Sharfiza Abdul Aziz brings hope through pediatric physiotherapy

September 11, 2025

Healthcaretoday, Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab, Cornelia De Lange Syndrome, Pediatric Rehabilitation, developmental delay, Malaysia healthcare, Special needs children, Physiotherapy, Sharfiza Abdul Aziz, Healthcare heroes, Child development, Non profit healthcare, Disability support, Early intervention, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Healthcare access, Corporate social responsibility, Fundraising gala dinner, Therapy success strories, child health,

Sharfiza Abdul Aziz treating her 10 year old patient with Cerebral Palsy at Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab.

In a nation where access to specialized pediatric therapy remains limited for many, one woman's determination is creating waves of hope. Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab, founded by pediatric physiotherapist Sharfiza Abdul Aziz, stands as a beacon of hope for children with developmental delays across Malaysia. With a mission to provide professional therapy to those who need it most—especially underprivileged children—this remarkable institution is transforming lives one small step at a time.

A mission born from necessity
"Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab's mission is to help children with developmental delay who need physiotherapy, especially those with prematurity," explains founder Sharfiza Abdul Aziz. Her vision emerged from a stark reality: "There is a lack of professional pediatric physiotherapy access in Malaysia—especially for underprivileged children." This recognition of a critical gap in healthcare services became the driving force behind her establishment of a center dedicated to providing high-quality pediatric physiotherapy to all children, regardless of their economic background.

An unexpected career path
With 21 years of experience as a pediatric physiotherapist, Sharfiza's journey into the field was somewhat serendipitous. "My journey into physiotherapy began unexpectedly when I received an offer from UITM for 'Diploma Jurupulih Anggota' (Diploma in Physiotherapy) program. At the time, I knew little about the field, having initially applied for chemical engineering instead. The decision came during a challenging period when I was caring for my ill mother, and when the offer arrived, she encouraged me to accept it, believing the profession would suit me well. Though I initially planned to switch back to chemical engineering, everything changed within just two weeks of starting the program. As I learned more about physiotherapy, I discovered a natural affinity for the field, realizing it was precisely where I belonged."

Finding her calling in pediatric care
During her final placement at the Spastic Centre in Petaling Jaya, Sharfiza discovered her true passion. "That's when I learnt about Cerebral Palsy. I fell immediately in love. I started to like pediatric physiotherapy, how much I can help these children improve their lives," she shares. The experience of seeing children with significant challenges achieve independence solidified her dedication to this specialized field. Though she later gained experience working with patients of all ages and conditions, including neurology, geriatrics, and stroke cases, her heart remained firmly in pediatric care.

From vision to reality
With years of experience behind her, Sharfiza took the leap to open Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab, driven by a desire to train more physiotherapists in pediatric care and help more children. "We started since 2019 with a 700 sqft SOHO," she recounts. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted a move to a larger shop lot to accommodate more children. "As time goes by, the number of children that came to us increased. The support we received from corporations enabled us to provide free therapy and free assessment for children with developmental delay for underprivileged children," she adds.

A focus on physical developmental delays
At Tender Touch, the focus is specifically on physical developmental delays. "Developmental delay, it's more physical delay. At Tender Touch, the focus is on physical delay in children with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and rare diseases like Cornelia De Lange Syndrome," Sharfiza explains. The center treats children with approximately 27 different diagnoses, helping them "grow, to thrive, to achieve their developmental stage to the most that they can so that they can improve their quality of life, be more participative, have better movements and activities among family and friends." Currently, the center serves 40 children, with varying frequencies of therapy sessions based on individual needs and parental constraints.

The power of partnership
Corporate partnerships play a crucial role in enabling Tender Touch to continue providing affordable or free treatment to underprivileged children. "Crucial are partnerships with corporate donors like Lotus Malaysia in enabling Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab to continue providing affordable or free treatment to underprivileged children who are in constant need of therapy," Sharfiza emphasizes. With treatment costs at RM2,500 per month per child, these corporate sponsorships are vital for sustaining therapy services for those who cannot afford them.

Beyond physical benefits
The impact of proper therapy extends far beyond physical improvements. "If they are better in their movements, easier to handle, and they are happy as a person, they can contribute back to the society because these children, especially those with cerebral palsy—are 90% cognitively normal," Sharfiza explains. "So if they have better mobility, it will enhance their cognitive capability." She cites examples of individuals with cerebral palsy who have become lecturers, PhD holders, and government employees, demonstrating how early and consistent therapy can lead to meaningful societal contributions and economic improvements for families.

A sustainable model of care
Currently, Tender Touch sustains itself through patients who can afford to pay, while allocating a significant portion of profits to sponsor underprivileged children. "For those who can't afford, we try to get as much sponsorship as we can through our own initiatives," Sharfiza states. "Basically, 30 to 50% of our profit goes back to sponsoring underprivileged children's treatment from B40 families. So we hope to get more corporate sponsors to sustain the therapy for underprivileged children."

Celebrating progress and raising funds
To support their mission, Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab is hosting a fundraising gala dinner on October 12th at DoubleTree by Hilton at I-City. "The fundraising gala dinner aims to raise funds for 400 sessions to benefit 40 underprivileged children with 10 free sessions each," Sharfiza explains. This event, following a successful previous year, aims to celebrate these special children along with their parents and caretakers, making them "feel special for a day" while raising crucial funds for their therapy.

Addressing a national need
The work of Tender Touch addresses a significant gap in Malaysia's healthcare system. A 2019 UNICEF study found that among 444,000 people with special abilities in Malaysia, 10-15% are children, with limited access to professional rehabilitation. "We only depend on hospitals to provide physiotherapy, and even then, because the load is very high in public hospitals, they can only see these children once a month, and every two months once," Sharfiza notes. This falls far short of the recommended three to five therapy sessions per week needed for meaningful improvement.

Specialized care for complex conditions
Providing effective therapy requires specialized knowledge and skills. "The challenges is the therapy itself, firstly is hard to get therapists who are very well versed in pediatric patients to achieve physical improvement," Sharfiza explains. Children with various conditions present unique challenges—Down Syndrome may involve heart and swallowing conditions, Cornelia De Lange Syndrome presents gut issues, and cerebral palsy involves muscle tone challenges. "They need professional rehabilitation. It's not just a simple therapy," she emphasizes.

Innovative therapeutic approaches
Tender Touch employs several advanced therapeutic techniques in their treatment programs. Among these is Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), "a therapeutic technique used in physical and occupational therapy to treat children with motor delay by improving automatic postural responses and promoting progress towards developmental milestones." The goal of DMI is "to provoke a specified active motor response from the child in response to defined dynamic exercises prescribed by the therapist." This comprehensive approach incorporates current research on neurorehabilitation, technologies, and methodologies, stimulating neuroplasticity to facilitate new neuronal connections and development of motor milestones.

The Bobath approach
Another technique utilized at Tender Touch is the Bobath concept, "a type of physiotherapy treatment which aims to improve movement and mobility in patients with damage to their central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)." This approach, used in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions, promotes sensory and motor pathways and facilitates normal movement and motor control. "The Bobath concept continues to develop in concordance with changes in the presentation of individuals with different neurological conditions," Sharfiza notes, highlighting the evolving nature of therapeutic practices.

Focus on early development
Tender Touch places particular emphasis on infant development, using specialized techniques to train and strengthen muscles and position children to facilitate their development. "That's why we say it's developmental delay. That where the focus is," Sharfiza explains. This early intervention approach is critical for maximizing each child's potential and preventing further complications as they grow.

A testament to success
The impact of Tender Touch's work is perhaps best illustrated through success stories. One such case involves a girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 4, who wasn't able to stand or walk. "When she first came to Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab in 2020, she wasn't even able to sit independently. She was already 5 years old at that time," Sharfiza recalls. After beginning daily therapy, "Now she's actually walking, and can even walk independently. Despite the initial diagnosis of not being able to walk—therapy has changed her fate. With consistent therapy and consistent activity, she achieved developmental milestones."

To learn more about Tender Touch Pediatric Rehab's services or to support their upcoming fundraising gala dinner on October 12th at DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, please reach out directly to founder Sharfiza Abdul Aziz. She can be contacted at +603 3341 1584 or via mobile at 017-3369001. For inquiries via email, please write to tendertouchrehab@yahoo.com.

Sharfiza Abdul Aziz brings hope through pediatric physiotherapy

EXPLORE FURTHER

Malaysia to host Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition this September

Shining light on Prader-Willi syndrome

ADHD: Gender differences and their impact in the workplace

Barriers to support: Challenges for autistic individuals and their families

Does having a Persons with Disability (PWD) card make you invisible to the law?

Are occupational therapists essential for rehabilitation and recovery?

7 Types of disabilities you should be aware of

The urgent need for inclusivity in healthcare for persons with disabilities

Understanding autism spectrum disorder: Challenges, strategies, and support

Possible link between metal toxicity and autism

National Autism Society launches certified e-commerce programme for youths

The vital role of job coaches in supporting persons with disabilities