the treatment of nerves. We know that symptoms of nerve compression—such as tingling, numbness, or burning pain—can disrupt your sleep and your quality of life. These nerve irritations can also contribute to jaw pain, which we evaluate in the same way. Our specialized nerve treatment techniques precisely target these sensitive structures to reduce irritation and restore their proper function.

Contact Guillaume Lamothe

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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A physical therapist performing a shoulder and neck massage on a patient at a physical therapy clinic
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