Department of Physiotherapy | Physiotherapists in Singapore

The Department of Physiotherapy at Sengkang General Hospital provides physiotherapy services in both an inpatient and outpatient setting. Through a holistic and clinically reasoned approach, our physiotherapists aim to help people of all ages and abilities to optimise mobility and function. This is often done with patient-specific health goals in mind – whether it is to return to independent living, pre-injury status, or a sport or activity of choice. With all our patients, our team focuses on individualised care that includes a comprehensive assessment with clinical reasoning and a full complement of exercise, modalities and manual therapies in order to manage pain and maximise function and independence.

Our Clinical Services

The outpatient physiotherapy services provided at level 2, Lift Lobby C, Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre, include:

Orthopaedic Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Sports Physiotherapy
Neurological Physiotherapy
Geriatric Physiotherapy
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Pain Management
Rheumatology and Autoimmune Physiotherapy
Lymphoedema Physiotherapy
Return to Work Programme
Amputee Rehabilitation

Please note that in order to be seen in our clinic, doctor's referral is needed.

Orthopaedic Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy

We manage a wide range of conditions affecting muscles, bones, joints, and ligaments, including post-surgical impairments and sports injuries. Conditions that include sprains, strains, overuse injuries, and joint stiffness or inflammation can be addressed through comprehensive assessments and holistic, goal-oriented treatment plans. If you need to return to your sport, we offer specialised physical assessments, such as strength testing, and develop sport-specific treatment programmes. These programmes may include agility, strength, flexibility, and power training to ensure a safe and successful return to your activities.

STAR (Spine Triage and Rehabilitation)

The STAR program is designed to help people with back and neck pain get the right care quickly. In this program, physiotherapists work closely with spine surgeons to evaluate and treat patients in the same session. These physiotherapists are trained to identify when further tests, like x-rays or MRIs, are needed. If a patient needs additional medical attention, a spine surgeon is available nearby to assist. Most patients find that physiotherapy alone is sufficient to manage their back and neck symtopms. To learn more about STAR and see if it's right for you, talk to your polyclinic doctor and have them refer you.

Neurological Physiotherapy

Our Neurological Physiotherapy services help people with conditions affecting their nervous system, like stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular conditions, or spinal cord injury. Our services include:

Comprehensive neurological and balance assessment
Gait analysis and training, including treadmill training with body-weight support
Functional movement analysis and retraining
Muscle activation and re-education, using electrical stimulation
Advanced technology and robotics, such as the G-EO System^TMand virtual reality simulation
Group classes include:

POINTE (Post Stroke Outpatient Intensive Exercise) class: High-repetition focused therapy for stroke survivors (aimed at those in the subacute phase) to drive neuroplasticity and enhance brain recovery
Parkinson's Disease Exercise Class: PD-specific strategy-based exercises designed to manage symptoms and improve movement, supporting a successful transition into community rehabilitation.

If you are interested in participating in any of the above classes, please speak to your doctor or physiotherapist.

Geriatric Physiotherapy

Our Geriatric Physiotherapy services are for older adults who have recently fallen, are experiencing deconditioning, or are at risk of frailty. Through thorough assessments and personalized interventions, we aim to help patients regain independence, improve their functional abilities, and lead active lives. We focus on fall prevention, balance, and strength improvement. We also offer geriatric exercise classes to increase physical activity and reduce the risk of falls. If you wish to participate in the geriatric exercise class, please speak to your doctor or physiotherapist.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive programme of exercise, education, and behavioural modification that aims to improve the physical, social and psychological condition of people with cardiac conditions. Cardiac rehabilitation guides and supports people with cardiac conditions on their quest to recovery, allowing them to return to the community following any cardiac event.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

When you have a lung condition, you may find it hard to walk around or perform your daily activities without getting breathless. Breathlessness can be very frightening. To avoid circumstances where one might become breathless, people with a lung condition often reduce the amount of activity they do each day. In the long run, they will become unfit, tired, and even more breathless. If you are experiencing this, you may benefit from the pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to help you cope with your breathlessness, through exercise training, breathing techniques, and education on coping strategies.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based physiotherapy to help patients with dizziness and/or balance issues. Conditions such as vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular hypofunction and neck related dizziness can be helped with physiotherapy through exercise and attenuation. Our specialised physiotherapists who have undergone additional training, assess and identify peripheral vestibular issues. This is through the use of specialised equipment such as the Frenzel goggles which are optical goggles designed to identify any abnormal movements of the eyes to identify the causes of dizziness. The use of computerised dynamic posturography is also used to objectively quantify the disorder. Prescribed treatment is then given to improve your quality of life through:

Improved balance
Reduced falls
Reduced sensations of dizziness
Reduced issues related to vestibular disorientation.

Lymphoedema Management

Our specially trained physiotherapists serve the needs of patients with conditions related to the lymphatic system. This include comprehensive assessment and quality care to our patients with lymphatic-related problems, as well as patients who are at risk of developing them. The focus is to provide streamlined care that meets the unique needs of each patient. Treatments such as Complete Decongestive Therapy which include skincare, manual lymphatic drainage massage and compression therapy can help with reducing and managing such swelling from lymphoedema.

Amputee Rehabilitation

Our physiotherapists aim to provide individualised rehabilitation to people with limb loss at different phases from the pre-operative, acute post-operative, pre-prosthetic and eventually to the prosthetic phase. Our rehabilitation program consists of limb care, wound management, strength training and use of the pneumatic post amputation mobility aid to practice gait before the prosthesis is made for the patient, if suitable. We also empower our patients through education and prescription of an individualised home programme. We work closely in a specialised multidisciplinary team, alongside the rehabilitation doctor, prosthetist, nurses and medical social worker, to provide a holistic care for our patients. The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is to eventually get the patient back to function and returning to daily activities safely with or without a prosthesis.

FAQs

What happens in a therapy session?

In a physiotherapy session, the physiotherapist will conduct an assessment to understand the potential contributors to your condition and tailor a management plan for you. Patient education is an essential component of our approach, helping you understand the potential contributors to your condition. During your therapy session, our physiotherapist may apply hands-on techniques or modalities such as shockwave or ultrasound. Primarily, our main mode of treatment is through exercise which is effective, and evidence based. We will tailor an exercise programme based on the findings during our assessment as well as the goals and activities that you wish to return to.

Will I be better after one or two sessions of physiotherapy?

Depending on the type and severity of your injury, as well as whether the problem is acute or chronic, you may or may not need multiple physiotherapy sessions to notice a significant improvement. After conducting thorough assessments, the physiotherapist will have a clearer understanding of your condition and can provide an estimate of number of sessions required and the anticipated timeline for your recovery. However, if you feel confident in managing your condition and performing exercises at home, please discuss with our physiotherapist. They can work with you to develop a follow-up plan that includes self-management strategies and home exercise programme to support your recovery.

Why do I have to do these exercises? Some of them make me tired and sore.

The exercises prescribed by our physiotherapists are based on thorough assessments and are carefully designed to push you beyond your limit or comfort zone, which can sometimes cause tiredness and soreness. This is essential for building strength, flexibility, and resilience. By following these exercises, you may be able to address your current issues and gain the ability to manage your condition independently, reducing the need for frequent visits and allowing you to lead an active, fulfilling life. The temporary discomfort indicates that your body is adapting and getting stronger. However, if the issue persists, please inform your physiotherapist.