The rehabilitation unit provides occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy and homecare services for patients of all age groups, with the focus on improving patients' impairments and functional limitations resulting from certain medical conditions and trauma.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy includes:
- Hand therapy: To improve the range of motion and strength for patients who have had upper limb fractures, nerve/tendon injuries, repetitive strain injuries, eg. carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, congenital deformities, etc., through a change in techniques and the use of supporting devices. Changing how a patient carries out activities that led to the repetitive strain injury for relapse prevention is advised where appropriate.
- Splints and orthosis: Provides customised splints for upper and lower limbs and off-the-shelf braces for the neck and back.
- Neuro-rehabilitation programme: A broad team approach is carried out to improve functional independence in patients. This programme, which includes upper limb ranging, sitting balance training, training in activities of daily living skills, is suitable for patients with stroke, head or spinal cord injuries, Guillain-Barre syndrome, etc. Caregiver training is also provided as part of this programme to equip the caregiver with skills to ensure the patient has a fulfilling and functional life.
- Home evaluation/modifications: To help overcome physical barriers within and outside the home with the use of off-the-shelf or customised ramps. Grab-bars are installed for fall prevention based on the assessment of the patient’s dynamic standing balance (ie. ability to balance when moving).
- Aids/appliances prescription: To provide the most suitable aids or appliances (eg. wheelchairs, commode, shower chair, raised toilet seats or long-handled reacher) for maximum independence at home depending on the patient’s functional ability.
- Stress management and anxiety management: Teaches techniques for busy professionals with difficulties in achieving work/life balance and who will benefit from learning specific coping skills.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists help patients with physical symptoms and movement impairments, due to injuries or diseases, to regain their health.
Physiotherapy includes:
- Back/neck rehabilitation: To help manage acute or chronic pain. Pain management, manual techniques, postural and ergonomics assessment and advice, core strengthening and exercises are only some of the techniques that may be used to reduce and manage symptoms.
- Sports injuries: Which may include acute joint/ligament sprains, muscle strains and overuse injuries. The programme includes pain management, activity changes and assessment/correction of sporting technique to shorten recovery time and ensure the continuation of the sporting activity.
- Postoperative rehabilitation: After surgeries like ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair or total knee/hip replacement, rehabilitation is important to return to complete and normal physical function. Proper guidance and exercise is given to rehabilitate patients back to pre-injury activity and sports.
- Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy: After cardiothoracic surgeries (eg. bypass surgery and valve replacement surgery) and lung/abdominal surgeries, etc., rehabilitation is important to ensure patient safety and recovery.
- Neuro-rehabilitation: A broad exercise routine is created for limbs and trunk to help regain normal muscle movement and function after stroke, spinal cord injury, head injury, etc.
- Vestibular (balance) rehabilitation: Is an exercise-based rehabilitation programme to treat patients with vertigo (dizziness) and imbalance resulting from inner ear deficits or central nervous system disorders.
- Other services:
- Craniosacral therapy: A gentle light touch therapy that works on the central nervous and fascial system to manage both acute and chronic pain. It promotes overall health, well-being and manages stress.
- Post natal exercises: The most important exercises in the first few days after birth are the pelvic floor exercises. The physiotherapists can guide women with exercises for recovery after giving birth.
- Pilates exercises: Exercises planned and carried out to restore natural spinal curvature and muscular control around the joints. Benefits include increase in core activation, and control of joint movements and peripheral mobility.
- Onco rehabilitation: Physiotherapists will design an exercise programme so that patients can function at a minimum level of dependency and optimise their quality of life.
- Podiatry services
- Prosthetist and orthotist services
Speech-Language Therapy
Speech therapists are allied health professionals who specialise in the evaluation and treatment of communication difficulties and swallowing disorders for both adults and children. Speech therapists help individuals who have a range of problems, providing services that includes:
Adult services
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Management of dysphagia
The speech therapist will make a clinical assessment of a patient’s swallowing difficulties, and when appropriate, will recommend further objective assessments. Objective assessments include:
- Videofluoroscopy (VFS) which is carried out with a radiologist
- Fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) which is carried out with an otolaryngologist (ears, nose and throat specialist)
- Rehabilitation for communication difficulties
- Aphasia therapy
- Dysarthria therapy
- Management of voice disorders
- Head and neck cancer rehabilitation
Paediatric services
- Articulation therapy
- Early language intervention
- Group therapy
- Hanen It Takes Two to Talk
- Hanen More Than Words
- Higher level language skills ie. verbal reasoning and problem solving
- Literacy and dyslexia therapy
- Oromotor therapy
- School visits
- Social skills training
- Special needs support
- Therapy for cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies
- Fluency therapy
Home therapy
For patients who have difficulty travelling to the hospital (eg. patients who are bedridden).