Tele-rehab option for physiotherapy to be rolled out at 14 institutions

Patients that required to undergo physiotherapy will soon be able to opt for their rehabilitation activities to be carried out in the comforts of their home. Rehabilitation activities can be monitored by therapists as patients will be using wearable sensors to monitor their movements while being filmed on a tablet.

The NUS Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health jointly developed the tele-rehab system — said to be the first of its kind — which includes a set-up comprising a tablet, neck and limb motion sensors, and a tablet stand. An app accompanying the system is also available in five languages.

Associate Professor Gerald Koh of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health noted that while most rehab patients acknowledged that inpatient rehabilitation was beneficial, only four in 10 wanted to continue with rehabilitation after they were discharged. The main obstacle they faced was getting from their homes to the rehab center. “The very reason why (they) needed rehabilitation is the very reason why (they) can’t get to the day rehab center three times a week.”

The pilot comes as a national platform for telemedicine was launched last month to have hospitals and other healthcare institutions offer consultations remotely.

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