CARING FOR A CURVED SPINE

Physiotherapist HAN YEN has a special interest in helping people who suffer from scoliosis. Here she tells us more about the symptoms, causes and treatments she uses to ease the condition.

- GEORGINA HOCKLEY

Give us an overview of your job and why you enjoy doing it.

I work with multi-disciplinary healthcare teams to optimise the mobility and function of my patients. In my line of work, I come across many people who have to limit their daily activities and sometimes even give up on their personal dreams due to the drawbacks of musculoskeletal pain. It brings me delight to see how appropriate interventions carried out through physiotherapy can help patients conquer their pain and, in turn, achieve their personal goals without having to go through invasive procedures.

Why did you decide to specialise in musculoskeletal and scoliosis management?

It was a deeply personal decision. Having experienced scoliosis myself, I understand the impact it can have when not properly managed. This condition is often misunderstood and overlooked by both patients and healthcare providers, despite its relevance to many spinal cases. By specialising in scoliosis management, I aim to fill this gap and ensure that individuals receive the focused care they need to improve their quality of life.

What are the different types of scoliosis and how is it caused?

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type and often develops during adolescence. It’s classified based on age of onset either as infantile idiopathic scoliosis (affecting those under the age of three years), juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (three to 10 years) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (10 to 18 years).