Musculoskeletal Care, Re-Examined.
Back pain.
Neck stiffness.
Knee swelling.
Shoulder weakness.
These problems are rarely caused by a single structure alone.
Modern musculoskeletal science recognises something important:
Pain is often multi-layered.
It may involve structure, inflammation, movement mechanics, nervous system sensitivity, lifestyle load, and even nutritional recovery capacity — interacting together.
Treating only one layer may not address the full picture.
Beyond Single-Modality Care
Strengthening alone may not reduce inflammation.
Medication alone may not restore biomechanics.
Imaging alone does not improve movement.
Technology alone does not rebuild stability.
Comprehensive care requires coordination.
Our Integrated Model
We apply a structured, evidence-aligned framework that brings multiple perspectives together in one coordinated setting.
1 — Medical Clarity
A doctor evaluates structural and inflammatory contributors, including:
- Disc and nerve involvement
- Tendon integrity
- Calcification
- Joint degeneration
- Capsular restriction
Where appropriate, imaging is used selectively and interpreted clinically.
2 — Movement & Biomechanical Insight
A licensed physiotherapist evaluates:
- Core stability
- Joint mechanics
- Strength balance
- Range of motion
- Load tolerance
- Movement confidence
Structure and function are aligned — not treated separately.
3 — Behavioural & Load Strategy
Modern rehabilitation recognises the role of:
- Graded activity progression
- Activity pacing
- Sleep and recovery
- Fear of movement
- Reconditioning after inactivity
Pain is not purely structural — and recovery is not purely mechanical.
4 — Evidence-Based Nutritional Consideration
Musculoskeletal tissues depend on:
- Adequate protein
- Collagen-supportive nutrients
- Micronutrient sufficiency
- Inflammatory balance
- Recovery capacity
Nutrition does not replace medical care — but it may support tissue repair and resilience.
5 — Targeted Non-Invasive Technology
Where appropriate, adjunctive medical technologies may complement rehabilitation planning.
Technology supports structured care — it does not replace it.
Why Coordination Matters
In many systems, care is fragmented across locations.
Here, doctor and physiotherapist are co-located and able to discuss cases face-to-face.
Structural findings, imaging interpretation, and movement assessment are aligned in real time.
This reflects multidisciplinary principles widely established in hospital musculoskeletal teams — applied in a practical outpatient setting.
A Balanced Approach
We do not assume every case needs surgery.
We do not assume every case can be solved by exercise alone.
We do not assume imaging automatically dictates intervention.
We aim to clarify contributors and sequence care appropriately.
Spine. Knee. Shoulder.
Whether the issue involves:
- Disc-related neck or back symptoms
- Recurrent knee pain
- Rotator cuff irritation
- Frozen shoulder stiffness
- Calcific tendinitis
- Mechanical overload
Our framework recognises that musculoskeletal pain is rarely one-dimensional.
Care That Reflects Modern Evidence
International musculoskeletal guidelines increasingly support integrated, biopsychosocial approaches.
Hospital teams coordinate across specialties.
We bring similar coordination into the outpatient setting — combining:
Medical clarity.
Movement science.
Behavioural alignment.
Nutritional awareness.
Targeted technology.
All under one roof.
The Goal
Not to oversimplify.
Not to over-escalate.
But to understand the layers — and address them appropriately.
Musculoskeletal care, re-examined.
1️⃣ Why is musculoskeletal pain often multi-layered?
Back, neck, knee and shoulder pain often involve a combination of structural changes, inflammation, muscle imbalance, movement mechanics, behavioural influences and recovery capacity. These contributors frequently interact rather than exist as a single isolated cause.
2️⃣ What is an integrated musculoskeletal care approach?
An integrated approach combines medical assessment, imaging interpretation where appropriate, biomechanical evaluation by a licensed physiotherapist, behavioural and load management strategies, evidence-based nutritional considerations, and structured rehabilitation planning.
3️⃣ Why involve both a doctor and a physiotherapist?
A doctor evaluates structural and medical contributors such as disc changes, tendon integrity, calcification or joint degeneration. A physiotherapist assesses strength, movement mechanics, range of motion and load tolerance. Coordinated discussion supports alignment between structure and function.
4️⃣ Does imaging always determine treatment?
Imaging such as MRI, ultrasound or X-ray may clarify structural findings when clinically appropriate. However, imaging results are interpreted alongside symptoms, physical examination and functional assessment before care decisions are made.
5️⃣ What role do behavioural factors play in musculoskeletal recovery?
Modern musculoskeletal care recognises that factors such as fear of movement, sleep disruption, stress load and activity avoidance may influence recovery. Addressing these through graded activity progression and education may support rehabilitation.
6️⃣ Does nutrition influence joint and muscle recovery?
Adequate protein intake, micronutrient sufficiency and overall recovery nutrition may support tissue repair and musculoskeletal resilience. Nutritional considerations complement, but do not replace, medical assessment and rehabilitation planning.
7️⃣ Is surgery always required for spine, knee or shoulder pain?
Surgical decisions depend on structural severity, functional limitation and response to conservative care. Many musculoskeletal conditions are initially evaluated and managed using structured non-surgical approaches where appropriate.
What To Expect When I Visit The Pain Relief Clinic
A typical visit will involve our doctor first understanding your medical history, concerns and previous experience with other pain treatments.
For patients who have consulted many people but have yet to receive a clear diagnosis, selecting an affordable imaging scan might be recommended to confirm the cause of your pain..
Some patients have already done scans with other doctors for their pain condition but are still not clearly told what they suffer from.
Dr Terence Tan is happy to offer you a second opinion and recommend how best to manage your condition.
We also see patients who already have a confirmed diagnosis from specialist pain doctors, but are "stuck” because treatment options offered are not practical or acceptable.
We can help by discussing options that you might have potentially never been told of.
A common experience is when a patient has already consulted a specialist doctor for pain management and is told to consider orthopaedic surgery which they find too aggressive.
Or they may have seen doctors for their pain and were prescribed painkillers with potential side effects which made them feel uncomfortable.
Many of our patients have also first tried complementary treatments or acupuncture with traditional Chinese pain doctors.
They look for a second opinion after finding any relief experienced from other treatments to be temporary or requiring repetitive treatments, which add up to time and cost.
Especially in such situations, we emphasize using non-invasive medical technology you likely have not been told about .
This can make a big difference to your results.
Ask Dr Tan a Question about your problem
Find out how your pain can be more effectively treated.
For enquiries, Call +65 6732 2397
THE PAIN RELIEF CLINIC
You May Qualify For Cashless Scans & Treatments
We believe that access to medical services should be stress-free.
Singaporeans, permanent residents, and some international patients may be eligible for cashless services.
This can remove the need to pay cash upfront, solving a potential problem even for patients with insurance coverage.
You should be focused on getting answers and starting correct treatment, not worrying about large upfront bills.
To check your eligibility, send us a message.
Our Doctor
Quick Links
Call for Appointments
Our Location
Follow Us
Contact us on Whatsapp