Is Your Weight Causing Your Knee Pain?
Being overweight means your knees carry more load with every step. Has this made stairs, standing up from a chair, or short walks start to hurt — or left your knees stiff every morning? At DR+, we offer a personalised weight management programme, led by doctors experienced in helping patients lose weight safely.
Why Obesity Causes Knee Pain?
Every step you take sends a multiple of your body weight through your knee joint — the more you weigh, the more force your knees absorb, thousands of times a day. Over time, this can wear down cartilage and trigger inflammation, contributing to knee osteoarthritis. This is one of the most common, and most treatable, causes of knee pain we see at DR+.
- Extra load wears down cartilage faster than it can repair
- Fat tissue releases inflammatory chemicals that add to joint pain
- Uneven gait shifts more strain onto the inner knee
- Weaker supporting muscles transfer more force directly to the joint
Not every patient is affected the same way. For some, pain is driven mainly by mechanical load and eases well with weight loss alone. For others, inflammation from fat tissue plays a larger role, and the knee needs to be treated more directly alongside the weight programme. This is why an assessment matters before starting treatment, rather than assuming weight loss by itself will resolve the pain.
If your knees ache after stairs, feel stiff in the morning, or have started limiting how active you can be — including if you’ve been told you have osteoarthritis — it’s worth getting assessed rather than living with it.
Learn how obesity affects your knees →
How Does DR+ Treat Knee Pain Caused By Obesity?
Knee pain and excess weight often reinforce each other — pain limits activity, and reduced activity makes weight harder to manage, which adds further strain back onto the joint. Our Paincare GPs are trained to treat both sides at once, addressing your pain while working on the weight driving it.
Knee Pain Injection
For patients with inflammation or pain localised to the knee joint.
- Coreflex Injections – a combination of local anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory, and muscle relaxant that works together to interrupt the pain cycle and relieve pain
- Intra-Articular Injections– delivering gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid directly into the knee joint to supplement thinning joint fluid, reduce pain, and improve mobility
GP Supervised Weight Management Programme
Reducing joint load is often just as critical to long-term relief as treating the knee directly — every kilo shed takes measurable pressure off the joint with each step, easing strain and helping preserve the knee cartilage.
Step 1: Health Assessment & Blood Test
Your GP evaluates your health history, lifestyle, and goals. A blood test may be arranged to evaluate your health condition including a cholesterol and diabetes profile.
Step 2: Nutrition and Lifestyle Advisory
Your GP advises you on diet and lifestyle changes to support your health and weight loss.
Step 3: Your Tailored Weight Loss Treatment
When assessed to be suitable, your GP may prescribe medication — in oral or injectable form — aimed at curbing appetite and supporting portion control alongside your diet and lifestyle changes.
Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring & Adjustments
Follow-up visits let your GP track your progress and adjust your treatment plan for both your knee and your weight.
Disclaimer: Individual results vary. Medications are only prescribed after proper evaluation by your doctor.
Not sure where to start?
Your first visit is a full assessment, so you’ll walk out with a clear plan, not a list of options to sort through yourself.
Our Doctors
Why Choose DR+ Medical & Paincare Clinic?
GPs trained in structured pain assessment through the Singapore Paincare Academy’s Painostic® methodology
No referral needed, walk-ins welcome
12 clinics across Singapore
CHAS and Healthier SG enrolled
Frequently Asked Questions
Do knee injections hurt?
Most patients feel only mild discomfort, similar to a standard injection. Your GP will use a local anaesthetic where needed to keep the procedure as comfortable as possible.
How soon will I feel relief after a knee injection?
It depends on the type of injection. Coreflex injections tend to work faster, while hyaluronic acid injections build up gradually over a few weeks but tend to last longer. Your GP will guide you on what to expect based on your treatment plan.
What weight loss treatment options are available?
We offer prescription-only treatments in both oral and injectable form. As required under healthcare advertising guidelines, specific treatments can only be discussed during a consultation, where your doctor will recommend what is suitable for you.
How much does weight loss programme cost?
Pricing depends on the treatment plan your GP recommends, and typically ranges from $349–999 a month, covering consultations, ongoing care, and delivery. As individual medication costs can’t be listed online under healthcare regulations, your GP will confirm exact pricing at your consultation.
How much weight loss is needed to notice a difference in knee pain?
Research suggests that losing five to ten percent of body weight is often linked to a meaningful reduction in knee pain and improved function for many patients, though the exact amount varies from person to person. Your DR+ GP can help set a realistic target based on your starting weight, your knee assessment, and your overall health profile.
Do I need a referral to see a doctor for knee pain at DR+?
No referral is needed. Walk-ins are welcome at DR+ Alexandra and all 12 DR+ clinics during operating hours.
What happens at my first visit?
Your GP will review your history, examine your knee, and discuss relevant factors such as weight and metabolic health, before recommending a treatment plan suited to your situation.
Is treatment covered by CHAS or Medisave?
Consultations may be claimable under CHAS for eligible patients. Speak to our team to check your eligibility.
Our Clinics
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 am–5:30 pm
- Closed on Sat, Sun & PH
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
- Mon, Wed & Fri: 8:30am – 12:30pm, 1:30pm – 4:30pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Tue & Thu: 8:30am – 12:30pm, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
- Sat: 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Closed on Sun & PH
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
- Mon & Wed: 8:30am – 3:30pm, 5pm – 8pm
- Tue , Thu & Fri: 8:30am – 3:30pm
- Sat: 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Closed on Sun & PH
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
Singapore 640221
- Mon to Fri: 8:00am – 4:00pm
- Sat: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Sun: Closed - PH: Closed
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
- Mon & Tue: 9am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm, 6:30pm to 9:30pm
- Wed, Thu & Fri: 9am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm
- Sat: 9am to 1pm
- Closed on Sun & PH
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
#01-54 The Midtown, Singapore 533971
- Mon & Tue: 8:00am – 12:30pm, 1:30pm – 5:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Wed: 8:00am – 12:30pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Thu: 8:00am – 12:30pm, 1:30pm – 5:00pm
- Fri: 8:00am – 12:30pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Sat: 8:00am – 12:00pm
- Sun & PH: Closed
(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
- Mon: 8:00am – 2:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Tue & Wed: 8:00am – 3:00pm
- Thu: 8:00am – 3:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Fri: 8:00am – 2:00pm
- Sat: 8:00am – 12:00pm
- Sun: 10:00am – 1:00pm
- PH: Closed
#01-95, Singapore 570121
- Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri: 8:00am – 5:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Tue: 8:00am – 5:00pm
- Sat & Sun: 8:00am – 1:00pm
- PH: Closed
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time but may close earlier if the queue is unusually long.)
Singapore 730018
- Mon: 8:00am – 9:00pm
- Tue – Fri: 8:00am – 4:30pm, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
- Sat: 8:00am – 12:30pm
- Sun & PH: Closed
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Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.
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(Last registration timing – Mon: 8:45pm, Tue – Fri: 4:15pm & 8:45pm, Sat: 12:15pm)
Singapore 520844
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:00am – 4:00pm
- Wed: 8:00am – 4:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Sat: 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Sun & PH: Closed
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(Our clinic is open during lunch hours)
Thomson Imperial Court, Singapore 574424
- Mon to Wed: 8:30am – 10:00pm
- Thu: 8:30am – 3:00pm, 6:00pm-9:30pm
- Fri: 8:30am – 6:00pm
- Sat & Sun: 9:00am – 3:00pm
- PH: Closed
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
988 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534733
- Mon to Fri: 8:30am – 2:30pm, 6:00pm – 10:00pm
- Sat & Sun: 8:30am – 12:30pm
- PH: Closed
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(Kindly note that clinic’s last registration is 15 minutes before closing time.)
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