Moving Beyond Limits – Physical Activity for Every Body

Learning objectives

By the end of this symposium, participants will be able to: 

1. Understand the unique barriers and facilitators to physical activity among people with different abilities, for example individuals with severe traumatic brain injury, stroke survivors, and individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.

2. Explore evidence-based strategies for promoting inclusive physical activity programs.

3. Compare international approaches to physical activity promotion, specifically in Australia and Singapore.

Symposium Convenor: Dr Aileen Scully, Assistant Professor, Singapore Institute of Technology

Biography: Aileen is an experienced physiotherapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation. She has managed people with neurological conditions from the acute inpatient setting through to the outpatient and home settings. She has been active in clinical research for over ten years and has a special interest in chronic neurodegenerative conditions.

Speaker: Professor Leanne Hassett, The University of Sydney

Title: Developing and implementing a clinical practice guideline to deliver and promote physical activity for people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in Australia

Biography: Professor Hassett is an Australian physiotherapist with a background as a neurological physiotherapist, working clinically for 15 years in adult traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Leanne is currently the Associate Professor of Allied Health (Western Sydney Local Health District), a conjoint role between the University of Sydney and a local health district in Sydney, Australia.

Leanne also co-leads the Implementation Science Academy at Sydney Health Partners, one of 12 Australian Research Translation Centres, with a focus on building capacity and capability in translational research across the health system.

Leanne’s current research focuses on synthesis of evidence and testing effectiveness and implementation of physical activity interventions in healthcare and community settings. She has made a significant contribution to the understanding of how to deliver and promote physical activity in people with moderate to severe TBI through the conduct of clinical trials, systematic reviews and the recent development of a national clinical practice guideline.

Speaker: Dr Kwah Li Khim, Associate Professor, Senior Principal Physiotherapist, Singapore Institute of Technology & Singapore General Hospital

Title: Improving physical activity after Stroke – where we are at and where to go from here? 

Biography: Khim is a Senior Principal Physiotherapist at the Singapore General Hospital, and holds joint appointments at the Singapore Institute of Technology (Health and Social Sciences Cluster) and the Ministry of Health (Chief Allied Health Officer’s Office). A physiotherapist and rehabilitation researcher, she has more than 20 years of clinical, academic, and policy experience focused on improving stroke rehabilitation and community-based care. She co-chairs the Singapore Stroke Rehabilitation Guidelines committee and contributes to the World Stroke Organization Rehabilitation committee, which is pilot-testing the Stroke Rehabilitation Excellence Criteria in 15 centres across low- and middle-income countries to strengthen global stroke rehabilitation services. Recognized as one of two Singaporeans in the inaugural World Stroke Organization Future Stroke Leaders program (2020–2022), Khim’s expertise is in neurological rehabilitation, evidence-based practice and guideline-based care. Her current ministry and research efforts aim to close the gap between research evidence and stroke rehabilitation practice. 

Speaker: Dr Muhammad Rahizan Zainuldin, Associate Professor, Singapore Institute of Technology

Title: What physical activity promotion in Singapore for people with lung diseases by physiotherapists look like

Biography: Rahizan has conducted local research in behaviours and behaviour change strategies on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and promotion among physiotherapists. His work in exercise testing and prescription for people with lung diseases is used in pulmonary rehabilitation toolkits in Australia and UK. Rahizan is shifting his research and clinical focus to physical activity and sedentary behaviour change strategies for a more lasting impact on patients’ quality of life. To anchor behaviour change, Rahizan utilises theory-informed frameworks, Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and Capability- Opportunities-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) within Behaviour Change Wheel. Behaviour change interventions are lacking in Singapore and Rahizan desires to translate local findings from these frameworks into real-world practice, benefitting more patients.