Meet your Osteopath
My name is Dorine Karikurubu-Vockel, certified Osteopath DO and founder of Osteo Aligned.
I bring over six years of dedicated learning and more than 1500 hours of clinical practice to my work. My journey began with rigorous training in osteopathic science and techniques, culminating in certification in 2022. I then completed a two-year residency program, earning my Doctor in Osteopathy Diploma (DO) at the prestigious Romanian Institute for Osteopathy in Bucharest, Romania (European Union).
“An osteopath is only a human engineer who should understand
all the laws governing his engine and thereby master disease.”A. T. Still, founder of osteopathy
During my formative years, I gained valuable experience through practical residencies at multiple osteopathic clinics. This enhanced my ability to treat patients across all ages. I focus on accurate osteopathic diagnoses, ruling out pathologies that require medical management, and designing personalized treatments to improve body mobility, alleviate pain, and enhance blood circulation.
Dorine Karikurubu-Vockel
Osteopath & Founder of OsteoAligned
About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is embodied through four core principles:
1. The human body is one functional unit
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to health enhancing the body's natural movement. It helps relieve pain, reduce tension, improve circulation, and restore overall balance without medication or invasive procedures. Osteopathy views the body as a connected whole, considering bones, muscles, joints, nerves, viscera and lymphatics. It uses gentle, hands-on techniques to address functional disorders to support the body's ability to heal, while recognizing when conditions require specialized medical treatment.
2. Self-defense, self-regulation and self-healing
Osteopathy enhances the body’s natural ability to defend, regulate, and heal itself. Instead of “fixing” the body, osteopathic treatment supports the body’s internal systems, helping it adapt, recover from injury, and maintain balance. By working with the body’s own mechanisms, osteopathy promotes overall health and resilience, addressing symptoms like pain, restricted movement, or fatigue.
3. The interrelationship between form, structure and function
Put simply, Form is the initial shape and arrangement of structures (anatomy), which influence both their function and efficiency. Structure will then determine how the body is build (bones, muscles, ligaments) and influence how the body’s physical form functions. Any disruption in the structure (such as restrictions in movement due to poor posture) can impair function and lead to disease or dysfunction. Osteopathic treatments address these structural issues to improve function.
Equally, how we use or overuse our body (Function) can also alter its structure over time. By restoring balance to the body’s structure through osteopathic techniques, normal function can be restored, preventing degeneration like osteoporosis or joint issues.
4. Circulation supports overall health and recovery
Blood circulation is key to health & recovery as it delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes waste. When circulation is restricted by muscle tension or joint misalignment, it can lead to pain, stiffness, and slower recovery. Osteopathy helps restore the circulation, allowing tissues to receive the supplies they need for optimal healing.
“The body is a self-healing mechanism. Osteopathy simply reminds it of this.”
–Viola M. Frymann, D.O., Renowned Osteopath and Pediatric Specialist.
My osteopathic approach
My mission to offer holistic osteopathic care to each of my patients is deeply rooted in personal experience — growing up, illness was a constant presence in my family, and I witnessed firsthand how a lack of proper care and understanding can fail those who need it most. This has fueled my passion to help others achieve their fullest health potential.
Embracing the body’s incredible ability to heal and protect itself against illness, I follow the footsteps of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, the visionary founder of the medicine of osteopathy. A deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, biomecanics and biodynamics show that symptoms are never isolated issues, but rather clues of imbalances within the body - always connected to its environment.
In my practice, I thus focus on the musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons) as well as how it interacts with other vital systems, such as the nervous, digestive, and cranial structures.
With skilled touch (constantly expanded through continued training), I listen to and follow the guidance of the body’s signals, identifying subtle changes in tension, pain, movement, and fluid dynamics.
This comprehensive approach allows me to craft personalized treatment plans resonating with each patient's unique needs for genuine healing and long-lasting well-being.
If you would like to learn more about how I can support you on your personal journey, please get in touch here.
A young patient with migraine treated via cranial and biodynamic techniques.