Blaine Skleryk

I'm a manual osteopath, registered massage therapist, and certified clinical somatic educator at Laser Health Solutions in Calgary. I co-founded the clinic in 2004 and have been in practice for 22 years.

Many of the people I see have already had treatment for their pain, and it came back. My work starts with a different question: not only where it hurts, but why it keeps returning.

A biomechanics background

I studied kinesiology (biomechanics) at the University of Waterloo and completed a master's degree in biomechanics at the University of Alberta. Before entering clinical practice, I worked in gait assessment research at the University of Waterloo and at the University of Calgary's Human Performance Laboratory.

I think of osteopathic care as engineering for the body. An engineer looks at how components share load. I look at how your joints, muscles, fascia, fluids, and nervous system interact, because the source of a problem often isn't where you feel it.

How I treat

I start with a whole-body assessment: posture and alignment, muscle function, fascia, the mobility of the craniosacral system, and how the organs move. I also consider how your nervous system and body awareness may be keeping patterns of pain and tension going.

You should understand what I'm doing and why. I explain what I find, answer your questions, and adjust as your body responds. If something isn't working, I don't keep repeating it. I reassess and look at other contributing factors. My treatment may include:

• Manual osteopathy: hands-on work to restore movement between joints, muscles, fascia, and other tissues, and to support circulation and lymphatic drainage.
• Massage therapy: treatment for soft-tissue tension and myofascial restrictions.
• Clinical somatics: gentle, mindful movement that teaches your nervous system to let go of habitual muscle tension, so you can change patterns you may not know you have.
• Low intensity laser therapy: used alongside hands-on treatment when it suits your situation.

Many people notice a change after one visit. Longstanding or more complex problems often take a series of treatments.

What I commonly see

• Headaches, jaw (TMJ) issues, and other concerns involving the head and neck
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Low back pain, hip and knee pain, and sciatica
• Foot problems, including plantar fasciitis, fallen arches, and neuromas
• Restrictions in the membranes around the nervous system (neural meningeal restrictions)
• Postural and movement imbalances
• Sports injuries
• Chronic or recurring pain

I work with children, teens, adults, and seniors.

Teaching and my approach

I'm the Lead Instructor for Osteoarticular Techniques and Integration at the Manual Osteopathy College of Canada. Teaching has made me want to explain what I'm finding and why a treatment makes sense, so you understand your plan and take part in it.

My working motto is "Success is the uncommon application of common knowledge." For me, that means applying well-established principles carefully to the person in front of me, not running everyone through the same routine.

Training

• B.Sc., Kinesiology (Biomechanics), University of Waterloo
• M.Sc., Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta
• Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), Northern Institute of Massage Therapy
• Diploma of Manual Osteopathy (DMO), National Manual Osteopathy College
• Certified Clinical Somatic Educator (CCSE), Essential Somatics
• Lead Instructor, Manual Osteopathy College of Canada

Outside the clinic

I stay active with high-intensity interval training classes at my local gym and cross-country skiing in the winter. I also enjoy woodworking and projects around my home. I like understanding how things work and working patiently toward a solution, and that carries into my practice.

You can read what other patients have said on our testimonials page.