Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

According to the Singapore Burden of Disease Study in 2014, Osteoarthritis (OA) is the 5th reason for years of life lost to disability, ill health, or early death. With aging population and the increasing trend of obesity, the health and economic burden of Knee OA will continue to increase. Current studies have focused mainly on factors leading to the progression, rather than the onset of Knee OA and lacking in Asian-centric knee OA biomechanical and clinical data. A comprehensive Asian Knee OA database would therefore be essential in identifying risk factors for early and precise intervention to delay the onset and progression of Knee OA.

In the Knee OA programme, we aim to set up a comprehensive database of Knee OA for the Asian population, targeting high-risk pre-OA, stages 1 to 4, and knee arthroplasty (pre and post) groups. We also hope to use our data-driven approach to (i) measure gait kinematics and kinetics using high fidelity and in clinic markerless technologies; (ii) detect and predict risks of onset and progression of Knee OA using our novel and higher precision statistical and simulation techniques; (iii) and develop technologies for early intervention, and precise prehabilitation and rehabilitation. The high-risk cohort will also be followed over time to identify risk factors leading to the increase in Knee OA symptoms and staging, with the use of prediction modelling, for precise early intervention.

In Singapore, diabetes mellitus (DM) rates have increased from 8.2% (2004) to 11.3% (2010) and is expected to rise to 15% in 20501. In 2016, there were 1,500 DM related lower extremities amputations (LEAs) yearly and this has seen an increasing trend over the years1. Furthermore, 20% of adult DM patients in Singapore were diagnosed when they were less than 40 years old1. Currently, there is also scarce biomechanics data of amputees, especially in Singapore and Asia and such lack of information could affect the robustness of precise rehabilitation. There is therefore a need to support the rehabilitation of these economically active amputees to help them return to society more effectively.

The amputation programme aims to set up the first biomechanics database of amputees with various K-levels, in Asia. The programme comprises of high-fidelity biomechanics data collection and analysis using our novel and higher precision statistical and simulation techniques. With the data collected, we aim to provide quantitative measures, together with technological solutions (eg. 3D printed prosthetic limbs, sensors or with the use of our markerless mocap technology) to further enhance conventional rehabilitation training and provide better prosthetic fit. This could lead to a more comprehensive precision rehabilitation package for the amputees to return to society more effectively and optimally.