James Muirhead Harris

About James

I've always believed that movement is one of the most powerful forms of medicine. My path into physiotherapy started on the sports field long before the lecture hall. Growing up active and competitive, I had my share of injuries. I saw first-hand the difference a skilled physiotherapist can make to someone's confidence and recovery.

That led me to study physiotherapy at the University of the Witwatersrand, where I developed a deeper appreciation for anatomy, human movement, and evidence-based rehabilitation. Since then, my work has taken me across private practice, hospital care, and provincial rugby. That's meant everything from managing sports injuries to guiding patients through post-operative recovery.

What I value most is quality movement over quantity, treating the whole person rather than just the sore spot, and building honest, clear relationships with every patient. By the end of your first session with me, I want you to have real clarity. That means a proper understanding of what's actually going on, not just where it hurts. It also means a structured plan for improving it, so you know exactly what happens next and why. I bring that approach to Peak Physiotherapy every day.

Experience

• Owner & Lead Physiotherapist 2026 – Current

  Peak Physiotherapy, Mayville, Pretoria

  Founded and runs an independent outpatient practice focused on musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, and sports-related care.

• Locum Physiotherapist 2025 – Current

  O'Brey Claasen Physiotherapy, Mayville, Pretoria

  In-hospital acute care and inpatient rehabilitation, including cardiovascular and chest physiotherapy across high-acuity wards.

• Provincial Rugby Physiotherapist 2024 – Current

  Valke Rugby Union (U16, U18 & U21)

  Team physiotherapist for provincial squads, including Grant Khomo (U16), Academy/Craven Week (U18), and Shield Cup (U21).

• Physiotherapist 2024 – 2025

  Solomon & Long Physiotherapy, Benoni

  Assessed and treated 250+ patients across musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, sports, and neurological conditions, including in-hospital orthopaedic patients at Linmed Netcare.

• Rugby Physiotherapist 2025

  Brakpan Rugby Club (U21)

  Head medical provider through a league-championship-winning season, pitch-side trauma care, rehabilitation, and return-to-play.

• Physiotherapist Nov 2024 – Nov 2025

  Well Health Pro, Pretoria

  Outpatient practice focused primarily on neuromusculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, and rehabilitation.

• Community Service Physiotherapist 2023

  1 Military Hospital, Pretoria

  Rotated through Neurology, Orthopaedics, Sport, Cardiopulmonary, and ICU across inpatient and outpatient care.

Sports & International Experience

Working pitch-side and at elite level means making rapid assessments under real time pressure. It also means following structured, criteria-based decisions about when it's actually safe to return to play, not just how long it's been since injury. That same disciplined approach shapes how recovery is paced and structured for every patient at Peak Physiotherapy, not only the athletes.

• Physiotherapist at the Premier Padel Pretoria tournament (26 July – 2 August 2026), treatment-room based recovery, injury prevention, and treatment for professional players, including athletes ranked in the world's top 100
• Valke Rugby Union provincial physiotherapist across U16, U18 and U21 squads (2024–present)
• Grant Khomo Week (U16), Academy & Craven Week (U18), Shield Cup (U21) national tournament weeks
• Brakpan Rugby Club U21, head medical provider through a league-championship-winning season
• Hoërskool Brandwag rugby, sideline physiotherapy, injury management, match-day cover
• BokSmart Level 8 certified; match-day medical protocols and first aid in rugby

More about sports & rugby physiotherapy at Peak →

Courses & Certifications

• ODNS Level 1 Dry Needling : trigger-point needling for muscle tension and pain
• SFMA Level 1 & Level 2 (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) : structured movement assessment for patients already in pain
• FMS Level 1 (Functional Movement Screen) : proactive movement screening to flag injury risk before it becomes a problem
• FCS (Fundamental Capacity Screen) : objective testing of physical work capacity
• BokSmart Level 8 : rugby-specific match-day medical and concussion protocols
• Athletic & Kinesio Taping
• Cupping Therapy
• IASTM (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation)
• Pain Neuroscience Education & Cognition-Targeted Motor Control : an evidence-based approach to chronic pain, addressing how the nervous system processes and sustains it
• A Logical & Repeatable Approach to Shoulder Assessment (Parts 1 & 2) : a structured framework for shoulder examination
• Screening & Assessing Breathing: A Multidimensional Approach : identifying how breathing patterns contribute to pain and dysfunction
• Concussion & CareOn for Healthcare Professionals : concussion recognition and structured management protocols