Rehabilitation Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine is the medical science of prevention and reduction of disability and handicap. Changi General Hospital’s rehabilitation medicine specialists offer integrated and comprehensive programmes for patients to achieve a maximum level of independence after an injury or illness, such as a stroke, spinal injury, brain injury, multiple trauma or fractures. Through therapeutic exercises, physical agents and medication, we teach patients and their loved ones to cope with their condition, improve their quality of life and reintegrate into the community.
Our rehabilitation medicine team includes rehabilitation medicine specialists, therapists, nurses, medical social workers and dietitians. We offer the following rehabilitation programmes:
Neurorehabilitation
Patients with stroke, head injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and so on, may benefit from this programme. We treat patients with spasticity, cognitive issues, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), weakness, dysphasia and so on. One of the ways we reintegrate our patients back into the community is by providing driving reassessment.
Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
This programme benefits patients with both traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury who may have paraplegia or tetraplegia / quadriplegia. Neurogenic bladder and bowel, spasticity and mobility issues and wheelchair prescription, neuropathic pain and so on will be addressed. We also offer urodynamics studies (to study bladder and urethra activity) for patients with the above conditions.
Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
This programme is for patients with fractures, joint replacement, amputations, arthritis and back pain. We treat pain that may be associated with these conditions and aim for the patient to regain mobility and functional independence. We teach amputees how to care for their residual limbs, fit prosthesis and prescribe mobility aids / walking aids for them
Geriatric Rehabilitation
Elderly patients may lose their independence after a prolonged illness or injury due to deconditioning, which results in weakness and debility. We assist them to regain their mobility and care for themselves again.
Cancer Rehabilitation
Cancer patients, who are undergoing treatment, and cancer survivors may have impairments (such as weakness, peripheral neuropathy, lymphoedema, deconditioning, dysphagia, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain or spinal cord injury) following the illness or treatment. We aim to improve the quality of life and functional independence of these cancer patients.
Spasticity Management
Patients who suffer from spasticity as a result of stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and so on, may benefit from interventions such as botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, peripheral nerve blocks or motor-point block injections, followed by orthotic fitting such as splints. We aim to minimise pain and maximise function and quality of life through a multi-disciplinary approach towards spasticity management.
