Liz Clare, MD of Cell Regeneration (www.mbst-therapy.co.uk) shares her thoughts on the highs and lows of 2020.

As a company, we started the year on a high with a device order from esteemed physiotherapist Ian Andrews, in Bingham. He wanted to add the latest MBST device to his clinic, the first for the UK.  The whole MBST UK family went over to Germany for a symposium, meeting with users from all over the world, discussing all things MBST and learning of the new research plans put in place.

 Then, two weeks later, we went into lockdown.

In a way, it still feels unreal, like a movie. Have we really all been separated from our loved ones and told to stay home? Even now, it’s hard to fathom. The hardest part for me has been the lack of freedom. Other than that, we have been very lucky, all things considered.

Like most businesses, we were forced to shut down in the first two weeks of lockdown, but as MBST is a non-contact treatment process, we were soon granted permission to re-open our doors to patients. Perhaps unsurprisingly, fewer people came through those doors than normal, but it was nice to be able to carry on with some semblance of normality, for patients and ourselves. All hands-on physio was put to a halt and my Physiotherapist mother (Tinwell’s Ann Clare of Ann Clare Physiotherapy) became quite the handful as she could not get her head around not being there for her patients. She was extremely upset, but after a few weeks, she threw herself into gardening and speaking to patients in need over the phone.

What was incredible for Cell Regeneration was that amid all the pandemic uncertainty, we had three new clinics approach us wanting MBST devices. In true 2020 form there ended up being a six-month delay in getting the devices and an MBST technician over from Germany. But here we are in December with double the amount of health professionals providing MBST than at the beginning of the year and with nearly seven new devices ready to ship over once this second wave of COVID-19 comes to an end.

After nine years of building the business, it was in this unprecedented year that MBST became more sought after than ever. For example, MBST ended up taking some of the pressure off the NHS after the mass postponement of surgeries meant several patients sought a solution to their ailments elsewhere.

As a business, we are thankful for having the opportunity to spread the incredible results of MBST. We are delighted that we could continue to help those suffering from painful conditions throughout lockdown and we are proud that it has done wonders for those who had their operations cancelled. We are thankful that it gave ourselves and our other clinicians an income stream throughout such a difficult time for so many, and when we could no longer treat patients face to face. I am grateful for the hope that MBST has inspired in our patients, our clinicians and other health professionals who are becoming aware of this marvellous technology.

Out of respect for their privacy, we cannot talk about our patients – especially the famous current athletes we treat – but we were very lucky this year to have the likes of Johnny Nelson and David Flatman champion the tech and both have been invaluable in raising awareness for MBST.

Liz Clare is MD of ‘Cell Regeneration’  the only UK supplier of MBST therapy machines, a pioneering technology which stimulates cell renewal to alleviate pain, heal injuries and improve degenerative joint conditions such as osteoarthritis