Orthopaedic Sports Clinic in Singapore
Dr. Poh Keng Soon provides sports injury assessment and treatment at Orthopaedic and Hand Surgery Partners, with clinics at Gleneagles Hospital and Mount Alvernia Hospital in Singapore. Fellowship-trained in sports, shoulder and elbow surgery, he manages injuries involving joints, tendons, ligaments and bones, including shoulder and elbow conditions that may require rehabilitation or keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery.
Sports Injuries We Treat at Our Orthopaedic Sports Clinic
Dr. Poh assesses and treats sports-related injuries affecting the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle and bones. Common conditions include:
Shoulder
-
Rotator Cuff Tears: Partial or complete tears of the tendons responsible for shoulder movement, rotation and stability.
-
Shoulder Dislocation and Instability: Displacement of the upper arm bone from the shoulder socket, which may result in recurrent dislocations or joint instability.
-
SLAP Tears: Injury to the upper shoulder labrum, where the long head of the biceps tendon attaches, often associated with overhead activities.
-
AC Joint Dislocations: Injury to the ligaments connecting the collarbone and shoulder blade, potentially causing joint separation.
-
Biceps Tendinitis: Irritation of the long-head biceps tendon at the shoulder, commonly associated with repetitive overhead loading.
Elbow
-
Tennis Elbow: An overuse tendon condition affecting the outer elbow, associated with repetitive gripping and wrist extension.
-
Golfer's Elbow: Injury to the tendon attachment on the inner elbow, commonly associated with repetitive wrist flexion and forearm loading.
-
Distal Biceps Rupture: Partial or complete tearing of the biceps tendon near the elbow, affecting forearm rotation and elbow strength.
-
Elbow Dislocation and Ligament Injuries: Displacement of the elbow joint that may damage supporting ligaments and, in some cases, involve fractures.
Knee and Ankle
-
Knee Meniscus Injuries: Tears in the fibrocartilage that cushions the knee joint and distributes load during movement.
-
Knee Ligament Injuries: Sprains or tears affecting the ligaments responsible for knee stability, particularly during twisting or pivoting movements.
-
Ankle Sprains and Instability: Stretching or tearing of ankle ligaments, which may contribute to recurrent ankle instability.
-
Achilles Tendon Injuries: Damage to the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel, affecting ankle movement and push-off strength.
Fractures
-
Shoulder Fractures: Fractures involving the collarbone, shoulder blade or upper end of the humerus.
-
Elbow Fractures: Fractures involving the distal humerus, radial head or olecranon near the elbow joint.
-
Wrist, Foot and Ankle Fractures: Bone injuries that require assessment of fracture alignment and stability to determine appropriate management.
Injury Care for Different Types of Sports
At our orthopaedic and sports clinic, Dr. Poh provides assessment and treatment for sports-related injuries across a range of activities, including but not limited to:
• Racket sports, including tennis, badminton and squash
• Golf
• Throwing and overhead sports
• Contact and collision sports
• Gym training and weightlifting
• Swimming
How a Sports Injury Is Assessed
Step 1: Medical History & Injury Review
Dr. Poh reviews your symptoms, how the injury occurred, any previous injuries, and your sport and level of participation. This helps establish the circumstances of the injury and the physical demands involved.
Step 2: Physical Examination & Diagnostic Imaging
A physical examination assesses the affected joint, including its movement, strength and stability where relevant. Dr. Poh may recommend X-rays to evaluate suspected bone injuries or MRI scans to investigate possible tendon, ligament or cartilage damage.
Step 3: Diagnosis & Treatment Planning
Based on the assessment findings, Dr. Poh explains the diagnosis and discusses appropriate management options. The treatment plan takes into account the nature of your injury and the sporting activities you intend to resume.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Sports Injuries
Manage sports injuries with treatment aimed at relieving pain, protecting injured tissues and restoring movement and strength without surgery, where clinically appropriate. Depending on your condition, treatment options may include:
• Rest and Activity Modification: Reduce activities that aggravate the injury and adjust physical loading to allow healing.
• Physiotherapy: Dr. Poh can recommend a physiotherapist or liaise with your existing one on a rehabilitation plan to restore joint mobility, strengthen supporting muscles and address muscle imbalances.
• Bracing or Splinting: Provide temporary support to injured joints, ligaments or tendons during recovery.
• Pain Relief and Anti-inflammatory Medication: Manage pain and inflammation using medication where clinically appropriate.
• Corticosteroid and PRP Injections: Corticosteroid injections may help manage inflammation, while platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may be discussed for selected persistent tendon conditions.
• Shock Wave Therapy: A non-surgical treatment option that may be considered for persistent tendon conditions such as tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.
Keyhole Surgery After a Sports Injury
For significant tendon tears, recurrent shoulder dislocations or injuries that continue to limit activity despite rehabilitation, surgery may be recommended to repair damaged tissues and address joint instability.
Arthroscopic Surgery for Sports Injuries
Keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery uses small incisions, a camera and specialised instruments to examine and treat injuries within a joint. Dr. Poh performs the following procedures where clinically appropriate:
Open Surgery for Sports Injuries
Certain injuries require direct surgical access to repair or reconstruct damaged structures. These include the Latarjet procedure to address recurrent shoulder instability and distal biceps tendon repair to restore the tendon's attachment to the bone.
Day Surgery and Recovery
Selected procedures may be performed as day surgery, allowing patients to return home on the same day when clinically appropriate. Although keyhole surgery involves smaller incisions, repaired tendons and ligaments still require time to heal before sporting activities can resume.
Returning to Sports After Injury or Surgery
Dr. Poh provides follow-up assessments to review your recovery following sports injury treatment or surgery, with recommendations for rehabilitation and returning to sporting activities based on your condition and functional progress.
Rehabilitation may involve:
1. Protecting the Injury: Follow activity restrictions to protect injured or repaired tissues during healing.
2. Regaining Movement: Work on restoring joint mobility and flexibility through appropriate physiotherapy exercises.
3. Rebuilding Strength: Strengthen affected muscles and regain joint control to prepare for increased physical activity.
4. Sport-Specific Training: Gradually reintroduce movements such as throwing, lifting or running according to your sport and rehabilitation progress.
5. Return-to-Play Assessment: Assess joint movement, strength, stability and functional readiness before resuming full training or competition.
Recovery timelines vary according to the injury, treatment and individual progress. Arrange a consultation with Dr. Poh to discuss your rehabilitation progress and the appropriate next steps towards returning to sport.
Sports Injury Surgeon in Singapore: Dr Poh Keng Soon
Dr. Poh Keng Soon is registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) as a specialist in Orthopaedic Surgery, with accreditation from the Specialists Accreditation Board under the Ministry of Health. He previously practised in the Sports Medicine, Shoulder and Elbow Division at National University Hospital and Alexandra Hospital. During his subspecialty fellowship in Melbourne, Australia, supported by an MOH HMDP award, he gained clinical experience managing shoulder and elbow injuries among professional athletes.
Qualifications & Professional Appointments
• Medical Qualifications: MRCS (Edinburgh, 2013), MMed (Orthopaedic Surgery, NUS, 2017) and FRCS (Edinburgh, 2018).
• Clinical & Academic Appointments: Visiting Consultant at National University Hospital and Adjunct Assistant Professor at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
• Hospitals and Day Surgery Centres: Accredited to perform surgery at Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Parkway East, Mount Alvernia, Farrer Park, Thomson Medical Centre, Cura Day Surgery, Aptus Surgery Centre and Novaptus Surgery Centre.
Clinic Locations
Gleneagles Hospital
Orthopaedic and Hand Surgery Partners
#03-37 Annexe Block
6A Napier Road
Singapore 258500
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
Mount Alvernia Hospital
Orthopaedic and Hand Surgery Partners
#06-08 Medical Center A
820 Thomson Road
Singapore 574623
Operating Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
Tel: +65-6970 7748
Mobile/WhatsApp: +65 8129 1019
Arrange a consultation with Dr. Poh by booking an appointment directly using the link below or submitting the enquiry form. For appointment assistance or further enquiries, WhatsApp the clinic at +65 8129 1019 or call +65 6970 7748.
Insurance: The clinic accepts claims under MediShield Life, Integrated Shield Plans, personal accident insurance and corporate insurance, subject to policy terms and eligibility. The clinic can also assist with insurance claim enquiries.
