Pain that keeps coming back? Relief that fades after a few sessions? Most treatment chases the symptom — Hide traces it to the cause and corrects how your body moves, so the change holds.
Book with Hide →
Pain is rarely where the problem starts. Using Western diagnostic tools and full-body movement analysis, I trace the origin — not just the symptom.
Hidekazu Kuwabara is a BIG-registered physiotherapist. He has also completed the International Toyohari Training Program (Japanese meridian therapy) of the European Branch of the Toyohari Association (EBTA), and brings a background in Japanese acupuncture to how he understands the body.
Posture, lifestyle, stress, sleep — they all connect. I look at the full picture and build a plan that fits how you actually live, not just how you present in a clinic.
“A footballer with chronic knee pain.
The knee wasn’t the problem.”
By examining the full kinetic chain — not just the painful joint — and combining dry needling within physiotherapy with movement correction, we resolved the pain, corrected the underlying pattern, and got him back on the pitch. No recurrence.
I’ve worked with professional football clubs in Belgium and the Netherlands, treated athletes across Europe and Japan, and helped people of all ages — from children with growing pains to adults navigating chronic conditions.
What I’ve learned from all of them: the body always tells the truth. My job is to listen carefully, and to use dry needling within physiotherapy where it belongs in a treatment that actually lasts.
Most of my week falls into two kinds of work: physiotherapy for sports injuries and getting people back to their sport, and physiotherapy in Amsterdam for pain that hasn’t settled with previous treatment.
No — physiotherapy is directly accessible in the Netherlands, so you can book straight away. If your insurer asks for a referral for reimbursement, we’ll point you in the right direction.
A full intake — your history, your goals and a movement assessment — usually followed by treatment on the same day. You leave knowing what we found and what comes next.
Yes — and they’re coached, not just listed. Hide is a certified CrossFit Level 1 trainer (CF-L1), so the home exercises he prescribes are built on sound movement mechanics and sensible progression — clear, specific and made to fit how you actually train.
English, Dutch and Japanese.
Let us know at least 24 hours in advance and there’s no charge. Cancellations within 24 hours are charged at 50% of the treatment fee, and a no-show at the full fee — these are not reimbursed by your insurer. See our cancellation policy for details.
Locations
Inside Fysio Quality
Heemraadschapslaan 102 L
1181 VC Amstelveen
Parking available
In Amstelveen we treat on Friday mornings and at set times on Sundays. See the booking page for available times.
Choose Amstelveen as the location when you book.
Contact
Payment & insurance
Physiotherapy
Alter Physio & Acupuncture has no contracts with Dutch health insurers. You pay for your treatment at the clinic and receive an invoice from us. You submit that invoice to your insurer yourself, and your insurer then reimburses you. Whether you are reimbursed, for how many sessions and how much, depends on your own supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering). Because we are a non-contracted practice, reimbursement is partial, not full — even if your policy lists a number of covered sessions, those sessions are only partly reimbursed. The same applies to house visits. Depending on your policy, employer-provided or international insurance often covers physiotherapy in full. International insurance accepted. Please check with your insurer before you book; we cannot guarantee any reimbursement.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture at Alter Physio & Acupuncture is private pay and is not covered by Dutch health insurance. Depending on your policy, employer-provided or international insurance often covers acupuncture in full — please check with your insurer.
“I have tried multiple Physiotherapists in the Netherlands and none compare to Hide. You would be simply lucky to have him as your Physiotherapist. His attention to detail is immense, his deep understanding of the human muscular system is truly remarkable and his empathy and understanding he shows towards patients goals is top class. Do yourself a favour and visit Hide for any sports related/ general injuries, it is key for your recovery back to your healthy lifestyle.”
“I wanted to get back to playing football, but after going through multiple injuries and trying several physios, I was starting to lose hope. Most focused only on the symptoms and short-term fixes, no one really helped me understand what was going wrong or how to prevent it from happening again. That changed when I found Hidekazu. He really takes the time to listen and focus on the root causes instead of just treating the pain. For the first time, I feel like I understand how my body works and what I need to do to move better and stay injury-free. I’m genuinely happy to have found him, couldn’t recommend him more!”
“Hide saved me from a very bad cervical spine hernia! When I went to my first session, I couldn’t stay up or sit for too long. He was very patient and incredible with my rehabilitation. After two weeks, I was able to sit and have meals with my family again. After a month, I was able to go back to work and (slowly) get back with my life. It wasn’t just a physical work, it was also psychological. He deeply cared about me personally and I truly appreciate his dedication. Definitely recommend his work!!”
“He takes the time to really listen, explains the treatment calmly and clearly, and creates a very safe and relaxing environment. His combination of acupuncture and physiotherapy feels thoughtful and holistic, not rushed or generic. After the sessions I noticed a significant improvement in tension, stress levels, and overall body balance. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a knowledgeable and attentive practitioner in Amsterdam!”
“Very thankful to Hide’s skills and insights that finally gave me some hope for a full recovery. I had seen plenty of other physios since my complex knee surgery, and Hide is the only one who had tips that helped me to regain full range of motion. Highly recommended!”
“I got an elbow pain for months. Hide treated me and after 1 session I already felt very good. The pain moved fully away after few days. Awesome help. Thanks a lot. I can only recommend him to anyone. On the top of it, he is very friendly, flexible and giving extra guidance to prevent it happening again.”