Adj Assoc Prof Roger Tian is a sports physician and Senior Consultant and Director at the Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre at Novena, and a Senior Consultant at the centre at Changi General Hospital. He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1996 and trained in surgery before obtaining a Masters in Sports Medicine from the University of New South Wales.
He holds academic appointments at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, where he has been involved in developing graduate sports medicine training.
His clinical interests include the management and prevention of sports injuries, strength and conditioning, and sports nutrition. He has provided medical coverage at events including the Asian Youth Games and the Youth Olympic Games.
Clinical focus
Sports injuries & musculoskeletal medicine.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS (Singapore); MRCSEd; MMed (Surgery); MSportsMed (Australia); DFD (CAW).
Where they practise
- Clinic / practice: Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre @ Novena — Novena Medical Center, Sinaran Drive
- Hospital / training affiliation(s): Changi General Hospital (Department of Sport and Exercise Medicine)
Getting to the clinic
Adj Assoc Prof Roger Tian practises at the Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre @ Novena, located at Novena Medical Center on Sinaran Drive. The area is served by Novena MRT on the North-South Line (NS20), a short, largely sheltered walk from the medical centre via the linked buildings around the station. This makes public transport a comfortable choice, particularly for patients arriving with a musculoskeletal injury who would prefer to avoid a long walk in the open.
Several bus services stop along Thomson Road and the roads near the Novena cluster, and the MRT station itself is integrated with the surrounding development. If you are travelling by taxi or ride-hailing, ask to be set down at the Novena Medical Center / Sinaran Drive entrance, which brings you close to the lifts. Drivers will find a paid visitor carpark in the building; the Novena area is busy on weekdays, so allow extra time during peak hours and consider dropping a less mobile patient at the door before parking.
What sports and musculoskeletal medicine covers
Adj Assoc Prof Tian’s clinical interests include the management and prevention of sports injuries, strength and conditioning, and sports nutrition. Sports and musculoskeletal medicine is concerned with the non-surgical care of injuries and conditions affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and bones.
- Acute sports injuries such as ligament sprains (including ankle and knee), muscle strains and joint injuries.
- Overuse and degenerative conditions managed through rehabilitation, load management and exercise.
- Strength and conditioning advice to support recovery, performance and injury prevention.
- Sports nutrition, supporting training, recovery and overall health.
- Injury prevention strategies and safe return-to-sport planning for athletes at all levels.
The emphasis is on conservative, exercise-based treatment, with surgery considered only when necessary. Prevention is a recurring theme: identifying and correcting the factors that led to an injury — training load, technique, conditioning and nutrition — helps reduce the chance of it happening again.
What to expect at a consultation
A first visit begins with a detailed history. The doctor will ask about your sport or activity, how the injury occurred, how the symptoms behave, and your training, nutrition and general health. This context is important for both diagnosis and a tailored plan.
A focused physical examination follows, assessing the injured region together with range of motion, strength and stability, and using specific tests to identify the source of pain. The doctor may observe your movement where relevant. Investigations such as X-ray, ultrasound or MRI may be arranged to confirm the diagnosis. You will then discuss the findings and a management plan, which often combines rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, activity modification and, where appropriate, nutritional advice, along with a realistic recovery timeline.
Preparing for your appointment
- Photo identification, and any GP or polyclinic referral letter.
- Previous records, scans and reports relevant to the injury.
- A current medication and supplement list with doses.
- A written list of symptoms and questions.
- Sports shoes, orthotics and clothing you can move and exercise in for the examination.
- A training and nutrition diary, useful when load or fuelling may be contributing to the problem.
After your consultation and follow-up
You should leave with a clear diagnosis and plan. Imaging reports are generally available within a few days and can be shared with you and other clinicians. Sports and musculoskeletal conditions are usually managed over several weeks, so review visits allow the doctor to check progress, advance your rehabilitation and conditioning, and adjust the programme if needed. Referrals to physiotherapy or other allied health professionals are common, and continuity of care supports a safe, graded return to sport.
You may seek a second opinion at any time. Seek urgent attention for severe or worsening pain, an injury with deformity or inability to bear weight, signs of infection around a joint, or any sudden neurological symptoms.
Booking, referrals and fees
Private specialists can usually be seen without a referral, though a GP or polyclinic letter can help with continuity and may assist with subsidies if you are later directed to public services. For eligible procedures, MediSave, MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans may apply within set limits, while consultations are generally out of pocket. Because coverage varies by plan and procedure, confirm fees and claimable items with the clinic in advance.
Common questions
Will I need surgery for my sports injury?
Many injuries are managed without surgery, using rehabilitation, conditioning and activity modification. Surgery is considered only when conservative care is insufficient or the injury specifically requires it.
How can strength and conditioning help?
Targeted strengthening supports injured tissues, improves performance and reduces re-injury risk, making it a central part of both recovery and prevention.
Does nutrition affect injury recovery?
Adequate nutrition supports healing, training and overall health, so sports nutrition advice can complement a rehabilitation programme.
How soon can I return to my sport?
This depends on the injury and your response to treatment. The doctor will give a realistic estimate and use reviews to guide a safe, staged return.
Related guides
Sources & verification
See also: our editorial directory of sports medicine physicians in Singapore and our shortlist of sports medicine clinics.
This is an independent, factual profile compiled from the public sources listed above — not a paid listing, advertisement or endorsement. Details can change; always verify a doctor’s current registration on the Singapore Medical Council public register and confirm specifics directly with the clinic. This page is general information, not medical advice or a recommendation of any individual practitioner. See our editorial policy.
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