Driving Person-Centred CARe of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Driving Person-Centred CARe of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Musculoskeletal issues can limit mobility and cause chronic pain, significantly impacting a person’s quality of life.

Vincent Leow, Clinic Director and Principal Occupational Therapist, Centre for Advanced Rehabilitation (CARe), highlights that the team is committed to delivering comprehensive, seamless and synergistic care for musculoskeletal conditions in a one-stop centre.

There is a focus on setting clear goals, personalised attention and tailored care, he elaborates.

This includes staying in close communication with referring physicians and empowering patients with the knowledge to care for themselves throughout their rehabilitation journey and in the long term.

The clinic also curates specialised rehabilitation equipment such as therapeutic ultrasound and shockwave to optimise rehabilitation.

Setting up at Camden Medical was also an intentional decision because of the development’s proximity to multiple referring sources and private hospitals.

“It makes it easier for patients to commute between clinics within and around Camden Medical; the central location is also more accessible for patients,” says Vincent.

Each member of the team has specific expertise and focus on different parts of the musculoskeletal system; and there are plans to further grow the team to cover an even wider range of conditions.

Faith Ang, Senior Occupational Therapist, specialises in hand therapy and upper limb rehabilitation. Together with Vincent, she treats conditions such as arthritis, bone fractures, ligament sprains, and repetitive strain injuries. This may involve precision orthosis, splint fabrication, and ergonomic devices to enhance independence and daily function.

Pang Liying, a Senior Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in managing people with upper limb injuries, believes in fostering a therapeutic environment where patients feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout their rehabilitation journey.

Liying remarks, “every client has their own unique challenges and goals, our commitment to individualised care, integrating evidence-based practices with innovative techniques, and close collaboration with colleagues ensures that every individual under our care achieves meaningful progress and recovery.”

Senior Physiotherapist, Ong Zhong Li, typically treats sports-related injuries, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. He emphasises a proactive approach that utilises evidence-based strategies to help clients achieve their goals, returning them to activities they enjoy. “The sooner we get post-surgical clients to sit up and move, the speedier their recovery,” he says.

Although the idea of getting up soon after surgery can sound intimidating and counterintuitive, evidence shows that early mobilisation and exercises leads to better clinical outcomes. Physiotherapist providing home visits further ensure continuity of care in a familiar environment, promoting patient confidence and independence, Zhong Li adds.

Physical rehabilitation such as this often goes hand-in-hand with pain management, led by Senior Physiotherapist, Soon Ming Yee.

Having previously worked in a multidisciplinary pain clinic in the public healthcare setting, she takes a holistic whole-of-person approach to address the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of pain.

“I help patients to better understand the cause of their chronic pain and how to manage it,” she shares.

Pain, she explains, is more than a physical sensation. “We know that feelings, thoughts and behaviours affect the pain experience, such as how much pain a person feels and how they deal with pain.”

Through physical assessments, understanding a client’s individual circumstances, activities and their goals, she tailors a pain management plan that may include relaxation techniques and activity modification to help them achieve a better quality of life.

At its core, physiotherapy is more than a series of exercises; it is a journey of healing and rediscovery that empowers individuals to reclaim their strength, mobility, and quality of life, transcending the physical limitations imposed by injury or chronic conditions.

That is one of the core beliefs of Chen Yanzhang, a Principal Physiotherapist at CARe. It is this that motivated him to seek out specialised training in the areas of musculoskeletal science, chronic pain management and vestibular rehabilitation.

A firm believer in the human body’s resilience and ability to recover, Yanzhang has seen the benefits of rehabilitative exercise, which has enabled him to continue regularly training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu despite injuring both ACLs in his knees. Physiotherapy taps into this resilience, helping patients to rediscover their strength and capabilities.

The clinic's commitment to comprehensive care extends beyond treatment.

According to Amber Quek, Clinic Manager, managing a rehabilitation clinic means blending management skills with heartfelt commitment to patient care, ensuring every individual receives the support and resources they need to reclaim their health.

“Our true measure of success is found in the smiles of patients on the path to recovery, knowing that every effort made contributes to their healing and hope,” she says.

Recognising the importance of patients being active participants in their own care and wellbeing, the team emphasises the role of self-care and preventive measures. From advocating for ergonomics, follow-ups and home assessments as well as holding awareness talks and health literacy sessions, the CARe team is focussed on empowering individuals to take control of their health.

In the journey towards recovery, the team also emphasises progress over perfection. Partnering their clients in living their best life in spite of injury, pain or limitations, they take an asset-based approach that looks at what people can do instead of cannot do and reframe the focus from pain to capabilities.

Through personalised interventions and ongoing support, as well as fostering meaningful connections and facilitating holistic healing journeys, the CARe team strives to help individuals regain function, independence, and quality of life.