Questions patients ask before booking

Yes, physiotherapy can help with migraine management through advice, education, exercise, lifestyle changes and treatment of neck or jaw problems where appropriate. If medication hasn’t given you enough relief, or you haven’t had time to fully discuss your symptoms, we take time to listen and explore what could help. At Nova, we help you understand migraine and build practical strategies around sleep, exercise, meals and stress. These changes may help signficantly reduce the frequency and impact of attacks of your life. We also assess whether your neck or jaw could benefit from treatment. You don’t need neck pain to benefit from this support. Your plan is tailored to you and works alongside your medical care.

Yes, problems affecting the joints and muscles of the neck can cause headaches. These are called cervicogenic headaches. At Nova, we assess whether your neck is contributing to your headaches and explain what the findings mean. When a neck-related headache is identified, treatment focuses on reducing headache pain, improving neck movement and helping you manage symptoms through hands-on treatment, exercise and practical advice. Not every headache comes from the neck. We distinguish between headache patterns and recommend medical input where needed.

Yes, problems affecting the jaw joint and chewing muscles—called temporomandibular disorders (TMD)—can cause headaches, particularly around the temples. Pain may increase with chewing, clenching or jaw movement. At Nova, we assess your jaw and neck together to understand how they relate to your headaches. When jaw problems are contributing, treatment focuses on reducing pain, improving comfortable jaw movement and helping you manage habits such as clenching. This may include hands-on treatment, exercises and practical advice. You don’t need to have a clicking jaw for jaw problems to contribute to headaches. We explain our findings and involve your dentist or GP when appropriate.

A focused physiotherapy assessment can help investigate unresolved dizziness, including whether neck function may be contributing—even when neck pain isn’t your main symptom. If medication or vestibular rehabilitation hasn’t helped, you may feel you’ve been passed between services without a clear explanation. At Nova, we take time to listen, review previous investigations and treatment, and assess your neck alongside your symptom history. Where we identify problems that physiotherapy can address, we explain the findings and build a targeted treatment plan. Dizziness can have several causes, so we also recognise when further medical or vestibular input is needed.

Yes, Nova offers physiotherapy for jaw and facial pain, including problems affecting the jaw joint, chewing muscles and neck. Pain with chewing, difficulty opening your mouth, clenching and persistent facial discomfort can make everyday life difficult. We take time to understand your symptoms, what you have already tried and how the pain affects you. We assess your jaw and neck together. Where treatment is appropriate, we use hands-on care, tailored exercises and practical advice to reduce pain and improve comfortable eating, talking and jaw movement. Facial pain has several possible causes. We explain what physiotherapy can address and recommend dental or medical input when needed.

Yes, at Nova we assess persistent headaches and neck symptoms following concussion and provide physiotherapy where appropriate. If you are still struggling after the initial injury, we take time to understand your symptoms, review your recovery so far and assess whether neck problems are contributing to how you feel. Treatment targets the problems identified and may include hands-on care, tailored exercises and support to gradually rebuild activity. We explain the plan and review your progress. Persistent concussion symptoms can involve several systems. Where you need vestibular, vision or other specialist care, we recommend further input as part of your recovery.

No, you do not need a GP referral to book an assessment at Nova. You can book directly through our online booking system, or arrange a free 15-minute phone call if you would like to discuss whether the service is right for you. If you have already had investigations or treatment, we can review any relevant reports you bring. With your consent, we can share our findings with your GP or other healthcare professionals. If you plan to claim through health insurance, check whether your policy requires a referral.

Your first appointment at Nova lasts 60–90 minutes, depending on the assessment you book. Your second and subsequent appointments last 30 minutes. We take time during your first appointment to listen to your symptoms, understand what you have already tried and carry out a thorough assessment. We explain our findings, answer your questions and agree a personalised plan. Where appropriate, treatment begins during this appointment. Follow-up sessions focus on treatment, reviewing your progress and adjusting your plan as needed. You can view appointment options, durations and fees when booking.

Previous physiotherapy not helping does not mean there are no further options. At Nova, our clinical focus is headache, migraine, jaw, neck and facial pain, with time to explore symptoms that remain unresolved. We listen to your experience, review what you have already tried and assess relevant neck and jaw function. Education and self-management are also central to our approach, helping you understand your symptoms and make practical changes in everyday life. We explain what we would recommend and why, rather than simply repeating previous treatment. If physiotherapy is appropriate, we agree a personalised plan and review your progress. We cannot guarantee a different outcome, but we can offer a thorough assessment and clear guidance on the next steps.

Yes, you can attend Nova while taking migraine medication. Physiotherapy can complement your prescribed treatment through education, exercise, lifestyle support and treatment of associated neck or jaw problems where appropriate. If medication helps only partly, we explore what else could support you. This includes practical strategies around sleep, exercise, meals and stress, alongside an assessment of relevant neck and jaw function. We take time to explain your options and build a plan that fits your everyday life. Any changes to medication remain with your prescribing clinician, and we can communicate with them about your care with your consent.

You may be able to claim part of your physiotherapy fees through private health insurance, depending on your policy. At Nova, you pay for your appointment and receive an itemised receipt to submit to your insurer. The amount reimbursed, number of appointments covered and any referral requirements depend on your plan. Check your cover with your insurer before booking so you know what you can claim.