Muscle Health | Sengkang General Hospital

The Muscle Health Programme first started at Sengkang General Hospital in 2019, supporting patients and the community in preventing, detecting and managing muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia. What began as a hospital programme has since evolved into the SingHealth Duke-NUS Muscle Health Programme in 2025 — an integrated initiative focused on muscle health, healthy ageing and surgery recovery.

Muscle health matters at every age — and it is never too early, or too late, to start caring for it.

This programme is built on 3 key pillars

SUPREME Programme

Prehabilitation and muscle
optimisation before surgery

PRIME Programme

Muscle Health education
and community engagement

SKH Musculoskeletal Regenerative Laboratory

Research in sarcopenia muscle ageing
and regenerative medicine

Together, these pillars support muscle health across the lifespan - from prevention and education to clinical care and translational research

The 5 Pillars of Active Living

Muscle loss can begin as early as our 30s and may worsen with ageing, inactivity, poor nutrition, chronic illness or hospitalisation.

Muscle health plays an important role in:

Strength

Supporting physical strength and everyday activities

Mobility

Helping you move easily and stay independent

Balance

Reducing fall risk and improves stability

Recovery

Aiding recovery from illness, injury and surgery

Healthy Ageing

Supporting active, healthy and fulfilling ageing

Our Multidisciplinary Team

Through clinical care, community education and research, our multidisciplinary team supports muscle health and helps people maintain strength, mobility and independence at every age.

Our Programme

What is Sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function. It commonly affects older adults but may also occur after illness, surgery, cancer treatment, prolonged inactivity or poor nutrition.

Non - Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia

People with Sarcopenia may experience the following

Why Muscle Health Matters

Maintaining muscle health through regular exercise, adequate protein intake and early medical intervention can improve long-term health outcomes and quality of life.

The journey to better muscle health begins with you.

Whether you are in your 30s or 70s, the steps you take today and the habits you encourage in those around you, can make a meaningul difference to how you age.

Who can benefit from the Muscle Health Programme?

Good muscle health supports strength, mobility and independence as we age. While starting early offers benefits, it is never too late to take action and improve your muscle health.

FAQs

Muscle loss may occur due to ageing, reduced physical activity, poor nutrition, chronic illness, inflammation or prolonged hospitalisation.

In many cases, muscle strength and function can improve through resistance exercise, proper nutrition, vitamin optimisation and medical intervention.

Prehabilitation helps patients improve their strength, nutrition and overall fitness before surgery to support recovery and reduce complications.

Older adults, people with chronic illnesses, cancer patients, individuals recovering from surgery and those with prolonged inactivity may be at higher risk.

You should seek medical advice if you experience declining strength, recurrent falls, difficulty walking, unexplained weight loss or reduced ability to perform daily activities.

News on Muscle Health

Patient Care SKH Doctors on blood supply Blood banks in Singapore are facing an uphill task to have enough supply to meet demand and new donors are falling from 20,000 in 2013 to 18,000 in 2024. Dr Jason Chay, Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, SKH, spoke about the range of treatments and surgeries that require blood and debunked the common misconception that it is only needed by trauma patients. Clin Assoc Prof Winson Tan, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Colorectal Surgery, SKH, illustrated what happens when a patient suffers severe blood loss during surgery through a demonstration of a colonoscopy on a mannequin simulating a gastrointestinal bleeding case.

17 Sep 2026 | Channel NewsAsia Online Read Story

Education Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital expand partnership to advance early detection of muscle loss and support healthy aging • The expanded three-year collaboration will integrate muscle health screenings into hospital and community settings, train healthcare professionals, and increase public education • Since launching in 2023, the partnership has trained nearly 300 healthcare professionals to assess muscle health and support earlier intervention

09 Sep 2026 Read Story

Patient Care SKH Doctor on Gynecomastia Dr Savitha Ramachandran, Senior Consultant, Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery Services, SKH, shared that Gynecomastia is a benign condition affecting 50 to 60 per cent of teenagers and 30 to 65 per cent of men in Singapore, caused by hormonal imbalances that temporarily elevate oestrogen levels. While the condition often resolves on its own once hormone levels stabilise, Dr Ramachandran noted that those affected may experience feelings of low self-esteem, and that treatment options such as liposuction and surgical removal of breast tissue are considered based on the extent to which the condition affects the individual's daily life.

14 Jul 2026 | The Straits Times, Tamil Murasu Read Story

View All News Here