From Student to Educator: Staying True to Her Aspirations
Prof. Fu graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1982 as a qualified physiotherapist, and began her academic career at PolyU in 1994.
Prof. Fu's Master's and PhD student, Zhou Fengming (right), presented her with an artwork to thank her for two decades of guidance.
Prof. Fu’s research focus has been on the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, and the development of related treatment and equipment to enhance personal capabilities.
In the eyes of her students, Prof. Fu Siu-ngor is as resilient as plum blossoms. Having served at PolyU for over three decades, she has consistently lived up to her belief in enhancing the quality of life through knowledge. From teaching to research, and propelling physiotherapy services through innovation & technology, she has steadfastly paved the way forward.
Prof. Fu graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1982 as a qualified physiotherapist. Subsequently in Australia, she explored various topics in physiotherapy, gathering information and organising knowledge, and received her first taste of academic research. In 1991, she began teaching anatomy and related topics to dance students at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where she also participated in motion analysis research to reduce the risk of injury among dancers. These experiences cultivated her passion for teaching and knowledge creation, leading to a return to her alma mater in 1994 to begin her academic career at PolyU.
Prof. Fu’s life has an inextricable connection with PolyU, growing alongside the University and witnessing its transformation. She remarked, "The year I joined, PolyU had just assumed full university status. Over the past 30 years, PolyU has evolved from a teaching-oriented institution to a research-driven university. I am equally delighted because this profession of physiotherapy has also made great strides, as a result of the infusion of research and technology, and benefits more people."
Nurturing Talent and Contributing to the Nation and Society
Prof. Fu has tenaciously paid life forward in a multitude of ways, including teaching, research, and professional service. Along the way, she has been showered with remarkable results.
In teaching, she has not only nurtured countless students in Hong Kong but also in Mainland China. Over the years, she has collaborated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan to train over a hundred physiotherapy graduates, who now spread the knowledge and skills imparted by Prof. Fu across the Nation.
In terms of creating and transferring knowledge, the focus of Prof. Fu’s research has been on the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, and the development of related treatment and equipment to enhance personal capabilities. Her work particularly addresses chronic pain caused by musculotendinous problems, which affects elite athletes and frail seniors. She also designed therapeutic devices at the Ersha Sports Training Center in Guangdong province for athletes with anterior knee pain and seniors with knee osteoarthritis. In daily use these devices not only alleviate pain but also contribute significantly to research on the causes of and effective treatments for knee problems.
Prof. Fu has experience in providing physiotherapy services to elite athletes. "During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I was assigned to provide rehabilitation services to members of the national team. A judo athlete suffered from a back injury during training. At the time, I had no equipment on hand, but was inspired to make use of the table tennis table to support the athlete's back, helping her relax and assisting her recovery through manual therapy. At the end, the athlete brought home the gold medal, which was very moving for me," she said.
Her greatest professional satisfaction is that the profession of physiotherapy itself can help people alleviate pain and improve the quality of life. She has actively participated in teaching, research, and service in the field of sports science for many years, hoping to better apply research to clinical practice and benefit more patients.
Balancing Service and Research: Grateful for the Journey
Despite facing challenges and struggles during her 30-year stint at PolyU, Prof. Fu has always remained true to her aspirations, continuously seeking solutions to problems and never giving up. She recalled, "In addition to teaching and research, I also took on a role at the PolyU Rehabilitation Clinic, assisting in its management and operations. As a result, I might not have had the time to publish a large volume of academic articles, which slowed down my promotion compared to my peers." However, Prof. Fu is grateful for the experience of working at the clinic, as it allowed her to directly serve the community and provided valuable clinical data for her research. She also had the opportunity to meet many generous donors who supported her in applying knowledge on a larger scale in clinical practice. Prof. Fu is pleased to see more physiotherapy researchers involved in frontline services gaining recognition from both academia and society.
Prof. Fu is thankful for the generosity of donors including the Chan Sui Kau family, whose contributions have enabled her to make greater progress in research and teaching.
Looking back on her career, Prof. Fu is particularly grateful to her mentors and peers, especially Prof. Christina Hui-Chan, former Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and the founder of the Master’s programme in Physiotherapy in China, who opened the door to research for her. She also acknowledges the former Deputy President and Provost Prof. Philip Chan and Prof. George Woo, known as the "Father of Optometry in Hong Kong," for their tremendous support and encouragement. Prof. Fu is also thankful for the generosity of donors, including the Chan Sui Kau family, whose contributions have enabled her to make greater progress in research and teaching.
Through her actions, Prof. Fu Siu-ngor has demonstrated the power of education and the value of knowledge creation. Through teaching, research, practice, and service, she has advanced the field of physiotherapy by nurturing professionals and benefiting patients, and making a profoundly positive impact on society.
