Associate Professor
Shamala Thilarajah
Associate Professor
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Cluster:
Health and Social Sciences
Profile
Biography
Shamala Thilarajah trained as a physiotherapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation in Sydney and London before returning home to Singapore in 2012. Shamala has worked across acute to community sectors and is currently a Senior Principal Physiotherapist at the Singapore General Hospital. At present, Shamala leads several stroke improvement projects at an institutional and cluster level. She also holds a part-time position with MOH Chief Allied Health Officer’s Office as one of the leads for the Community Rehabilitation Transformation Workgroup. In 2020, Shamala was one of two Singaporeans who were selected as World Stroke Organisation Future Leaders. Shamala is a passionate advocate for people with stroke and other disabilities and believes in equal access to social participation for people with disabilities. She is the current elected President of the Singapore National Stroke Association.
SIT Appointments
- Associate Professor– Present
Education
- Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences InnovationDukeNUS Medical School , Singapore
- Doctor of PhilosophyUniversity of the Sunshine Coast , Australia
- Master of Health ScienceUniversity of Sydney , Australia
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy)University of Sydney , Australia
Achievements
- Outstanding Research Award (Allied Health) SGH 25th Annual Scientific Meeting–
- Outstanding Research Award (Allied Health) SGH 24th Annual Scientific Meeting–
- Singapore Physiotherapy Association Outstanding Public Sector Physiotherapist–
- AM. EI Golden Apple Awards for STRIPE (Stroke Interprofessional education)–
- Outstanding Alumni University of Sunshine Coast Outstanding Alumni–
- SingHealth Allied Health Innovation Practice EBP Award–
- SingHealth AHP Clinical Champion Award for stroke service champion–
- Successful candidate for World Stroke Organisation Future Leaders Programme–
- Healthcare Humanity Award-Volunteer category–
Professional Certification
- Registered PhysiotherapistAllied Health Professionals Council (AHPC)–
- Registered PhysiotherapistAustralian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)–
Research
Research Interests
-
Stroke, physical activity and participation, implementation science
Current Projects
- Multi-mOdal Training program to promote physical actIVity After sTrokE: MOTIVATE- a Hybrid Type 1 Randomised Controlled Trial– Present
- A Randomised Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of MLC1501 in Patients with Stroke– Present
- Centre of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation– Present
Past Projects
- Development of MOTIVATE: Multi-mOdal Training program to promote physical actIVity After sTrokE–
- Physical function, activity and falls Risk Evaluation using innovative Sensor Technologies In Clinical and GEriatric Populations (PRESTIGE): Stroke–
- Factors associated with physical activity after stroke–
Publication
Journal Papers
- Kwah LK, Doshi K, De Silva DA, Ng WM and Thilarajah S (2024) What influences stroke survivors with physical disabilities to be physically active? A qualitative study informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. PLOS One 19(3): e0292442. Paper: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0292442
- Thilarajah S, Low A, Lee A, Ng S, Seow HC, Choo S, Bok CW, De Silva D, Chew ES, Chua TL, Kwah LK and Pua YH (2024) Modifying the Mobility Scale for Acute Stroke (MSAS) for All Stroke Phases (MSAllS): Measurement properties and clinical application. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (in press). Paper: https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(24)00832-3/fulltext
- Teo R, Thilarajah S, Liu J, Lim F and Kwah LK (2023) Barriers to physical activity of stroke survivors in Singapore: a face-to-face cross-sectional survey. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare 32: 1-9. Paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2010105823118495
- Sebastian IA, Demers M, Yeghiazaryan N, Wan Asyraf WZ, Nasreldein A, Gopaul U, Charalambous M, Thilarajah S, Kwah LK and Vishnu VY (2023) Establishing organized stroke care in low- and middle-income countries: From training of non-specialist to implementation. Journal of Stroke Medicine. Paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/25166085231158425
- Fan PE, Louis JK, Lim XY, Subramaniam SG, Seow JP, Aloweni F, Rajasegeran DD, Hsiang CC, Thilarajah S, Agus NL, Ong HK. Impact of a Bedside Activity Device on the Functional Status of Hospitalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AJN The American Journal of Nursing. 2023 Mar 1;123(3):22-9. Paper: https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/abstract/2023/03000/original_research__impact_of_a_bedside_activity.18.aspx
- Gopaul U, Charalambous M, Thilarajah S, Kwah LK, Chapman S, Bayley M and Demers M (2022) Age-specific information resources to address the needs of young people with stroke: a scoping review protocol. Systematic Reviews 275 (2022). Paper: https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-022-02147-4
- Bower KJ, Thilarajah S, Williams G, Pua YH, Tan D, Clark RA. Quiet standing postural control variables in subacute stroke: associations with gait and balance, falls prediction and responsiveness. Disability and rehabilitation. 2022 Apr 4:1-8. Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2055796
- Thilarajah S, Bower KJ, Williams G, Clark RA, Tan D, Pua YH. Paretic and nonparetic step tests are noninterchangeable in stroke: a prospective cohort study. Physical Therapy. 2021 May;101(5):pzab060. Paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab060
- Lim SH, Ang SY, Ong HK, Lee TZ, Lee TX, Luo EZ, Thilarajah S. Promotion of mobility among hospitalised older adults: An exploratory study on perceptions of patients, carers and nurses. Geriatric Nursing. 2020 Apr 5. Paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.03.015
Conferences
- SGH 25th Annual Scientific Meeting: Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity after Stroke in Singapore: a Qualitative study informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework
- Rehab Week 2023: Invited Speaker for Implementation Science in Rehabilitation – Does it Really Work?
- World Physiotherapy Congress 2023: Development of a Complex Theory-Informed Intervention for Improving Physical Activity after Stroke in Singapore: A Co-Design Approach
- Asia-Pacific Stroke Conference 2022: Invited Speaker for Management of Spasticity and contracture after Stroke
- SGH 24th Annual Scientific Meeting: Modifying the Mobility Scale for Acute Stroke (MSAS) for All Stroke Phases (MSAllS): Measurement properties and clinical application
- World Confederation of Physical Therapists Congress 2019: Key modifiable factors contributing to post-stroke physical activity levels: a prospective cohort study
- SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress 2018: Instrumented Gait Variables Predict Falls After Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study
- Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference 2017: Accepted for symposium presentation- Tracking the “What, Where and How Much” of Post-Stroke Physical Activity in High Density Environments using custom wearables and self-report
- Singapore International Physiotherapy Congress 2016: Invited speaker and focused symposium facilitator-Longer term Rehabilitation after Stroke
Teaching
Teaching Modules
Physiotherapy, BSc (Hons)
- PTY3009 - Clinical Decision Making in Patients with Complex Health Issues
- PTY3016 - Simulated Practice Education
Past
- PTY1016 - Foundation of Physiotherapy 1: Movement
- HSC2010 - Health Research Methods