THE PERFORMING ARTS MEDICINE CLINIC
Dancers, musicians and vocalists are exceptional
individuals with distinctive traits of both athletes
and artists. These performing artists undergo
intensive and extensive training for performances
and competitions and are known to sustain overuse
injuries.
Recognising their unique health needs specific to
their art forms, Changi General Hospital (CGH) has
launched the Performing Arts Medicine initiative and
established the Performing Arts Medicine Clinic
(PAMC) at the Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine
Centre (SSMC) @ Novena.
The PAMC aims to help these performing artists
perform their best, and support their physical and
mental wellness needs in a timely and individualised
manner.
Located at Novena Medical Centre, the clinic
addresses the multifaceted health and wellness
needs of performing artists at all levels through
comprehensive evaluation, injury prevention,
treatment, rehabilitation, wellness and education
on body mechanics and posture, while taking into
consideration the intricate management required
to address medical risks and expectations. Similar
services are available at SSMC @ CGH.
A RISING NEED IN SINGAPORE
The interest in and demand for dance and music in
Singapore is increasing. The number of members
involved in performing arts interest groups has grown
from 37,851 in 2015 to 50,180 in 2019, and about 8,700
performing arts activities were held each year on
average from 2015 to 2019.
The prevalence of dance-related musculoskeletal
injuries is as high as 84% in dancers,1 and the lifetime
prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders
in musicians is reported to be between 62-
93%.2 For singers, laryngitis, vocal cord haemorrhages
and polyps are common acute injuries.
A study conducted in Singapore found that dance-related
injuries were present in more than half of the
365 dancers surveyed.3 Another pilot study done by
CGH found that 9 in 10 first-year students studying music at a tertiary level had musculoskeletal pain,
and their social functioning and emotional well-being
scores were found to be significantly lower than the
general population.
Both studies revealed that many dancers and
instrumentalists chose not to seek help, or took a rest
from practice to allow recovery.
1. Jacobs CL, Cassidy JD, Côté P, Boyle E, Ramel E, Ammendolia C, Hartvigsen J, Schwartz I. Musculoskeletal Injury in Professional Dancers: Prevalence and Associated Factors: An International Cross-Sectional Study. Clin J Sport Med. 2017 Mar;27(2):153-160)
2. Cruder C, Barbero M, Koufaki P, Soldini E, Gleeson N. Prevalence and associated factors of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders among music students in Europe. Baseline findings from the Risk of Music Students (RISMUS) longitudinal multicentre study. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 9;15(12):e024266
3. Jason KK Chia. Survey Study on the Injury Patterns, Dance Practices and Health Seeking Behaviour amongst Dancers in Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2017 Feb;46(2):76-78
OUR SERVICES
Led by sports physicians with an interest in dance medicine and instrumental medicine, together with an
ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon with an interest in voice, the PAMC assesses and treats patients with
the following conditions.
Musculoskeletal disorders
Dancers and instrumentalists are at higher risk of
various musculoskeletal conditions that can affect
bones, joints and soft tissues. They are prone to such
problems due to repetitive movement and extreme
bodily stress and strain.
Services include:
-
Injury diagnosis and management
- Performer wellness and injury prevention
-
Dancers' musculoskeletal screening
- Pointe-preparedness
-
Physical therapy
- Sports massage
Voice disorders
Common injuries for vocalists include laryngitis, vocal
cord haemorrhages, polyps and nodules. Vocalists
may develop hoarseness and vocal fatigue that
can interfere with the quality and endurance of the
voice. A performer can also be affected by a variety
of medical conditions which can include laryngitis,
rhinitis and sinus disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Services include:
-
Voice Clinic consultation
- Video-endoscopic and video stroboscopic examination of larynx
- Speech therapy
Anxiety and mental health issues
Our sports psychologist provides guidance in mind-body
skills for peak performance, performance
anxiety and eating disorders, and other supportive
services.
The PAMC collaborates with a multidisciplinary team
to coordinate care and provide access to the full
range of specialties available at CGH.
The patient’s care will be personalised and may
include the following services:
-
Diet and nutrition
- Hand occupational therapy
- Orthopaedics
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Psychology
HOW GPs CAN REFER
For GP referrals, please contact SSMC@Novena at:
Tel: 6737 1000 | Website: www.ssmc.sg
Operating hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri:
8.30am - 7pm
Wed:
8.30am - 9pm
Sat:
8.30am - 12.30pm
Closed on Sundays
and Public Holidays
OUR CARE TEAM
Dance Lead
Dr Mandy Zhang
Consultant, Dept of Sport & Exercise Medicine
Dr Zhang has a special interest in performing arts
medicine, particularly dance medicine, and has
completed a certification course on ‘The Essentials
of Performing Arts Medicine’ under the Performing
Arts Medicine Association (PAMA). She is the Chair
of the Performing Arts Medicine special interest
group under Sports Medicine Association Singapore
and a member of the Professional Development
Committee and Research Review Taskforce in
the International Association of Dance Medicine
and Science.
Musician Lead
Dr Lim Ang Tee
Consultant, Dept of Sport & Exercise Medicine
Dr Lim has a special interest in performance arts
medicine, especially among musicians, and has
completed a certification course on ‘The Essentials of
Performing Arts Medicine’ under PAMA. He is working
with the National University of Singapore Yong Siew
Toh Conservatory of Music to educate students on
injury prevention for playing-related musculoskeletal
disorders.
Voice Lead
Clin Assoc Prof Peter Lu
Consultant, Dept of Otorhinolaryngology
- Head & Neck Surgery
Professor Lu has been an ear, nose and throat
specialist for over 25 years. He has a special interest
in voice conditions affecting the vocal performer,
especially in the effects of prolonged use of voice on
vocal cords. He was involved in the setting up of the
Changi General Hospital Voice Clinic, which offers a
multidisciplinary approach towards evaluating and managing voice conditions.
Senior Consultants,
Dept of Sport & Exercise Medicine
Adj Assoc Prof Benedict Tan
Adj Assoc Prof Kelvin Chew
Adj Assoc Prof Roger Tian
Adj Asst Prof Ivy Lim
Principal Resident Physician,
Dept of Sport & Exercise Medicine
Dr Ng Chung Sien