Aligned Therapies

Aligned Therapies Physiotherapists: Anita Dikkenberg, Grace Corcoran and Matthew O’Sullivan

Osteopaths: Alyce Smith and Felicity Lorimer

Aligned Therapies is a premier health center in Hawthorn East, offering a holistic approach to physical well-being. Their team of skilled physiotherapists, osteopaths, and sports massage therapists work synergistically to restore function and alleviate pain. With a unique fusion of Physiotherapy and Osteopathy, they provide comprehensive treatments tailored to each individual's needs. Additionally

, their Pilates-type personalized exercise and rehabilitation classes empower clients to regain strength, mobility, and overall balance. Discover the harmonious blend of expert care and innovative therapies at Aligned Therapies and embark on a transformative journey towards optimal health.

10/09/2026

"It's just pregnancy pain, it'll go away when the baby is born." Let's leave that advice in the past. 🛑

Pregnancy-related hip and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is incredibly common, but it is highly manageable. While hormonal changes are natural, the resulting muscular strain and joint imbalances can be actively addressed.

You don't have to spend the rest of your pregnancy dreading rolling over in bed or walking up the stairs. We can help you build support around your pelvis so you can enjoy this chapter physically.

👉 Schedule a pregnancy wellness assessment via the link in our bio. 💾 Save this to advocate for your comfort!

09/09/2026

A different kind of clinic experience 🩵

Your first appointment with us doesn't end when you walk out the door. Every patient leaves with a clear, personalised plan — your goals, our treatment approach, and exactly what to expect along the way.

No guesswork. No generic handout. Just an assessment-led plan you can actually understand and follow.

Clarity from the first visit. Book your assessment — link in bio 📍 Hawthorn East

08/09/2026

Strength isn't just for the gym, and it isn't just for your legs.

It's one of the best investments you can make in your whole kinetic chain - run longer, run stronger, recover better.

03/09/2026

Feeling like you have a constant UTI, but the lab results keep saying "clear"? 🔬 During perimenopause and menopause, shifting oestrogen levels thin the lining of the bladder and v***a, causing phantom infection symptoms like burning, stinging, and urgent bathroom trips.

It's an incredibly frustrating experience, but understanding these physical and hormonal changes makes it highly manageable.

Osteopathy can help manage the secondary muscle guarding that happens with chronic irritation, soothe overactive bladder habits, and help give you your comfort back.

👉 Click the link in our bio to book a menopausal health consult. 💾 Save this to spread the word!

02/09/2026

So you’ve injured yourself at training or during a match and you don’t know what to do next? Our Sports Injury Clinic is open to check exactly what you’ve injured and whether you can return to play! Better be safe than sorry! Book online via link in bio

01/09/2026

180 spm isn’t a universal target; it’s a misquoted observation from the 1984 Olympics. Coach Jack Daniels simply noted that elite runners averaged this cadence, yet it was mistakenly turned into a mandatory rule for everyone. 🏃

**The Reality**
Optimal cadence is highly individual, depending on height, leg length, and biomechanics. Elite world records have been set with cadences anywhere from 170 to 210 spm. Furthermore, cadence naturally rises with speed, so comparing easy runs to race efforts is ineffective. Taller runners usually have a lower natural cadence, while shorter runners lean toward higher rates.

**Why It Still Matters**
Cadence is relevant because it helps prevent overstriding. A low cadence often leads to a foot strike far in front of the body, increasing braking forces and straining the knees and shins. Research suggests that increasing your natural cadence by 5–10% can significantly lower these impact forces without forcing you to consciously adjust your foot strike. 📉

**The Practical Takeaway**
Stop chasing 180. Instead, find your baseline using your GPS watch and try increasing it by 5–10% during easy runs. If it feels smoother, you’re on the right track. Avoid making drastic changes during an active training cycle or right before a race. Focus on efficiency rather than a specific number to stay healthy and improve your form. 👟

28/08/2026

As an osteopath with a hypermobile back, I understand the feeling of something being “out of place” all too well.
For years, when my back or ribs felt painful or unstable, my first thought was: I need an adjustment.
And it helped… but only for a little while.
The biggest change came when I shifted my treatment approach. Instead of only focusing on getting more movement, I started focusing on strength, stability and control.
By incorporating strengthening exercises, I gave my body more support around those hypermobile areas. Over time, I became less reliant on adjustments and more confident in what my body could handle.

This experience has shaped the way I treat my patients with hypermobility.

Sometimes, a body that already moves a lot doesn’t need more movement. It needs the strength and control to feel supported within that movement.
Having experienced it myself helps me understand the frustration of recurring pain — and reminds me to look beyond the short-term relief and work towards a long-term solution.

27/08/2026

Guilty of the "Just In Case" wee? 🙋‍♀️ It feels harmless, but it's actually a sneaky habit that can create bladder urgency over time.

By emptying your bladder before it's actually full, you're rewiring the communication between your bladder and your brain, making your nervous system hyper-sensitive to tiny amounts of fluid.

If you're already struggling with intense urgency or feel like you live your life mapping out public toilets, we can work with you to look at your pelvic mechanics, breathing, and bladder habits to help bring things back into harmony.

👉 Learn more by booking a consult via our bio link. 💾 Save this as a reminder for your next exit!

26/08/2026

"It's all in your head."

Have you ever been told that because your scan looks normal?

The truth is much more interesting.

After pain has been present for several months, your nervous system can become more sensitive. This means everyday movements that were once comfortable may begin to feel painful—even though the tissues themselves have healed.

That doesn't mean the pain is imagined.

It means your body's alarm system has become overprotective.

Research shows that combining education, gradual exercise, strength training and manual therapy can help calm this sensitivity and improve function over time.

Pain is real.

Hope is real too.

📍If you've been living with pain for months or years, we'd love to help you understand what's really going on.

25/08/2026

The Melbourne Marathon is on 11 October. If you’re currently in your build phase, here is the most critical advice to keep in mind. 🏅

**The danger of the "panic ramp"**
Many marathon injuries don't stem from long-term overtraining, but from a sudden spike in load following an inconsistent period. If you’ve missed a few weeks, don't try to cram those sessions back in. Rapidly increasing load before your tissues can adapt frequently leads to bone stress, tendon issues, and muscle strains. ⚠️

**Workload management**
While the 10% rule is a common guideline, the acute-to-chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is more vital. Your body adapts to the consistency of your training over the last 4–6 weeks. Spiking your immediate (acute) load far beyond your recent (chronic) average is a recipe for injury. 📉

**What to do if you’re behind**
* **Be realistic:** Accept your current fitness level and build from there. Do not attempt to force a training phase you haven’t earned.
* **Prioritise long runs:** These are the most specific preparation for race day.
* **Trust the process:** A smart taper can help balance a modest training deficit, but a reckless final block will only lead to disaster.
* **Listen to your body:** If you feel pain, get it assessed immediately. It’s better to adjust now than to arrive at the start line injured.

Running Melbourne? DM us or book an appointment. We help runners navigate their build, taper, and recovery. 🏃‍♂️

Address

82 Rathmines Road
Hawthorn East, VIC
3123

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 7pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 1pm

Telephone

+61398821182

Website

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