DBC is a growing network of advanced chartered physiotherapy centres which specialise in the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal and sports injuries. It's headed up by Athlone native Liam Heavin, who explains why DBC is different from other physiotherapy centres. There have been wonderful advances in the area of sports injury treatment in recent years and one of the foremost names in this regard has been DBC, which is owned by Athlone native Liam Heavin. Heavin heads up the Irish arm of DBC, which has its origins in Finland and has over 100 clinics worldwide. Specialising in the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal and sports injuries, DBC has been operating in Ireland since 200.1. Its chartered physiotherapy centres are located in Crumlin, Dublin 12 and Naas, Co. Kildare, while a third centre is due to open shortly at Ballybrit in Galway. These state-of-the-art physiotherapy centres cater for the needs of a wide range of elite athletes. Many top sportsmen and women ranging from inter-county Gaelic football, hurling, Premiership soccer, inter-provincial and international rugby, to pro-golfers have made DBC their first choice for injury rehabilitation. Combining the best and latest technology, with experienced physiotherapists who have worked at the highest level within sport, DBC provides injured athletes with access to rehabilitation services, the like of which has only previously been accessible and available to professionals. Treatment at DBC is exercise based, using revolutionary medical rehabilitation equipment to accurately assess the injured structures, providing facts and figures on the level of dysfunction. Once assessed, each injured athlete then enters a tailor made programme prescribed by the DBC physiotherapist. "The DBC concept was originally developed to cater for people who were injured in car accidents or other related accidents, Liam explains. "But it later developed into the whole area of sports injury treatment. DBC is a highly reputable Finnish brand and, having studied physiotherapy in Finland, I decided to bring the brand back with me to Ireland. "The primary difference between DBC and normal Chartered Physiotherapy is firstly the exercise equipment that we use," says Heavin. "The scientists at DBC came together to design specific, technologically advanced devices to isolate movement so that certain areas can be accessed very accurately, and allow treatment to be targeted exactly to the area that is injured. While most physio sessions take about a half hour, our sessions are usually at least twice that. Once we have identified what the injury is, we prescribe a programme best suited to treat that injury and to ensure that the athlete returns to full fitness," he adds. DBC's Active Rehabilitation programs have been used to treat many of Ireland's leading athletes. It is the process of restoring muscle or joint function through pain-free movement and gradual loading. DBC has specific equipment which allows the injured athlete to carry out movements pain-free. This is crucial in helping the injured structures to heal more quickly. Active rehabilitation has been shown to increase the speed of the healing process, leading to a quicker return to sport and longer lasting benefits. Treatment aimed specifically at the individual demands of a patient's sport results in a safe return to participation and reduces the risk of re-injury. DBC s unique medical equipment allows the clinician to test and load the injured athlete - even through explosive movements such as kicking or swinging a golf club. Assessments which allow testing of specific sports-tasks provide much more detailed and individualised information about the athlete, and afford a more accurate and functional means of planning treatment. DBC s centres have large sports-specific areas. For example, at DBC Ashleaf (Dublin), a digital video assessment area allows for recording and in-depth analysis of activities such as running, kicking or throwing. Over half of DBC s patients are GAA players, with the most common injuries relating to the groin and knee. "There is a groin epidemic in the GAA at present and is probably the most common injury of the lot. Cruciate Ligament Injuries are also quite common in the GAA," Heavin notes. "At DBC, it is our policy to link up as much as possible with team doctors and physios. We have an excellent working relationship with Alan Byrne, who is the doctor to the Irish soccer team." Liam believes Ireland has some of the finest orthopaedic doctors/surgeons in the world and the work they do is often undervalued. "We have some incredible orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians in this country who don t always get the credit they deserve. They have saved a lot of players careers and I just think they should be appreciated more." DBC's rehab centres also incorporate Activegolf , Ireland's first medical and scientific golf assessment program. This program identifies the physical deficiencies which cause swing faults and is used by top golfers to improve their game. Prominent South African PGA Professional Marcus Casey has been involved with Heavin in developing the system, which has now expanded to includes a centre recently opened near Paris." Liam, who is a second cousin of Westmeath defender Derek Heavin and is a distant relative of former Lake County sharpshooter Ger Heavin, played football with Athlone up until minor level. He subsequently studied physiotherapy in Finland and worked with a Finnish professional ice-hockey team before returning to Ireland to set up DBC. He has also worked with Clontarf Rugby and Leinster Youths rugby and has acted as physio for a number of GAA teams in Dublin. Liam is well known through his role as president of the Irish Sports Medicine Association, which represents chartered physiotherapists and doctors involved in sports medicine in Ireland. "Tipperary Inter-County Hurling star and Chartered Physiotherapist Paddy O Brien is a recent addition to the DBC team, and the Toomevara native is certain to bring a wealth of hurling knowledge to the expanding DBC network. It s a real bonus for us to have an All-Ireland winner working with us on developing our treatment programs, and improving what we do. The perspective that Paddy has as such an experienced and successful Inter-County player and then Physiotherapist is unique; seeing the problems from both sides of the fence as such. His practical knowledge of Gaelic injuries and the pressure that exists on players to get back as soon as possible can only help us to do a better job, and speed up each player s return to the pitch," says Heavin. For more information and details about DBC or to book an appointment, please contact one of their sports medicine specialists at: DBC Ashleaf, DBC Medical Centre, 1 Ashleaf Hall, Crumlin Cross, Dublin 12. Phone: 01-4652454. Fax: 01-4652455. Email: [email protected] DBC Naas, Trident House, Dublin Road, Naas, Co. Kildare. Telephone: 045-874133. Email: [email protected] Patients are seen by appointment only, with opening hours from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. Tweet

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