Experienced Chartered Physiotherapist in Northampton
Appointments last a full 60 minutes, allowing time for detailed assessment, clear explanation of your problem, and the right treatment plan.
25+ years’ experience | BSc (Hons) | MSc | Advanced Chartered Physiotherapist | First Contact Practitioner / Independent practice
If you are struggling with persistent pain or an injury that is not improving, the most important step is understanding what is actually going on.
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My appointments last a full 60 minutes, allowing time for a detailed assessment, clear explanation of your symptoms, and treatment where appropriate in the same visit, as well as discussion of the most appropriate way forward.
Self-pay & selected insurance patients | Independent practice | Only the treatment you need | No treatment packages
Why All My Appointments Are 60 Minutes
Most physiotherapy appointments last around 20–30 minutes.
My appointments last a full 60 minutes, allowing time for a thorough clinical assessment, discussion of your symptoms, and clear explanation of what is happening and why.
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This means there is time to properly understand the problem rather than simply applying treatment. Many patients say the most valuable part of the appointment is finally understanding what is going on and what to do next.
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In some cases, taking the time to properly understand the problem can reduce the need for repeated appointments.
​Experienced Chartered Physiotherapist
I’m Chris Heywood, a Chartered Physiotherapist with over 25 years of clinical experience assessing and treating musculoskeletal injuries.
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My background includes work in both private practice and advanced clinical roles. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy and a Master’s degree in Pain Management, with additional published research in musculoskeletal care.
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Many of the people I see have already tried rest, exercise, or treatment elsewhere but are still struggling with the same problem. A detailed assessment often helps clarify what has been missed and what the next step should be.
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My aim is always to provide clear, honest advice, so that you understand your condition and feel confident about the best way forward.​​
Put YOURSELF under the spotlight for a change
You Are Booking My Time and Clinical Judgement
When you book an appointment, you are not simply booking a specific treatment.
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You are booking my time to properly assess your problem and determine the most appropriate approach.
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Appointments are often described as physiotherapy, sports massage, or shockwave therapy. These categories are mainly there to help people navigate the website, but in practice they are not fixed or separate services.
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So book whichever option you feel best fits your situation, but don’t worry if it turns out not to be exactly right.
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Once I have assessed you, we can discuss the findings and decide together on the most appropriate way forward, so that you can make an informed decision based on the information you are given.
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How We Decide Together What Treatment You Need
Every decision begins with a proper clinical assessment — not routines, packages, or guesswork. I look at how your symptoms behave, how you move, and what is actually driving the problem.
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In some cases physiotherapy is the right approach. In others, targeted soft tissue treatment or shockwave therapy may be appropriate. And sometimes the most honest answer is that treatment isn’t needed at all, or that further investigation may be helpful, such as imaging or referral to another specialist.
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If treatment isn’t appropriate, I will tell you.
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The aim is always the same: to choose the simplest and most effective option, based on clinical judgement and shared decision-making.
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This means the findings of your assessment are explained clearly, so you understand what is happening and can make an informed decision about the best way forward.
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Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment
All my appointments begin with a detailed physiotherapy assessment to identify the cause of your symptoms and determine the most appropriate way forward.
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Depending on the findings, a range of treatment approaches may be used. These may include:
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• Sports massage
• Myofascial release
• Shockwave therapy
• Aquatic therapy
• Exercise-based rehabilitation programmes
• Home visit physiotherapy (where appropriate)
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Each approach may be used individually or combined depending on your condition and treatment goals.
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Many different physiotherapy treatment techniques may also be used, such as joint and spinal mobilisation, trigger point therapy, cupping techniques, and instrument-assisted soft tissue treatment. These are explained in more detail on the physiotherapy page.
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Helping you understand your condition is an important part of the appointment, and 3d visual tools is often used to support that explanation.
Follow-Up Appointments
I rarely suggest booking another appointment on the same day as your assessment, unless you have a specific rehabilitation programme or post-operative care plan in place.
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The aim of the first visit is to understand the problem, discuss the findings, and agree on the most appropriate approach. It is often helpful for you to have some time to absorb the information you have been given and see how your symptoms respond to any treatment or advice.
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​I choose to run relatively small appointment lists to help preserve the high level of service I provide. If a follow-up appointment is appropriate, it is usually possible to arrange this without difficulty.
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This approach helps avoid unnecessary treatment and removes any feeling that you need to book another session simply because you are already in the clinic.
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Patient Feedback
For more than two decades, I have been trusted by patients across Northamptonshire, South Leicestershire, and beyond for physiotherapy assessment and treatment.
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- Rated on Google
Book an Appointment
If you would like to arrange an appointment, you can book online using the link below or contact the clinic by phone. As I am often with patients, calls may not always be answered, but the phone line has a messaging facility.
Appointments last 60 minutes and include a detailed assessment, explanation of your symptoms, and treatment where appropriate.
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If you are unsure which appointment option is most suitable, simply choose the one that seems closest to your needs — this can always be discussed once the assessment has been completed.
Contact Me
Alongside private practice, I also work on Mondays and Tuesdays as a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) in Musculoskeletal Primary Care within the NHS, assessing, diagnosing, and triaging patients without the need for a GP appointment.
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You’re very welcome to call, but when I’m in clinic my phone is often on silent so I can give my full attention to the patient I am seeing. For this reason, it is usually quicker to reach me via the contact form, email or WhatsApp.
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Whichever way you get in touch, I will respond as soon as possible — and during the week that is almost always the same day.
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Clinic Information
The Clinic In located in:
Scaldwell village
Northants
NN6 9LA
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** Please note that Home Visits, Online Sessions and Aquatic Therapy can often be arranged outside of normal clinical hours on request.**
Opening Times
Monday & Tuesday: Closed for FCP Work
Wednesday - Friday: 0915 - 1400
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
