Rehabilitation Services

Sports Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is often recommended for individuals of all ages suffering from sports injury, including:

• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Meniscus injury
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
• Patellar tendonitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Ankle sprain
• Hamstring strain
• Rotator cuff injury
• Joint dislocation

The aim of this programme is to regain pre-injury levels in all aspects of physical fitness. It also helps individuals who wish to enhance their performance in their preferred sports. Special emphasis is given to injury prevention. Supplementary treatment like shockwave therapy (SWT) can be used to enhance recovery.

Gait Analysis

Everyone’s gait and running pattern is different. Using a video assisted digital gait analysis system, our therapists can effectively identify underlying biomechanical abnormalities in your gait cycle. A brief running/walking test on our treadmill equipped with a gait-analysis system can uncover abnormalities in the gait that can cost an athlete running efficiency and economy.

Post-operation Rehabilitation

• Rotator cuff repair
• Total joint replacement (shoulder, hip, knee)
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
• Arthroscopic knee surgery (meniscectomy and meniscal repairs)
• Arthroscopic hip surgery (labral repairs)
• Achilles tendon repair
• Neck and back surgery (fusion, laminectomy, decompression)
• Nerve release (cubital tunnel, radial tunnel, carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel)
• Surgical fixation of fractures of the arms and legs

Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy

Cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation is suitable for patients with heart and lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia and cardiac arrest (myocardial ischemia). In this programme, we also provide pre- and post-operative rehabilitation for patients who have undergone surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass, valve replacement, lung resection, angioplasty, cardiothoracic surgery and various abdominal surgeries. Its primary goal is to help patients clear lung secretions, improve endurance and regain functional independence through individualised exercise programmes which include breathing techniques, chest expansion exercises, postural drainage, chest physiotherapy and energy conservation techniques.

Various assistive devices that may be used as an adjunct to therapies include the incentive spirometer, Acapella, Flutter, cough assist device, high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO), positive inspiratory pressure (PIP) therapy, and inspiratory muscle trainer.

We also provide outpatient-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for patients who have undergone major cardiothoracic surgery. This programme will help to optimise the patient's functions and help speed up recovery in an effective and safe manner. The patient’s vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation) will be monitored closely. A telemetry device will be used to monitor the ECG/heart rhythm to ensure the patient's safety.

Stroke Rehabilitation

This form of therapy aims to help patients relearn motor skills which have been affected due to brain lesions. Stroke patients can move towards recovery with appropriate intervention in the form of a multidisciplinary approach which includes:

• Exercises to improve the patient’s muscle strength and coordination.
• Mobility/gait training, which involves learning to move with assistive aids, such as a walker or quad stick, or an orthosis (dynamic AFO) to stabilise and assist the ankle. Early standing is facilitated by the tilt table, automatic standing frame, and the bio feedback-balance monitor system.
• A body-weight harness support treadmill is used to help improve the patient's walking ability. This can help the patient to relearn motor skills in a safe and effective manner.
• Functional electrical stimulation (FES) helps to stimulate weakened or partially paralysed muscles to facilitate muscle contraction and muscle re-education.
• Caregiver training and home therapy that will help expedite a smooth transition for the patient from hospital to home. Therapists will train caregivers on how to transfer or walk the patient safely with the use walking aids.

Postnatal rehabilitation is most important right after delivery, and special emphasis is given towards pelvic floor exercises. In this programme, the physiotherapist will guide you through exercises for post-delivery recovery and to reduce the risk of women’s health complications such as stress incontinence, and pelvic girdle and lower-back pain. We will advise you how to set up your baby's crib ergonomically, how to care for your back and the correct carrying techniques when taking care of your newborn baby.

Clinical pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility, and breathing. Moreover, it can restore natural spinal curvature and help re-establish muscular control around the joints. Its benefits include the improvement of core muscle activation, better control of joint movements and greater peripheral mobility.

Onco-rehabilitation is designed to restore strength, physical function, and independence that patients may have lost due to cancer or cancer treatment. The physiotherapist will assist and design an exercise regime that can help patients to function at a minimum level of dependency and optimise their quality of life.

Craniosacral therapy works on the central nervous and fascial system to manage both acute and chronic pain. It can help promote overall health, improve well-being and manage stress.

For appointments and enquiries, please call the Mount Elizabeth Rehabilitation Centre at +65 6307 7950 or +65 6307 7951.

Occupational therapy is concerned with helping people of all ages whose everyday life has been affected by physical, cognitive and/or mental health problems. Occupational therapists assess the patient's functional status and use meaningful activities and a variety of treatment methods to maximise the patient's functional potential in work, self-care and play.

The types of occupational therapies we offer are listed below :

Hand Therapy

This is for patients who have experienced upper limb fractures, nerve/tendon injuries, repetitive strain injuries, eg. carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, congenital deformities, etc. Treatments include fluidotherapy, shoulder/elbow/hand continuous passive movement (CPM) machines, and heat treatment such as wax therapy, hot packs, etc.

Splints & Orthoses

This is the prescribing and making of customised splints for the upper and lower limbs, neck or spine. Some splints that we make are: TLSO/lumbar jacket, neck splint, humeral brace, elbow splint, munster splint, radial/ulnar block splint, wrist cock-up splint, anti-spastic hand splint, dynamic splint, extension through splint, intrinsic plus splint, finger gutter splint, anti-mallet splint, Kleinert splint, Capener splint, etc.

Neuro-rehabilitation Programme

The neuro-rehabilitation programme helps to improve the functional independence of patients in their daily activities. This programme may prove beneficial to patients with stroke, head injuries or spinal cord injuries, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Treatment includes the use of modalities such as Dynavision, Rejoyce, Neuromove, Biomove, etc.

Caregiver Training

We train caregivers to equip them with the basic knowledge and skills to care for patients at home. This can help many types of patients, such as stroke patients who will need stroke rehabilitation at home.

Office and Home Ergonomics

A well-set up office and home can significantly reduce back, neck and shoulder pain, improve productivity and result in less sick days. Our therapists can help you set up your office and home to make it more work friendly without compromising on function.

Home Evaluation/Modifications

We can help patients overcome physical barriers within and outside the home, and enhance safety and mobility. Home visits can be conducted before or after the patient is discharged from the hospital. The therapist will assess and advise the patient and their family members on home modifications and safety to best accommodate the patient's needs.

Aids/Appliances Prescription

We can assess and prescribe the appropriate aids or appliances for the patient, such as a wheelchair, commode chair, shower chair, or raised toilet seat, to allow patients to be independent at home. Adaptive equipment include the long handled reacher, bath sponge, and universal built-in handles.

Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)

An individualised oedema (swelling) reduction programme employing techniques including manual lymph drainage, bandaging, compression garments, and exercises as well as client education. This can benefit post-surgery cancer patients. Manual lymph drainage is also indicated for pain relief in headaches, local oedema as well as sports injuries where we work closely with the physiotherapists.

Pressure Garments

Such garments are customised for patients’ specific needs and made based on the doctor’s request. Patients who may benefit from this include those undergoing post-operation scar management for burns.

Assess Functional Fitness for Work

Employers can send industrial and commercial employees here as part of their pre-employment tests. They will be assessed with VALPAR modalities and other standardised tools such as Digital JAMAR dynamometers and pinch gauges.

For appointments and enquiries, please call the Mount Elizabeth Rehabilitation Centre at +65 6307 7950 or +65 6307 7951.

Speech-language therapists are allied health professionals who specialise in the evaluation and treatment of communication deficits and swallowing disorders for both adults and children. Speech therapists assist individuals who have the following problems:

Communication Difficulties in Children

Speech and language delay/disorder

Children’s speech and language development follows a typical pattern and they acquire speech and language gradually through interaction with people and their environment. When a child has speech and/or language delay, the child is still developing the usual pattern of speech/language skills but at a slower rate compared to other children of the same age. Children with speech and/or language disorders may have difficulties developing skills that follow the typical pattern. Speech problems may present as difficulties with phonology, articulation, or dyspraxia. These difficulties and delays may be caused by developmental delay or disorders, cerebral palsy, head injury, cleft lip/palate, hearing impairment, or Down syndrome.

Stuttering/stammering

Stuttering is a speech coordination problem where there is interruption to the fluency of speech. The flow of speech may be interrupted by the repetition of words or part of words, interjections, or involuntary silent pauses or blocks. These speech disruptions may be accompanied by secondary behaviour, such as word substitution, eye blinking, grunting, facial contortions and other bodily movements. Stuttering can interfere with a person’s communication ability and affect their quality of life.

Signs that your child may be experiencing communication difficulties:

• Your child's speech is not clear and leaves the listener guessing
• Struggles to get their words out fluently
• Has difficulty following instructions
• Has difficulty learning concepts (eg. shapes and colours)
• Has difficulty interacting with peers
• Has to repeat words or parts of words
• Gets frustrated when they are unable to communicate their wants and needs

Acquired Communication Disorders in Adults

Communication difficulties may arise from a range of conditions such as stroke, acquired brain injury, brain tumour and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, motor neuron disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia. Communication impairments in the adult population include:

Language difficulties (aphasia/dysphasia)

Adults with language impairment face difficulty understanding what others are saying to them or finding the right words to express their needs, thoughts and feelings. They may also experience difficulties with reading or writing.

A speech disorder is an impairment in the articulation or coordination of speech sounds. This may result in unclear or slurred speech.

Voice disorders

These may develop from the overuse or misuse of the voice, changes during puberty, paresis of the vocal cords or other medical conditions. Patients with voice problems may present with a hoarse or rough/breathy/raspy voice, a chronically dry and scratchy throat, an inability to control loudness or experience periods of voice loss.

Some types of voice disorders include vocal cord nodules and polyps, vocal fold paralysis or paresis, muscle tension dysphonia, spasmodic dysphonia and puberphonia.

Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia)

Dysphagia is the difficulty of moving food or liquid safely from the mouth to the stomach. This often makes it hard for patients to consume enough calories and fluids to stay healthy and maintain an ideal weight. Dysphagia can lead to many serious medical conditions such as malnutrition, dehydration and aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing difficulties may be a result of damage to the nervous system due to stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or progressive neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. It may also be affected by a cleft lip or cleft palate, cancer in the mouth, throat or oesophagus, and injury or surgery involving the head and neck.

Some of the signs and symptoms include:

• Dribbling of saliva, food or liquid
• Difficulty chewing food
• Food remaining in the mouth after swallowing
• The sensation of food stuck in the throat
• Gurgling or wet sounding voice after swallowing
• Coughing or choking during or after eating and drinking
• Unexplained weight loss or dehydration
• Frequent chest infections

Patients may also require an objective assessment such as:

• A fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) by an ENT specialist and speech therapist
• Video fluoroscopy (VFS/VFSS), also known as modified barium swallow conducted by a radiologist or speech therapist

Other services provided by our speech therapy team include:

• Swallowing and communication assessment, and management of patients with a tracheostomy (the practice and use of speaking valves)
• Vitalstim® therapy (electrical stimulation for swallowing)
• Caregiver training
• Home therapy

For appointments and enquiries, please call the Mount Elizabeth Rehabilitation Centre at +65 6307 7950 or +65 6307 7951.

Podiatrists are allied health professionals who specialise in treating foot conditions for children, adults, sportsmen and the elderly.

Our podiatry services include:

Toenails	Ingrown toenails Toenail injury (black toenail) Cosmetic repair
Diabetic foot	Diabetic foot care Special diabetic shoes Diabetic foot ulcer management
Toe deformities	Hammer toes Mallet toes Claw toes
Skin condition	Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) Corns and calluses Cracked heels Dry skin Eczema Plantar warts
Other foot pain	Morton’s neuroma Heel pain Bunion Metatarsalgia (ball-of-the-foot pain) Arthritic foot joints
Children’s feet	Bow legs Growing pains In-toeing gait Out-toeing gait Knocked knees Leg-length discrepancy
Arch deformities	Flatfeet High arches Metatarsus (C-shaped foot) Arch collapse (tibialis posterior tendinopathy)
Sports injuries	Achilles tendinopathy Stress fracture Shin splint Plantar fasciitis Ankle sprain Calf pain Sesamoiditis Turf toe (injuries to the big toe)
Footwear advice	Children (school shoes) Men Women Running Orthotics Orthopaedics

Other services include:

Orthotics

Orthotics is the design, fabrication and fitting of devices that provide external support or aid weak or abnormal joints, back problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and/or muscle groups.

Splints & Braces

We ensure the orthotics are fitted well to provide the appropriate level of function and comfort.

• Cervical and upper limb orthotics – for fracture, post-trauma, humeral fracture, osteoarthritis, sprain, rhizarthrosis, etc.
• Spinal orthotics – for fracture, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis
• Hip orthotics – for dislocation, hip replacement, fracture, osteotomy
• Knee orthotics – for sports injury, osteoporosis, meniscus injury, ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL injury
• Ankle and foot orthotics – for sports injury, sprain, foot drop, stroke patient
• Musculoskeletal conditions – medial tibial stress syndrome, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, over pronation/supination, leg length discrepancy

Prosthetics

A prosthesis is an artificial body part, such as an arm, foot or finger that replaces a missing part.

Our prosthetics service can recommend the type of prosthetic component that suits the patient based on their activity level.

• Above/below knee
• Above/below elbow
• Cosmetic prosthesis – finger prosthesis, ear prosthesis, partial foot prosthesis

Our services include a 3D CAD/CAM scanner for the prescription of customised items. It facilitates contactless measurement for the patient, smoother fabrication of items and a higher rate of correct fit.

For appointments and enquiries, please call the Mount Elizabeth Rehabilitation Centre at +65 6307 7950 or +65 6307 7951.

Many of us prefer the comfort of our own home when recovering from an illness. However, the reality is that our loved ones often have to leave their familiar, cosy home environment, or extend their hospital stay because the family is unable to provide the needed care or get help to manage at home.

Our rehabilitation and home care services give you the choice to keep your loved ones by your side while they receive quality care, advice and support that will allow them to remain comfortable and safely independent at home.

Our friendly team is well-trained and qualified to provide you and your family with caregiver training, home safety assessment, home equipment supply, training for daily activities, family and maid training, ambulation (walking) training, chest therapy, and swallowing evaluation and management.

Our home care services can provide a wide range of equipment and supplies to ensure your optimal functionality at home. We can arrange for delivery at your home or the hospital prior to your discharge.

For appointments and enquiries, please call the Mount Elizabeth Rehabilitation Centre +65 6307 7950 or +65 6307 7951.