DBC Patient Information

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does the treatment involve?
Is it suitable for me?
How does it work?
Is it expensive?
Will my private medical insurance cover it?
Do I need a GP referral?

What does the treatment involve?

All patients are given an initial assessment, lasting typically 90 minutes, which involves: a physical examination by a chartered physiotherapist; a questionnaire; and testing of your range of motion and muscular endurance.
The assessment determines whether DBC treatment is likely to be able to help you, and if so, a customised programme is developed. The programme will involve 2 treatment sessions of around 75 minutes per week for 6 or 12 weeks, using the specially designed DBC machines.
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Is it suitable for me?

DBC based treatment will benefit most patients who have suffered lower back or neck pain for more than 6 weeks, or who are suffering from more severe whiplash injuries. DBC has helped very long term sufferers and those for whom surgery has not been effective.
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How does it work?

DBC treatment is exercise based. The specially designed machines isolate specific muscles, and allow you to exercise these muscles within a controlled range of motion and loading. Exercising muscles in this way reverses the vicious circle of pain leading to those in pain not using muscles, leading to weaker muscles and more pain, into a virtuous circle of using muscles, strengthening them and reducing pain. Unlike free exercise, the DBC machines enable the deep spine muscles to be activated. The exercises are supervised by a physiotherapist.
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Is it expensive?

Rates vary across clinics, but typically the costs are similar per hour to physiotherapy.
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Will my private medical insurance cover it?

Generally private medical insurance policies cover it within any annual limit for outpatient physiotherapy treatment.
Increasingly employers are willing to pay for treatment to assist an early return to work – consult your occupational health department.
Some Primary Care Trusts are considering funding DBC treatment where it may be an alternative to surgery.
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Do I need a GP referral?

Whilst we would always advise you to consult a GP if you consider that your musculo skeletal condition is not responding, a GP referral is not required prior to treatment (your insurance provider may require you to obtain one, if you intend to reclaim).
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