Dr Teoh Chin Sim is a sports medicine physician in the Sports & Exercise Medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Areas of clinical focus include sports Nutrition, Acupuncture.
Clinical focus
Sports Nutrition, Acupuncture.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS (S’pore), MSS (SpMed)(Hons), FAMS, GDAcu, GCertSpNutr, GDBA
Where they practise
Teoh Chin Sim practises at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, in the Sports & Exercise Medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Sports Medicine
Sports and exercise medicine is the non-surgical care of injuries and conditions related to physical activity — for athletes and non-athletes alike. Sports physicians diagnose and treat muscle, tendon, ligament and joint injuries such as sprains, tendinopathies, stress fractures and cartilage problems, and they also use exercise as medicine to manage conditions like osteoarthritis and to support general health. Assessment may include a focused examination and imaging such as ultrasound or MRI. Treatment emphasises accurate diagnosis, activity modification, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, with options such as image-guided injections where appropriate, and referral to an orthopaedic surgeon reserved for the minority who need an operation. Prevention and safe return to activity are central.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in sports medicine include:
- Sprains, strains and ligament injuries
- Tendinopathies (e.g. Achilles, tennis elbow)
- Stress fractures and overuse injuries
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Osteoarthritis and exercise therapy
- Return-to-sport and injury prevention
What to expect at a consultation
An initial consultation usually involves a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, a focused examination, and any tests needed to reach a diagnosis. The specialist will explain the findings, walk you through your options — including non-surgical approaches where relevant — and set out the likely costs and next steps before anything proceeds. If a procedure is recommended, it is reasonable to ask what it involves, the expected recovery time, the risks and the alternatives, so you can make an informed decision at your own pace. It helps to keep asking questions until you fully understand the plan.
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring referral letters, past reports, scan images and a list of your current medications.
- Note your main symptoms, when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Write down the questions that matter most to you, and bring a family member if it helps.
After your consultation and follow-up
Depending on the diagnosis, you may be given medication, referred for further tests or imaging, scheduled for a procedure, or asked to return for review. Ask what warning signs should prompt earlier contact, how to get your results, and who to reach if you have questions between visits. Keeping your own copy of reports makes future care and any second opinion easier.
Costs, subsidies and financing in Singapore
For subsidised care at a public (restructured) hospital, a referral from a GP or polyclinic is generally needed; private specialists can usually be booked directly at full fees. Ask upfront for an estimate covering the consultation, tests and any procedure. Depending on the treatment, you may be able to use MediSave for approved day-surgery and procedures (within set limits), with MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan helping for larger inpatient bills. Purely cosmetic procedures are not claimable. If cost is a concern, it is worth asking whether a subsidised referral is possible, and comparing written estimates between providers before you commit.
How to choose the right sports medicine physician in Singapore
Beyond credentials, it helps to match the specialist to your specific problem. Consider whether their sub-specialty fits your condition, how often they manage or operate on cases like yours, which hospital they admit to (and whether it suits your budget and insurance), and how clearly they explain your options and costs. Accreditation can be confirmed on the Register of Specialists and registration on the Singapore Medical Council register. Independent reviews are a useful signal for communication and experience, but weigh them alongside credentials rather than on their own.
Questions worth asking at your first consultation
- Are you an accredited specialist in the area my condition falls under?
- What are my options, including non-surgical or watch-and-wait approaches?
- How often do you treat or perform this, and what are the typical outcomes and risks?
- What is the full estimated cost, and what can I claim through MediSave or insurance?
- Are you comfortable with me seeking a second opinion?
Verifying credentials
In Singapore every practising doctor must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council, and specialists are additionally listed on the Register of Specialists maintained by the Specialist Accreditation Board — you can search both to confirm a doctor’s registration and field. The letters after a name (such as MRCP, FRCS or FAMS) reflect postgraduate training and fellowships, but the key question is simply whether the doctor is an accredited specialist in the area relevant to your care.
When to consider a second opinion
A second opinion is reasonable before major surgery, for a serious or unclear diagnosis, or when a recommended treatment feels aggressive or uncertain. Good specialists welcome it. Bring your reports and scans so the second doctor can assess the same information. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records to take along, and seeking another view will not offend a good specialist.
Common questions
When should I see a sports medicine doctor?
For a sports or exercise injury, a joint or tendon problem that isn’t settling, an overuse or recurrent injury, or for guidance on returning to activity safely — you do not need to be an athlete.
Do I need surgery for my injury?
Most sports and musculoskeletal injuries are treated without surgery, using accurate diagnosis, rehabilitation and physiotherapy; a sports physician refers to an orthopaedic surgeon only for the minority who need an operation.
What is the difference between a sports physician and an orthopaedic surgeon?
A sports medicine physician provides non-surgical care of injuries and exercise-related conditions, while an orthopaedic surgeon operates; they often work together on the same problem.
Do I need a referral to see this specialist?
For subsidised care at a public hospital you generally need a GP or polyclinic referral; private specialists can usually be seen directly.
How can I verify a doctor’s credentials?
Check the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and the Register of Specialists for accredited specialists.
Selected research & publications
Teoh Chin Sim has contributed to peer-reviewed research in sports medicine. A selection of published work:
- Progression of Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern 12-lead electrocardiogram changes in an asymptomatic athlete — Singapore Med J, 2023
- Surveying the knowledge of the World Health Organization physical activity guidelines, exercise habits and beliefs of hospital staff — Singapore Med J, 2021
- Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome in a Singaporean mixed martial arts fighter — Singapore Med J, 2018
Related guides
Sources & verification
Profile details are summarised from the doctor’s official listing (official profile). Registration can be verified on the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and specialist accreditation on the Register of Specialists.
General information only, not medical advice. Details may change — confirm current clinic, availability and fees with the provider.
See also: our editorial directory of sports medicine physicians in Singapore.
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