One of our physiotherapists, Ying, works with a patient to perform coupling actions with very simple task instructions. Especially with stroke rehab, Ying advises against letting the patient know that they are actually doing something more complex. It’s stressful enough to be in pain.

For this particular grandma, she is undergoing rehabilitation for a stroke causing left sided movement paralysis. Ying is getting her to grip her fingers while I encourage wrist extension. At the same time, Ying is holding her hand in a functional manner (a resting C shape curve of her hand). It makes it easier for the patient to activate muscles when the muscles are in mid-length tension. Starting position of muscle activation is a big deal in slow stream rehab.

As a society, we are transiting away from a mentality of quick fixes. We are starting to realise the beauty of preventive medicine rather than reactive medicine. Investments are flowing into digital health solutions on preventive care models. And a preventive care model should include movement medicine, away from a reliance on symptomatic medication.