Nicola Powell

Nicola is the Clinical Partner and a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist at The Tonbridge Clinic, with more than 20 years’ clinical experience across the NHS, Ministry of Defence and private practice.

She has particular expertise in persistent and recurrent pain, spinal conditions, Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT), sports injuries and rehabilitation back to work, sport and full physical activity.

Nicola particularly enjoys working with people whose pain or injury has affected their confidence, performance or everyday life, including those who have not improved despite previous treatment, investigation or surgery.

Her approach is collaborative, individualised and evidence-informed. She looks beyond the painful body part alone, considering movement, physical capacity, previous experiences, concerns about scan findings and the wider factors that may influence recovery.

The aim is simple: to help people understand what is happening, rebuild confidence in their body and return to the activities that matter to them.

Read on to learn more about Nicola’s professional background, clinical interests and approach to physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Professional Background

Nicola graduated from Teesside University in 2002. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

She began her career at Maidstone Hospital and later worked at Sevenoaks Hospital, developing broad experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

An interest in spinal conditions developed early in her career. She completed postgraduate training in Spinal Manual Therapy before progressing to the Certificate in Manual Orthopaedic Therapy at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, in 2005.

Nicola subsequently spent two years working as the sole physiotherapist within an Army Regiment for the Ministry of Defence, managing sports injuries, spinal problems and other musculoskeletal conditions in people who were often required to return to demanding levels of physical activity.

She has continued postgraduate education throughout her career, with particular emphasis on spinal care, persistent pain, rehabilitation, pain science and contemporary musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Nicola has worked at The Tonbridge Clinic since 2007 and is now the clinic’s Clinical Partner.

Persistent Pain, Spinal Rehabilitation and CFT

Nicola has a particular interest in persistent and recurrent pain, with significant experience in low back pain and spinal conditions, including presentations that have continued despite previous treatment, investigations, injections or surgery.

She has studied and applied Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) for many years.

CFT was developed primarily for persistent and disabling low back pain and recognises that pain and disability can be influenced by an interaction between physical, behavioural, psychological, lifestyle and contextual factors rather than being explained by a single structural problem.

The principles of this approach also influence the way Nicola works with persistent musculoskeletal pain more broadly.

Assessment may consider movement and loading, strength and physical capacity, concerns about scans or damage, protective movement or avoidance, sleep, stress and the activities a person wants or needs to return to.

Treatment may include education, movement retraining, progressive strengthening and conditioning, graded exposure to difficult activities and, where appropriate, hands-on treatment as part of a broader rehabilitation plan.

Nicola’s goal is not simply symptom reduction, but to help people understand their pain, regain confidence and return to valued work, sport and everyday life.

Sports and Performance Rehabilitation

Nicola has extensive experience treating sports and exercise-related injuries, from initial assessment through to full rehabilitation and return to performance.

Rehabilitation is tailored to the demands of the individual and may include progressive strength work, running, jumping, hopping, change of direction, endurance, sports-specific conditioning and return-to-performance testing.

She has a particular interest in back-related sporting problems and has undertaken additional postgraduate training relating to the sporting back.

Nicola has also worked with elite athletes, professional and high-level musicians, dancers and recreationally active people.

She understands that, for people whose body is central to their work or performance, injury or persistent pain can affect much more than physical function. It may also influence confidence, performance, professional identity and the ability to work.

Rehabilitation is therefore tailored to the specific physical and performance demands of each individual.

Golf Rehabilitation

Nicola has completed postgraduate training in Fitness for Golf and regularly works with golfers experiencing musculoskeletal problems or returning to the game following injury.

Nicola is not a golfer herself, but she understands the passion many golfers have for the game and recognises that golf often represents much more than physical activity. Friendships, social connection and the routine of playing can be an important part of a person’s life.

Her assessment considers the physical demands of the individual golfer’s swing alongside strength, mobility, balance, coordination and overall physical capacity.

The aim is to help golfers develop the confidence and physical capacity required to return not only to playing, but to enjoying the wider aspects of the game that matter to them.

Working With Local Specialists

Nicola has established strong professional relationships with a number of local specialist consultants.

Consultants refer patients to her for physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and Nicola refers patients onwards when further investigation, imaging or specialist assessment is appropriate.

This established professional network means that, where physiotherapy alone is not the right pathway, Nicola can help patients access appropriate specialist care.

Nicola is also recommended by a number of local specialist consultants for musculoskeletal rehabilitation and the management of persistent pain.

Outside the Clinic

Nicola has a lifelong interest in sport and physical activity.

From childhood into early adulthood, she competed ponies and horses at national level and later produced show ponies and young riders for competition.

She now enjoys fitness classes, yoga, tennis, cycling and walking.

Her own enjoyment of physical activity complements her professional interest in helping people stay active and return to the things that are important to them.