Get to the bottom of your injury (not just the pain) with a personalised assessment at our Collins Street clinic.
If you’re dealing with a muscle strain that’s affecting your ability to work, train or move through daily life, The Alignment Studio provides personalised physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation at our Collins Street clinic in Melbourne’s central business district (CBD).
Our AHPRA-registered physiotherapists assess the injury and the factors behind it, then build a rehabilitation plan around your body, your activity level and your goals. Whether you’re an office worker with a back strain, a weekend runner nursing a hamstring injury, or returning to activity after time off, we’re here to help you recover safely and stay active for the long term.
Muscle strains are incredibly common, as they account for roughly 30%-50% of injuries across various sports and activities. They range from mild overstretching of fibres to complete tears, and not every strain requires professional treatment. Many mild cases respond well to self-management strategies in the first few days, though sprains and strains may require medical assessment if symptoms persist or worsen.
Consider seeing a physiotherapist if pain or weakness persists, or the strain is making it difficult to walk, work, train or complete everyday movements.
Early assessment often leads to better outcomes. Complete rest is recommended only for the first 24-48 hours, after that, carefully graded movement supports the healing process, and a physiotherapist can guide what’s safe for your specific injury.
Our physiotherapists assess and treat common muscle strains across the body, including but not limited to:
Physiotherapy can support recovery from a muscle strain by addressing symptoms, function and factors that may contribute to reinjury.
A thorough clinical assessment examines range of motion, strength, functional capacity and the mechanism of injury. Imaging is not routinely required but may be recommended for suspected complex injuries or when progress stalls.
Depending on your assessment findings, your physiotherapist may incorporate manual therapy, such as soft tissue techniques or joint mobilisation, as part of your overall management plan. Dry needling, may also be considered when clinically appropriate and based on your individual needs.
This involves graded loading to rebuild muscle strength, progressing from isometric holds through to eccentric and sport-specific exercises. Rehabilitation programs address underlying issues like muscle imbalances. Progressive strengthening can help build capacity and reduce factors associated with reinjury.
Your physiotherapist may provide guidance on workload, ergonomics, warm-ups, training progression and other factors relevant to your injury. These strategies may help you manage contributing factors and reduce injury risk as you return to your usual activities.
Where clinically appropriate, we use VALD Performance Testing, ForceDecks and DynaMo to objectively measure strength, force production and side-to-side asymmetry – giving you and your physiotherapist clear data to track progress and guide return-to-activity decisions.
Your initial consultation at our Melbourne CBD clinic follows a structured process designed to build a clear picture of your injury:
Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the affected area. If you’re unsure what to wear, we have guidance available.
Recovery from a muscle strain follows a progressive loading approach, adjusted based on your symptoms and measurable function at each stage:
Your physiotherapist monitors progress throughout and adjusts your rehabilitation plan as needed. Clinical Pilates may also complement rehabilitation by improving core control, mobility and movement awareness – particularly helpful for those recovering from back strains or returning to training after injury.
Personalised rehabilitation – Every treatment plan is built around your specific injury, movement patterns, strength profile and life demands.
Contributing factor focus – We assess beyond the injury site to address muscle imbalances, workload errors and biomechanics that increase recurrence risk.
Integrated allied health – Our physiotherapy services sit alongside remedial massage, clinical Pilates and nutrition under one roof. Integrated wellness clinics combine physiotherapy, Pilates, and nutrition for comprehensive care.
Objective progress measurement – Cutting-edge rehabilitation equipment, including VALD Performance Testing, helps track your recovery with data, not guesswork.
Experienced team – Our team holds AHPRA registration and brings over 50 years of combined clinical experience across sports physiotherapy and general rehabilitation.
Melbourne CBD location – Convenient access at Collins Place, 45 Collins Street, ideal for city workers, commuters and residents.
Melbourne has a robust network of sports medicine and physiotherapy clinics – what sets our clinic apart is a commitment to understanding why your injury occurred and building a plan that helps you achieve peak performance without repeated setbacks.
Physiotherapy may help assess the injury, guide suitable activity and develop a rehabilitation plan based on your symptoms, strength and goals. Depending on your needs, your plan may include exercise, education or hands-on care as part of broader pain treatment and rehabilitation rather than as a guarantee to relieve pain.
Common signs can include localised muscle pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising, weakness or difficulty using the affected area. Symptoms alone cannot confirm how severe the injury is, and some complex injuries may require further medical assessment or imaging.
Your physiotherapist will discuss how the injury occurred, your symptoms, activity demands and goals before assessing movement, strength and function. They will then explain their findings and outline suitable next steps based on your individual presentation.
Treatment or rehabilitation may begin during the first appointment when clinically appropriate. This could include education, exercise or other management strategies, depending on what your physiotherapist finds during the assessment.
There is no universal recovery timeline for a muscle strain or muscle tear. Recovery can vary according to the muscle involved, the severity of the injury, previous injuries, general health, activity demands and how your function changes during rehabilitation.
Your physiotherapist can monitor your progress and provide more individual guidance about returning to work, exercise or sport.
Return to activity is generally based on symptoms, strength, function and the demands of the activity rather than time alone. Your physiotherapist may also discuss workload, movement and other contributing factors that could help manage injury risk. These strategies should not be presented as a way to prevent future injury, as no rehabilitation plan can guarantee that another injury will not occur.
Don’t let a muscle strain keep you from moving, working or training with confidence. Our physiotherapists can assess your injury, identify what may be contributing to your symptoms and build a personalised rehabilitation plan around your goals.
Take the next step towards getting back to the activities that matter to you.
