Specialised gym for stroke patients part of $6.59m rehab initiative

A new gym to help rehabilitate stroke patients will be launched in the first quarter of 2026 as part of a new $6.59 million initiative to enhance their care.

- Zhaki Abdullah

The gym is part of the Stroke Rehab Ecosystem launched on Aug 26. The initiative will benefit more than 2,000 stroke survivors by cutting the waiting time for community rehabilitation and providing mental health and post-rehabilitation wellness support.

The Lien Foundation will commit $5.09 million to the four-year initiative, and $1.5 million for the gym.

Designed for stroke survivors to further their recovery, as well as maintain and improve their physical abilities, the gym will be set up and operated by non-profit organisation Stroke Support Station (S3) at a 3,500 sq ft space in the AMK Hub shopping mall in Ang Mo Kio.

It will feature specialised equipment for people with disabilities, and will be staffed by qualified trainers who will customise routines for stroke survivors.

The aim, said S3 executive director Ng Rei Na, is to help stroke survivors "build strength, regain independence and grow in confidence".

Adjunct Associate Professor Loh Yong Joo, who heads the rehabilitation department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), said there is a need for a gym for stroke patients as cardiovascular conditions are among the leading risk factors for strokes.