Stéphanie Bernard

Ph.D. (doctor), Regular member

Principal Interest
Rehabilitation

Secondary Interest
Cancer pain

Primary Affiliation

Université Laval

Secondary Affiliation
Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS)

Biography

Stéphanie Bernard is a clinical physiotherapist and assistant professor in the physiotherapy program at Université Laval. Her expertise covers various areas of physiotherapy, more specifically in perineal rehabilitation and oncology.

At the Cirris, Stéphanie Bernard leads an innovative research program focused on perineal rehabilitation for urogenital disorders such as pelvic pain, urinary incontinence and impairments related to cancer treatment. Her research focuses on the development and evaluation of measurement tools and assessment protocols for urogenital disorders, as well as hybrid interventions to improve urogenital impairments in people with or without a history of cancer. In particular, she is exploring physiotherapy interventions for the treatment of pelvic dysfunction and the optimization of post-oncology rehabilitation.

How does your current work contribute to improve treatment or understanding of pain?

My research in the field of oncology rehabilitation with people being treated for breast or gynecological cancer contributes to improving treatment and understanding pain is several ways. First, my work aims to better understand specific repercussions of cancer and its treatment, such as radiotherapy and surgery side effects, on the musculoskeletal system, specifically the pelvic floor. By assessing the specific effects of rehabilitation (exercises, manual therapies, electrotherapy, etc.), this works aims to optimize care protocols for pain relief, taking into account the particularities of post-oncological rehabilitation, where tissues may be weakened. Second, my work focuses on early rehabilitation and supportive care, thereby having the potential to prevent the development of chronic or persistent pain, specifically for people undergoing invasive or prolonged treatments. These contributions will help to better understand pain mechanisms and improve the quality of care, while promoting optimal functional recovery.