| Wellness |
 KEY PROJECTS |
| Development of novel, evidence-based ergonomic backpack (PI: Dr Lim Boon Whatt) Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can increase the energy cost of walking, affect gait mechanics and alter posture. Despite various measures taken by schools to reduce the backpack load, school children still tend to carry heavy backpacks to school. One strategy to decrease the deleterious impact of heavy backpacks on the health of our school children is to improve the design of school backpacks. An improved backpack design can benefit the future health of school children by increasing the efficiency of load carriage, thereby reducing energy expenditure and altered posture. This study aims to develop a novel, evidence-back backpack that will suit the physique of our primary school children. The SMART Choice Programme (PI: Dr Orla Gilmore) There has been a rising trend of obesity among young Singaporeans. Overweight children/adolescents are more likely to have serious health problems when they reach adulthood. Hence there is a growing need to equip these young people with skills that they can use to manage their weight. The SMART Choice Programme is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based holistic weight management programme aimed at providing teenagers with the skills and confidence they need to take control of their own long-term physical and mental development. This study aims to develop and examine the short and long term impact of a CBT intervention on the health of Singapore adolescents. Vibration therapy and its effects on muscle strength, agility and balance (PI: Ms Kirsten Koh) Vibration platforms have become increasing available in recent years and they are being commercially promoted as an alternative to resistance training. Vibe-Fit is a vibration platform that is developed by a local wellness company. Using a single-blind randomised controlled trial design, this study aims to investigate the efficacy of Vibe-Fit in improving muscle strength, agility and balance in healthy adults. Efficacy of OTO e-cell device in improving pain, swelling and function in people with acute lateral ankle sprains (PI: Ms Charlene Lau) OTO e-cell is a portable, therapeutic device which employed pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) to amplify and replicate the body’s own repair and regeneration process. It is claimed that the device can accelerate the healing process and recovery of musculoskeletal injuries. Using a double-blind randomised controlled trial design, this study aims to examine the efficacy of the OTO e-cell device in improving pain, swelling and function in people with acute lateral ankle sprains. The effects of vibration therapy on bone density, muscle strength, balance and function in elderly people
Whole body vibration training has been gaining popularity as a training intervention to improve muscle strength and flexibility. It has also been commonly combined with conventional resistance training to achieve greater gains in neuromuscular performance. Current research in this area suggests that vibration may have a beneficiary acute and/or chronic training effect on strength and power enhancement. In particular, vibration therapy has been shown to be effective for improving muscle strength and balance. However, there are relatively few controlled studies on the effects of vibration training in the elderly population. Improvement the strength, balance and fitness in the elderly could potentially improve their health and prevent debilitating diseases. Stronger bone density will also prevent osteoporosis and reduce the risk of falls. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to examine the effects of vibration therapy on bone density, muscle strength, balance and function in the elderly people. The validity of bioelectrical
impedance devices and bone densitometry compared to dual energy x-ray
absorptiometry Many types of bioelectrical impedance
analysis (BIA) devices and bone densitometry have been used
by health and fitness professionals to measure fat and lean muscle mass.
This study will validate various models of BIA
devices and densitometry against the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
(DEXA) which is considered as the gold standard in measuring fat and
lean muscle mass. The results can be used to advise users on the
accuracy of these devices. Validation of UKK Walk Test in
Singapore population The UKK Walk Test was developed by the Urho Kaleva
Kekkonen (UKK) Institute to measure the cardiorespiratory fitness of
individuals, specifically normally active or sedentary people in
Finland. Presently, the test is used by many health care professionals
and public health organizations. The aim of this study is to validate
the UKK Walk Test in the Singapore population. Participants whose BMI
falls within 19 – 26.9 and do not engage in more than 3 hours of aerobic
activity can participate in this study. This study will aid the Health
Promotion Board in the assessment of adult health in Singapore.
Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) refers to a method where
short bouts of low oxygen content air are respired between bouts of
normal oxygen content air. This training regime can elicit lowered
oxygen saturation in the blood which stimulates the various body systems
to produce increased amounts of erythropoietin, haematocrit and
haemoglobin for enhanced oxygen utilization and hence improved aerobic
capacity. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of IHT on
cardiovascular. |
