FAQs

Booking and Appointments

Do I need a doctor’s referral to book an appointment? No, you can book an appointment directly with us without a referral from your GP or a specialist. As highly trained and registered physiotherapists, we are qualified to assess and diagnose your condition. However, if you plan to claim the cost of your treatment through a private health insurance policy, your insurer may require a GP or consultant referral before authorising and reimbursing your sessions. We strongly advise you to check your policy’s specific requirements before booking.

Can I book online? Yes! You can book your appointments directly through our website at https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/harrisandross or via phone on 0161 8329000.

Can I see the same physiotherapist for all of my appointments? Yes, absolutely. We believe continuity of care is vital for a successful recovery. You will be booked in with the same therapist for every session unless you specifically request to see someone else, or if scheduling requires a change and you agree to it. Because comprehensive notes are taken during each session, switching physios (if required), is possible without any impact on your recovery.

Your First Appointment (Initial Assessment)

What will happen during my first appointment (the initial assessment)? Your first appointment is a comprehensive assessment designed to understand your condition fully. It will typically involve three key stages:

Subjective Assessment (Discussion): Your therapist will ask detailed questions about your injury or pain, its history, how it impacts your daily life, and your goals for recovery.
Physical Assessment: Your therapist will perform a hands-on examination, which may include assessing your posture, movement range, strength, and specific tests to determine the source of your symptoms.
Treatment Plan & Initial Treatment: Based on the findings, your therapist will explain your diagnosis, discuss a personalised treatment plan, and often begin some immediate treatment or provide initial advice and exercises.

Why does my first appointment need to be an hour? A full 60-minute session is essential to allow enough time for a thorough and accurate assessment, which is the foundation of an effective treatment plan. It ensures we don’t rush the diagnosis, and it provides time to start initial treatment, explain the diagnosis clearly, and set up your initial home exercise programme.

What should I wear for my appointment? Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the area being treated and permits full movement for the assessment. For example:

For knee or lower limb issues:
For neck, shoulder, or back issues: A vest or sports bra.
We will ensure your modesty is respected at all times, and you may bring a family member or friend if you prefer.

How long after an injection or surgery can I start Physiotherapy?

After an Injection (e.g., Cortisone/Steroid)

For an injection, the primary goal is usually to rest the area briefly to let the medication work and avoid a “steroid flare” (a temporary increase in pain).

First 1–2 Days: You should typically rest and avoid heavy activity or strenuous exercise in the affected area.
After 2 Days: You can usually start gentle activities and light range-of-motion exercises, as advised by your clinic.
After 3–7 Days: You can generally begin your more focused physiotherapy

After Surgery

Following surgery, movement often starts right away to prevent stiffness and blood clots.

Immediately After Surgery (Day 1 or 2): For major joint procedures, you should start basic exercises, breathing techniques, and walking with assistance while you’re still under hospital care.
First Week: Formal physiotherapy should begin. The initial focus is on simple, protected range-of-motion movements, pain management, and swelling control.
Weeks 2–4: The therapy focus will shift to increasing your range of motion and beginning light, targeted strengthening exercises as your body heals.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Can the therapist give me a formal diagnosis? Yes. All our physios are highly qualified and registered professionals who can provide a clinical diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions. In some cases, if we suspect a condition requires further investigation, we will liaise with your GP or a specialist and we can request imaging through our private referral network.

How long will each treatment session last? Our Initial Assessments are typically 60 minutes. Our Follow-up Treatment Sessions are usually 30 minutes long, unless your physio suggests you’d benefit from a longer follow up.

What types of treatments or techniques do you use (e.g., manual therapy, dry needling, exercise)? As one of the country’s leading physiotherapy practices, we employ a diverse range of evidence-based techniques tailored to your individual needs. These may include:

Manual Therapy: Joint mobilisations, manipulations, and soft tissue release.
Therapeutic Exercise: Personalised strength, flexibility, and motor control training.
Acupuncture / Dry Needling: We use Medical Acupuncture, which is often referred to as Dry Needling or Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy. This technique is not based on traditional Chinese meridians or energy pathways. Instead, it is a modern approach that uses fine needles to target specific muscular trigger points(knots) and surrounding fascia. This helps to immediately reduce muscle tension, decrease pain, and restore normal muscle function.
Shockwave Therapy: A non-invasive, high-energy acoustic wave treatment that stimulates the body’s natural healing and regenerative processes for chronic tendon and joint pain.
Hydrotherapy (Aquatic Therapy): Therapeutic exercises performed in a heated pool to reduce joint stress, relax muscles, and facilitate movement that might be difficult on land.
Soft Tissue Massage/Sports Massage: A targeted, deep-tissue massage focused on manipulating soft tissues to treat muscle imbalance, enhance athletic performance, and aid recovery from injury, rather than simply for relaxation.
High Performance Rehabilitation: Specialised training programs that bridge the gap between injury recovery and optimal sports-specific fitness, focused on maximising strength, agility, and return-to-play readiness.
Podiatry and Biomechanics: The expert assessment and treatment of foot, ankle, and lower limb function, including walking or running patterns, often involving custom-made orthotics to correct alignment and reduce strain.

Will physio be painful? Physiotherapy should not be severely painful, but you may experience some discomfort during a manual technique or while performing therapeutic exercises, as we are working to challenge and strengthen injured tissues. Your therapist will always communicate clearly, check your pain levels, and ensure that the treatment remains productive and within a tolerable range. Some soreness in the 24-48 hours after a session is common and is a normal part of the recovery process.

Will I receive a home exercise program, and how important is it? Yes, you will almost certainly receive a personalised Home Exercise Program (HEP). Your HEP is a crucial component of your recovery. Our sessions guide you, but consistent daily work through your exercises is what drives lasting change, strengthens tissues, and accelerates your long-term rehabilitation. It is essential for your recovery.

How quickly should I expect to see an improvement in my symptoms? This varies significantly depending on the nature and severity of your condition, and how consistently you follow your HEP. While some patients feel an immediate reduction in pain or improved movement after the first session, it is more realistic to expect noticeable, consistent improvement after [2-4 sessions] or within [2-4 weeks] for most musculoskeletal issues. Your therapist will discuss a realistic prognosis with you at your initial assessment.

How many treatment sessions will I need to fully recover? There is no set number of sessions, as every person and injury is unique. Following your initial assessment, your physiotherapist will discuss a suggested treatment plan and give you an estimated timeframe for your recovery. We continually assess your progress, and the plan is flexible, adapting based on your improvement from session to session.

What can I do outside of my sessions to help speed up my recovery? The two most important things are:

Consistency with your Home Exercise Program (HEP): This is the foundation of long-term recovery.
Listen to your body and your therapist’s advice: Avoid activities that cause sharp or lasting pain unless specifically instructed by your therapist. Ensure you maintain a generally active, healthy lifestyle, including good sleep and nutrition.

What should I do if my pain or problem returns after I finish my treatment plan? Firstly, don’t panic. Recurrence is sometimes a normal part of a fluctuating recovery. We encourage you to contact us immediately at 0161 8329000 or on email at info@harrisandross.co.uk . We might recommend booking a ‘Review’ or ‘Check-up’ session so your physiotherapist can quickly assess the recurrence and provide targeted advice or a short booster treatment plan to get you back on track.

Administrative & Financial

What is the cost per session, and do you offer payment plans? Our prices are found on our website ‘pricing’ page. We do not offer formal payment plans, or take Applepay or cash at this time.
Do you accept my health insurance plan, and what are my out-of-pocket costs (co-pay/co-insurance)? We are recognised and registered with all major health insurance providers, however we only invoice BUPA and AXA, which means that if your insurance is with a different provider, you need to self pay in advance for your appointment, and then claim it back from your insurance provider.
To use your BUPA or AXA insurance: You must contact your insurer before booking to obtain an authorisation code and confirm your cover.
Out-of-Pocket Costs: Your policy may include an ‘excess’ or ‘co-payment’ (co-pay/co-insurance) amount that you are responsible for paying. You must clarify these costs with your insurer, as you will be billed directly by us for any out-of-pocket amounts.
What is your cancellation policy if I need to cancel or move my appointment? We understand that life can sometimes intervene. If you need to cancel or reschedule, we require a minimum of 24 hours notice.

Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice or Failure to Attend (No-Show) will incur a full 100% charge. Please call us on 0161 832 9000 as soon as possible if you need to make a change.

About Harris & Ross

What makes your practice different from other physiotherapy clinics? Harris & Ross stands out because we bring the standards of elite professional care to everyone. Our distinct differences include:

Elite Sports Expertise: Our directors and many of our therapists have extensive experience working at the highest level of professional sport, providing you with world-class diagnostic and rehabilitation skills.
Comprehensive Services: We offer a multi-disciplinary approach, with services beyond standard physio, including Shockwave, High-Performance training, Podiatry, Hydrotherapy.
Bespoke Care: We don’t use ‘one-size-fits-all’ protocols. We create a complete, bespoke care package tailored to your goals—whether you’re an elite athlete, recovering from surgery, or an office worker with chronic pain.

Is my therapist fully licensed and registered? Yes, absolutely. All our physiotherapists are fully licensed, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). We uphold the highest standards of clinical excellence and professional conduct.

Have you treated patients with my specific condition or injury before? With our team’s vast experience, it is highly likely we have treated many patients with your specific condition or injury. We specialise in a wide range of issues, including post-operative knee, shoulder and spinal rehabilitation, chronic back pain, sports injuries, and general musculoskeletal problems. Please call us on 0161 832 9000 to discuss your specific needs.

Do you treat children? Yes, Harris & Ross treats children from about 6 yrs and up, for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, injuries, and mobility problems. Our team includes therapists with expertise in Paediatric Physiotherapy who are skilled in the assessment and management of children’s specific conditions, ranging from sports injuries and post-operative rehabilitation to developmental issues and general aches and pains, including ‘growing pains’. We understand that treating younger patients requires a different approach, focusing on fun, age-appropriate exercises and clear communication with both the child and their parents/guardians.

What is the difference between Physiotherapy and Chiropractic care? Both professions treat musculoskeletal issues, but their philosophies and methods often differ:

Physiotherapy (our focus) uses assessment to diagnose the problem and primarily treats through movement, exercise prescription, education, and manual therapy to restore function, strength, and range of motion. We focus heavily on active rehabilitation to give you long-term control over your recovery.
Chiropractic care traditionally focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, through manual adjustment or manipulation (spinal adjustments).