Assoc Prof Shamala Thilarajah

Shamala Thilarajah trained as a physiotherapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation in Sydney and London before returning home to Singapore in 2012. She has worked across acute to community sectors and is currently a Senior Principal Physiotherapist at the Singapore General Hospital.

At present, Shamala Thilarajah 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 Thilarajah 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 past President and current Executive Committee Member of the Singapore National Stroke Association.

1. Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences Innovation, DukeNUS Medical School, Singapore
2. Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
3. Master of Health Science, University of Sydney, Australia
4. Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy), University of Sydney, Australia

1. Outstanding Research Award (Allied Health) SGH 25th Annual Scientific Meeting 2024 – 2024
2. Outstanding Research Award (Allied Health) SGH 24th Annual Scientific Meeting 2022 – 2022
3. Singapore Physiotherapy Association Outstanding Public Sector Physiotherapist 2021 – 2021
4. AMEI Golden Apple Awards for STRIPE (Stroke Interprofessional education) 2021 – 2021
5. Outstanding Alumni University of Sunshine Coast Outstanding Alumni 2021 – 2021
6. SingHealth Allied Health Innovation Practice EBP Award 2021 – 2021
7. SingHealth AHP Clinical Champion Award for stroke service champion 2021 – 2021
8. Successful candidate for World Stroke Organisation Future Leaders Programme 2020 – 2022
9. Healthcare Humanity Award-Volunteer category 2020 – 2020

Research Studies

Current Projects:

1. Multi-mOdal Training program to promote physical actIVity After sTrokE: MOTIVATE- a Hybrid Type 1 Randomised Controlled Trial, 2023 – Present
2. A Randomised Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of MLC1501 in Patients with Stroke, 2023 – Present

Past Projects:

1. Development of MOTIVATE: Multi-mOdal Training program to promote physical actIVity After sTrokE, 2020 – 2023
2. Centre of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation, 2023 – 2024
3. Physical function, activity and falls Risk Evaluation using innovative Sensor Technologies In Clinical and GEriatric Populations (PRESTIGE): Stroke, 2014 – 2018
4. Factors associated with physical activity after stroke, 2014 – 2018

1. Thilarajah, S., Dancza, K., Chen, Z. Z., Wong, C. X. Q., Yan, C. C., Niam, S., Ng, Y. S., Lynch, E., Churilov, L., Tan, W. K., Tan, E., & Kwah, L. K. (2025). Transforming community-based rehabilitation services: A national redesign using experience-based co-design. Health Expectations, 28, e70330. JIF: 3.2.
2. Kwah, L. K., Doshi, K., Wai, E., Hollis, J., Bird, M. L., Pua, Y. H., Thumboo, J., Low, L. L., He, H. G., De Silva, D. A., Niam, S., Toh, I., Lui, Y. C., Choo, S., Wang, J., & Thilarajah, S. (2024). Development of a behaviour change intervention for improving physical activity amongst stroke survivors with physical disabilities: A co-design approach. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2918. JIF: 3.5.
3. Kwah, L. K., Doshi, K., De Silva, D. A., Ng, W. M., & 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. JIF: 2.6.
4. Teo, R., Thilarajah, S., Lee, J., Yu, F. L. F., & Khim, K. L. (2023). Barriers to physical activity of stroke survivors in Singapore: A face-to-face cross-sectional survey. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare, 32, 20101058231184953. JIF: 0.5.
5. Thilarajah, S., Ying, L. A., Lee, A., Lee, J. A., Yu, F. L. F., Khim, K. L. (2024). Modifying the mobility scale for acute stroke (MSAS) for all stroke phases (MSA(ll)S): Measurement properties and clinical application. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 105(7), 1262-1267. JIF: 4.1.
6. Demers, M., Charalambous, M., Kwah, L. K., Thilarajah, S., Bazadona, D., Chapman, S., Nasreldein, A., Yperzeele, L., Amoah, D., Winstein, C., Bernhardt, J., & Gopaul, U. (2024). The unique needs and challenges experienced by young people with stroke: An international qualitative analysis. Neurology: Clinical Practice, 15(1), e200406. JIF: 3.1
7. Scully, A., Thilarajah, S., Lee, M., Sreeram, A., Tang, P., Tan, B., Tan, C., Tan, Y. L., & Kwah, L. K. (2024). What do we need for a successful model of care to promote physical activity after stroke? Results from two web-based surveys of physiotherapists and exercise professionals in Singapore. Physiotherapy, 127, 101456. JIF: 3.7.
8. Thilarajah, S., Bower, K. J., Hao, P. Y., Tan, D., Williams, G., Larik, A., Wai, B. C., Koh, G., & Clark, R. A. (2020). Modifiable factors associated with poststroke physical activity at discharge from rehabilitation: Prospective cohort study. Physical Therapy, 100(5), 818–828. JIF: 3.3.
9. Bower, K. J., Thilarajah, S., Williams, G., Pua, Y. H., Tan, D., & Clark, R. A. (2022). Quiet standing postural control variables in subacute stroke: Associations with gait and balance, falls prediction and responsiveness. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(7), 1367–1374. JIF: 2.1.
10. Thilarajah, S., Bower, K. J., Williams, G., Clark, R. A., Tan, D., & Pua, Y. H. (2021). Paretic and nonparetic step tests are noninterchangeable in stroke: A prospective cohort study. Physical Therapy, 101(5), pzab060. JIF: 3.3.