The Headache Clinic at Cairns Total Physio provides assessment and treatment for people experiencing frequent or persistent headaches, helping to identify contributing factors and support long-term management.

Our approach focuses on understanding why your headaches are occurring, rather than just managing symptoms, and provides a structured plan to help reduce frequency, intensity and impact on your daily life.

Understanding headaches

Headaches can have a range of causes, and often involve a combination of factors such as:

• Muscle tension and tightness
• Neck stiffness or dysfunction
• Posture and movement patterns
• Stress and lifestyle factors

Common types of headaches we assess include:

• Tension-type headaches
• Neck-related (cervicogenic) headaches
• Migraine presentations
• Headaches associated with jaw (TMJ) issues

Many headaches are influenced by how the neck, head and surrounding muscles are functioning, which is where physiotherapy can play an important role.

What to expect from your appointment

All appointments are delivered as one-on-one consultations with your physiotherapist.

Your session will include:

• A detailed discussion of your headache pattern and history
• Identification of triggers and contributing factors
• Assessment of neck movement and muscle function
• Assessment of posture and movement patterns

This allows us to develop a clear picture of what may be contributing to your headaches.

A structured approach to treatment

Treatment is tailored to your individual presentation and may include:

• Hands-on therapy to address muscle tension and stiffness
• Exercises to improve strength and movement control
• Postural and movement advice
• Education around triggers and management strategies

Our focus is on providing simple, practical strategies that you can apply in your day-to-day life.

Managing headaches long-term

For many people, headaches are recurrent or ongoing, so management focuses on more than short-term relief.

We work with you to:

• Reduce headache frequency and intensity
• Improve neck movement and function
• Build confidence in managing symptoms
• Develop strategies to prevent flare-ups

This helps you feel more in control and less impacted by headaches over time.

Jaw-related headaches (TMJ)

Some headaches are linked to the jaw and surrounding muscles.

If required, your assessment may include screening for jaw (TMJ) involvement, which can contribute to:

• Headaches around the temples or face
• Jaw stiffness or clicking
• Associated neck tension

Where relevant, this will be incorporated into your treatment plan.

A simple and supportive approach

At Cairns Total Physio, our Headache Clinic focuses on:

• Clear explanation of your symptoms
• Identifying contributing factors
• Providing practical, easy-to-follow strategies
• Supporting long-term improvement

Our goal is to help you better understand your headaches and feel more confident managing them.

Can physiotherapy help with headaches?

Yes. Physiotherapy can help with certain types of headaches, particularly those related to the neck, muscles and movement patterns.

What types of headaches do you treat?

We assess and manage tension headaches, neck-related headaches, migraines and headaches associated with jaw (TMJ) issues.

Will treatment stop my headaches completely?

Treatment aims to reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches and improve your ability to manage them over time.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is required. You can book directly with our clinic.

How many sessions will I need?

This depends on your presentation and goals. Your physiotherapist will guide you on a suitable plan after your assessment.