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To see a therapist, please consult your KKH doctor.
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Office |
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Location |
Basement 1, Children's Tower |
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Telephone |
6394 1587/8 |
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Fax |
6394 1589 |
Training and fellowship opportunities
Women's Services:
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Assisted delivery care
Women who had forceps or vacuum delivery will be given postnatal education and exercises. Additional treatment such as ice treatment and ultrasound may also be used to manage pain and swelling.
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Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy treatment conducted in a heated pool by a hydrotherapy-trained physiotherapist. The patients undertake specifically designed exercises to regain or enhance their physical well-being.
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Incontinence
Women with bladder or bowel incontinence, detrusor instability, urge incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse are referred for physiotherapy. They may be taught pelvic floor education and exercises or bladder training. Additional treatment such as electrical stimulation may be used to stimulate weak muscles.
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Musculoskeletal
Patients with musculoskeletal aches and problems during pregnancy, after delivery or post menopause will be assessed and treated by the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy treatment covers pain management, increasing range of joint movement, posture care and specifically designed exercises for strengthening weak muscle groups.
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Pain management
Patients with complaints of pain will be assessed. Treatment prescribed includes ice, heat, electrical therapy, hydrotherapy or therapeutic exercises.
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Palliative care
Palliative care for patients with terminal oncological conditions may be referred for conservative physiotherapy management. These include pain management, respiratory care, circulatory care and relaxation exercises. Additional treatment like manual lymph drainage may be offered to give comfort and relaxation to the patients with lymphatic congestion.
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Perineal oedema / haematoma
Perineal oedema / swelling may occur during pregnancy and after delivery while perineal haematoma may be present after delivery. Physiotherapy management includes ice or ultrasound treatment and pelvic floor exercises to reduce the swelling and to resolve the haematoma.
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Pelvic floor exercises
Pelvic floor exercises are important for pelvic floor strengthening and pain relief for women after delivery. Women with weak pelvic floor or stress incontinence may benefit from pelvic floor exercises. Physiotherapy management include assessment and re-education of the pelvic floor muscles. Patients are also given home exercise program on pelvic floor exercises to practise. Additional treatment such as electrical stimulation may be offered to stimulate contraction of the pelvic floor muscles.
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Pre-operative physiotherapy
Patients undergoing surgery may require pre-operative physiotherapy, which is an assessment of the patients on their respiratory, circulatory and functional status. The physiotherapists will then go on to educate patients on ways to prevent post-operative complications and facilitate early mobilisation.
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Post-operative physiotherapy
Patients after surgery are managed by the physiotherapist to enable patients to recover at the shortest possible time and without preventable complications. Post-operative management involves respiratory care, circulatory care, bed mobility, posture, appropriate exercises and mobilisation. Additional treatment may include use of anti-embolism stockings to prevent DVT.
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Respiratory care
Conditions such as pneumonia, asthma or poor ventilatory effort are referred to the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy management aims to improve ventilation through breathing exercises or positioning, facilitate secretion removal through chest physiotherapy techniques or suctioning. Additional treatment such as incentive spirometer may be prescribed.
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TED stockings
TED stockings (anti-embolism stockings) are effective in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and improve circulation. Patients who are on or will be potentially on prolonged bed rest are prescribed TED stockings as prophylaxis treatment to prevent DVT. They will taught proper use, care and fitting of the stockings.
Children's Services: Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists are concerned with developing the full potential of every child, by analysing the child's ability to perform in everyday contexts despite injuries, physical challenges or developmental disabilities.
We provide services to babies, children and their families both as inpatients and outpatients of the hospital.
A family focused philosophy is used in assisting children to participate in home, school, play and leisure activities. All patients referred for occupational therapy are assessed. The child, his family and the environment in which they live in are considered in this assessment. Therapy may follow and is provided individually or in groups. Intervention takes place at the hospital, and is usually carried over into homes and schools.
The paediatric inpatients are referred from these wards / subspecialties -- Intensive Care, Children's Intensive Care, Oncology, Neurology, Neuro-rehabilitation, Paediatric Medicine, Paediatric Surgery and Orthopaedics.
Paediatric outpatients are referred from the Paediatric Medicine Clinic, Child Development Unit, Orthopaedic Clinic, Spina Bifida Clinic, Neurology Clinic, Renal Clinic and Rheumatology Clinic.
Occupational therapists work with children who have:
- Developmental delay
- Intellectual disability
- Handwriting difficulties
- Autism
- Attention and behavioral problems
- Learning difficulties
- Motor-coordinator difficulties
- Congenital and acquired neurological conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy)
- Orthopaedic conditions (e.g. hand and upper limb problems)
Occupational terapists consider the following interventions to assist children to participate in self-care, school / preschool, play and leisure activities:
- Developmental facilitation
- Sensory integration therapy
- Sensory, perceptual and motor retraining
- Fine motor skills training
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Seating and positioning
- Upper limb techniques including hand therapy and splinting
- Skills acquisition including handwriting and activities of daily living skills
- Play and social skills training
- Self-esteem group work
- Stress management
- Home modification/ home, preschool, school visits
- Enuresis and encopresis management
- Scar management
Physiotherapy
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Exercise prescription / conditioning Activities that are prescribed by physiotherapists to increase muscle strength, control or patterns of movement and to prevent or control dysfunctions, weaknesses or deformities, as specific to the conditions being treated.
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Hydrotherapy Exercises are conducted in the pool / water, which is a useful medium to gain strength, improve movement control, balance and confidence and to aid in relaxation. It is suitable for patients who have no acute fear of water.
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Neurodevelopment / early intervention A detailed neurodevelopmental assessment will be carried out. Exercises or hydrotherapy may be prescribed to facilitate gross motor development so as to maximise the child's potential.
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Neurological (post brain injury) Neurodevelopmental assessment or the child's current gross motor function will be assessed. Exercises are prescribed to facilitate better movement patterns and reduce undesirable movements, to prevent muscle tightness or contractures and to improve movement control.
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Orthopaedic Physiotherapists deal with orthopaedic conditions such as wry neck, club feet, dislocated hips, fractures of the upper limbs and lower limbs etc. Exercises will be prescribed to improve muscle imbalance, increase muscle stength, and reduce muscle weakness. Fabrication and fitting of splint is done for prevention of deformities. The use of walking aids are also taught by the physiotherapist to help patients gain independence in their mobility. " Respiratory Chest physiotherapy is carried out in patients with chest conditions such as pneumonia, lung collapse, asthma etc. Treatment aims to maintain a patent airway, assist in re-expansion of collapse lung, clear areas of consolidation and improve respiratory function.
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Pre-operative Children who are at risk of post-op complications are referred prior to the day of operation. Exercises and advice are taught to prevent lung collapse, chest infection, maintain a patent airway and to maximise respiratory function.
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Post-operative After the day of surgery, treatment involves techniques to improve the respiratory function, prevent chest infection or post-op complications and to maintain a patent airway. Patients are also taught wound support to minimise pain and early movements to prevent complications.
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Serial casting It is an adjunct treatment method for patients with soft tissue tightness and it is a method to maximally stretch out the joints and muscles on a more permanent basis.
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Splinting (lower limbs) Splints are prescribed for maintenance of joint position and alignment after surgery or serial casting. They are also needed for protection of fractures.
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Incontinence / bladder training Physiotherapist will educate child and parents on the physiology and function of the urinary system. Advice on ways to decrease bedwetting, urinary frequency and urge to pass urine will be given. Speech Language Therapy
We assess and provide therapy for children with disorders of communication and feeding difficulties.
Disorders of communication are categorised into 5 main types:
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Language problems Difficulty understanding and / or using words and sentences to name, describe, ask questions and to express ideas. Not talking at 2 years of age.
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Articulation problems Difficulty producing the correct sounds of speech - consonant and vowels.
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Phonological problems Disturbances of the sound system of the language such that the normal adult-way of contrasts cannot be realised. Most of these contrasts should be realised by 3.5 to 4.5 years of age.
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Stuttering interruptions to the fluency of speech e.g. repetition of words, sounds or phrases, prolonging sounds.
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Voice problems Voice sounds abnormal e.g. harsh, breathy, nasal. Feeding difficulties include:
- Poor sucking or chewing skills.
- Swallowing difficulty e.g. choking or coughing when eating / drinking.
- Takes a long time to feed.
- Hypersensitive to some food types or textures (refuses, gags or vomits when given harder food textures).
Assessment
The first visit usually lasts about 45 minutes. It involves taking a case history and assessment of the child's communication or feeding problems. The assessment process may take a few sessions. At the end of the assessment, parents and therapists would jointly decide upon the type of management or therapy services.
Therapy
This may take the form of review sessions at various intervals to chart progress after given a home program. Therapy includes individual therapy packages, group therapy sessions, parent training group sessions and home programs.
Play Therapy
- Individual play intervention for patients who require specialised input: Chronic illness, long term stay, emotional / social problems, developmental problems etc.
- Preparing children for procedures and surgery using play as the medium to help the child understand the upcoming event at a developmentally appropriate level.
- Providing medical play for chronic, long term or anxious children.
- Group play times in the wards for all patients with the help of volunteers.
- Teaching of coping strategies and relaxation for children undergoing painful procedures or experiencing pain. Also supporting children during procedures.
- Providing support groups for children with a similar diagnosis or emotional difficulties.
- Participation in multidisciplinary groups within the hospital.
- Inservices for members of the healthcare profession about issues relating to child development, hospitalisation, the hospital environment and communicating with children.
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Name |
Designation |
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Satyaki Sengupta |
Chief Therapist |
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