What Rugpoli does

Rugpoli (legal entity Stichting Rugpoli) is a Dutch independent treatment center (zelfstandig behandelcentrum) specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal complaints, with a primary focus on spinal column conditions. Founded more than 20 years ago and headquartered in Delden, the organization operates six clinic locations across the Netherlands (Twente/Delden, Veluwe/Velp, Brabant/Tilburg, Randstad/Hoofddorp, Hofstad/Den Haag, and Amsterdam) plus an international location in Kraków, Poland. Services span musculoskeletal medicine (orthomanual therapy), Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT/McKenzie), the proprietary Modic three-step treatment protocol, MRI diagnostics using half-open scanners at four locations, neurology and rheumatology consultations, trial injections and discography, and a broad range of minimally invasive pain interventions (facet, SI joint, epidural, transforaminal injections, and nerve denervation), supplemented by a Sportpoli sub-brand for sports medical examinations and a surgical referral pathway to partner neurosurgery clinics in the Netherlands and Germany.

The organization employs a multidisciplinary team of more than 50 medical professionals including musculoskeletal physicians, neurologists, rheumatologists, sports physicians, pain anesthesiologists, radiologists, and MRI technicians. Patient access is structured around referrals from GPs and medical specialists routed through the ZorgDomein electronic referral system or by telephone, with coverage from basic Dutch health insurance (for neurological, rheumatological, MRI, injection, and headache treatments) and additional insurance policies for musculoskeletal treatments; self-pay (passantentarieven) is available for uninsured services such as aspecific back pain injections and sports exams priced from €130 to €325. Rugpoli holds ZKN (Independent Dutch Clinics) and SCAS accreditations, maintains GDPR/AVG compliance, publishes patient outcome data (PREM score 8.4; 50% fewer DBCs and surgical interventions versus comparable providers; 80% non-progression rate post-treatment), and runs a network of more than 100 affiliated MDT-trained physiotherapists for post-treatment continuity of care.

Name

Rugpoli

Legal name

Stichting Rugpoli

Website

https://rugpoli.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rugpoli is a Dutch independent treatment center operating six clinics across the Netherlands and one in Kraków, Poland, providing multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal and spinal conditions to referred patients, athletes, and workers, with a team of more than 50 medical specialists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty outpatient musculoskeletal and spinal healthcare

NAICS

Offices of Chiropractors (621310)

akta.pro primary industry

Pain Management (Spine & Musculoskeletal) (HLAKALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spine (Orthopedic Spine) (HLAKALAE), Sports Medicine (HLAKALAB)

Keywords

• Musculoskeletal healthcare
• Spinal diagnostics
• Pain management
• Sports medical examinations
• Orthopedic clinic

Headquarters

HQ city

Delden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Basic Insured Healthcare: Neurological and rheumatological consultations, MRI scans, injection treatments (except for aspecific back problems), and headache treatments are covered under Dutch basic health insurance. Stichting Rugpoli has agreements with all insurance companies for these covered treatments.
2. Additional Insurance Coverage: Musculoskeletal treatments including medical assessments are not covered by basic insurance but are partially covered by additional insurance policies. Patients may be reimbursed under 'beweegzorg', 'alternatieve geneeswijze', or 'orthomanipulatie' categories.
3. Out-of-Pocket Payments: Patients without additional insurance pay for musculoskeletal treatments themselves. First consultation €130-133, combined with MSK consultant €235-241, follow-up consultations €105-108. Pain injections for aspecific back problems not covered by basic insurance.
4. Sports Medical Examinations: Preventive sports medical examinations partially reimbursed from additional health insurance. Basic exam €135, Basic Plus €182, Grand exam €265, Elaborated exam €325. No GP referral required.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Rugpoli is a Dutch independent treatment centre (Stichting Rugpoli) that diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal and spinal complaints through a multidisciplinary team of more than 50 medical specialists, including musculoskeletal physicians, neurologists, rheumatologists, sports physicians, and pain anesthesiologists. It delivers same-day diagnosis and treatment planning using half-open MRI, MDT/McKenzie therapy, the Modic treatment protocol, and minimally invasive spinal injection procedures, and refers surgical cases onward. It also runs a Sportpoli sub-brand for preventive sports medical examinations.

Product overview

Rugpoli is an independent treatment center (zelfstandig behandelcentrum) offering a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to musculoskeletal care, specializing in spinal conditions. The organization operates multiple treatment modalities including musculoskeletal medicine (orthomanual therapy), Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT/McKenzie), and specialized Modic treatment. Its core services encompass diagnostic capabilities (MRI, neurology, rheumatology, trial injections, discography) and therapeutic interventions (invasive pain relief procedures including facet, SI joint, and epidural injections; nerve denervation; and surgical referrals). The organization also provides sports medicine services through its Sportpoli division. The treatment approach emphasizes same-day diagnosis and treatment planning, utilizing half-open MRI scanners at four locations, with referrals managed through ZorgDomein and patient outcomes tracked via standardized questionnaires.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Musculoskeletal Medicine (Musculoskeletale geneeskunde) Orthomanual therapy in which practitioners gently manipulate the spine to correct alignment, typically requiring 3-4 initial treatments followed by a recovery period and a check-up after three months. Provided to referred patients with spinal and posture-related complaints.
• Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT / McKenzie) Examination and treatment system for musculoskeletal problems using repeated movements and posture assessment to identify and treat load-dependent symptoms in the spine and joints. Offered at one of few dedicated MDT application sites in the Netherlands.
• Modic Treatment Specialized three-step treatment protocol for Modic changes (spinal bone marrow inflammation) combining anti-inflammatory medication, discography with steroid and antibiotic injection, and 100-day antibiotic therapy. Provided to patients with diagnosed Modic-related back pain.
• Invasive Pain Relief Minimally invasive injection treatments for spinal conditions including facet joint injections, SI joint injections, epidural injections, and nerve denervation, performed under X-ray guidance following NVA and IPSIS protocols.
• MRI Diagnostics Half-open MRI imaging available at the Twente, Veluwe, Brabant, and Randstad locations for diagnosing spinal and musculoskeletal conditions. The open design reduces claustrophobia compared with tunnel MRI scanners.
• Neurology Consultation Neurological examination covering sensation, movement, muscle strength, reflexes, balance, and coordination to identify problems of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system in referred patients.
• Rheumatology Consultation Rheumatological examination of joints and tendons for function, pressure pain, and swelling, including review of skin, nails, eyes, and internal organs, covering conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
• Sportpoli Sports Medical Examinations Preventive sports medical examinations and advice for athletes of all levels, including mandatory exams for educational programs and event participation and customized examinations for sport licenses. Tiered offerings from Basic (30 min, €135) to Elaborated (90 min, €325).
• Surgical Referrals Coordination of referrals to specialized spinal surgery clinics in the Netherlands and Germany for patients who require surgical intervention after conservative treatment at Rugpoli has yielded insufficient results.
• Facet Injection Injection of local anesthetic and corticosteroid into aggravated facet joints of the spinal column under X-ray control for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
• Caudal Epidural Injection Injection of anti-inflammatory medication near the sacral hiatus to reduce vertebral column inflammation, relieving back and leg symptoms.
• SI Joint Injection Injection into the sacroiliac joint for diagnostic identification or therapeutic relief of SI joint-related pain.
• Denervation (Zenuwblokkade) Blocking of sensory nerves of facet joints to eliminate pain, with effects lasting up to 1-2 years.
• Transforaminal Epidural Injections Injection of anti-inflammatory medication near trapped nerves in the spinal column to reduce swelling and relieve radiating pain.
• Discography Diagnostic procedure inserting thin needles into intervertebral discs with contrast agent to determine if a disc is the source of back pain, lasting approximately 15 minutes.
• Trial Injection (Proefinjectie) Trial injection with local anesthetic to identify painful structures including facet joints, SI joints, nerve roots, intervertebral discs, or other joints as part of diagnostic workup.
• Joint Injections (Gewrichtsinjecties) Injection treatments for aggravated joints beyond the spine, performed under image guidance for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes as part of the invasive pain service line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in DBCs (Diagnostic Treatment Combinations) compared to other care providers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZorgDomeincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElectronic referral platform used by GPs and medical specialists to refer patients to Rugpoli. Standard healthcare referral channel in the Netherlands for connecting referring physicians with specialist care providers.
• Network Therapists (MDT/McKenzie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 100 affiliated physiotherapists across the Netherlands trained in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT/McKenzie method). Provides continued treatment closer to patient's home after initial Rugpoli care. Includes practices such as Fysiotherapie Hokkeling & Huibers, Fysiotherapie Wijnhoven-Gierman, and many others.
• Neurosurgery Clinics (Netherlands and Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with clinics specializing in spinal column surgery in the Netherlands and Germany for cases requiring surgical intervention when conservative treatment yields insufficient results.
• Dutch Health Insurance CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStichting Rugpoli has reached agreements with all Dutch health insurance companies for basic covered care. Enables direct billing and coverage for referred patients.
• Pain PsychologistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with pain psychologists for patients requiring psychological support as part of multidisciplinary treatment approach.
• Work Reintegration SpecialistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with occupational reintegration specialists to support patients returning to work after treatment.
• European Pain CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2019, Rugpoli can compare outcomes of care with other European pain centers. Enables benchmarking and quality improvement through international data comparison.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Isokinetic Medical Group: International sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation network with clinics across Europe. Most directly comparable peer for Rugpoli's Sportpoli division and for sports-injury rehabilitation workflows.
• Fortius Clinic: UK-based specialist clinic focused on musculoskeletal, orthopedic and sports medicine. Comparable in combining orthopedic specialists, sports medicine and imaging under one roof with strong patient-outcome orientation.
• Annatommie mc: Dutch independent treatment center chain focused on musculoskeletal and orthopedic complaints with multiple locations across the Netherlands. Closest direct peer given overlapping specialty, outpatient clinic model, and Dutch independent-clinic positioning.
• Iprenburg Hernia Kliniek: Dutch independent clinic specializing in spinal complaints including hernia and radicular pain, offering multidisciplinary conservative treatment similar to Rugpoli's spine-focused approach.
• DC Klinieken: Dutch chain of independent treatment centers offering multiple outpatient specialties including orthopedics and pain care, operating under the same ZBC regulatory framework and insurer-contracted model as Rugpoli.
• Jan van Goyen Kliniek: Amsterdam-based Dutch independent clinic offering multi-specialty outpatient care including musculoskeletal and pain services, comparable in scale and structure to individual Rugpoli locations.

Broad incumbents

• Schoen Klinik: Large German hospital group with a strong orthopedic and spine specialty focus. Relevant comparator for Rugpoli's expansion ambitions into Germany and for benchmarking European spine care delivery models.
• Bergman Clinics: One of the largest Dutch independent clinic chains offering a wide range of specialties including orthopedics and pain management. Broader portfolio player but operates a similar ZBC outpatient model with Dutch insurer contracts.
• Equipe Zorgbedrijven: Holding company operating multiple Dutch independent clinics across several specialties. Provides a comparison for how Rugpoli's operating model could scale via a multi-clinic holding structure.

Regional players

• Apex Spine Center: German specialty center dedicated to spinal diagnostics and minimally invasive spine treatment. Comparable clinical focus to Rugpoli but operating in a different geography, relevant for international expansion benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RugpoliTwente
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rugpoli

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rugpoli