An acupuncture needle is inserted into the muscles (spots often described by patients as ‘knots’). This has multiple effects on the muscle including releasing muscle tension, stimulating tissue healing and “resetting” the nervous system.
Intramuscular Stimulation: Gunn IMS Dry Needling Therapy
IMS is a safe and effective physiotherapy technique that uses small, thin needles to release tight, painful muscles and reset the nervous system.
Most painful muscles are in a shortened state, often because of altered nerve input.
The shortened muscles contribute to muscle imbalances, compression of joints, and restricted mobility, all of which contribute to pain and decreased function.
The IMS Therapy Process
To the patient it feels like a dull ache or pressure, followed by the sensation of release. Immediately after, patients notice that the muscles treated feel more relaxed, less sensitive and that mobility in the area is increased.
FAQ
WHY DO MY MUSCLES ALWAYS FEEL TIGHT AND SORE?
Through years of research, Dr. Gunn, the developer of IMS, concluded that a muscle becomes shortened (tight) when a nerve does not supply a muscle with enough electrical impulse.
The shortened muscle then compresses the surrounding nerve(s), and a vicious cycle occurs, keeping the muscle tight and the nerve supersensitive. This supersensitivity leads to pain that may move around or spread. It is often difficult to find relief of the pain day to day, and if the pain is relieved it tends to recur easily.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH CHRONICALLY TIGHT MUSCLES?
Muscles cross over joints and discs in the spine; chronically tight limits joint mobility and may contribute to degenerative conditions such as arthritis or degenerative disc disease.
Tight muscles also constantly pull on tendons, resulting in conditions such as Achilles Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow, and Rotator Cuff Syndrome. Furthermore, tight muscles compress nerves, resulting in conditions such as sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, or a “pinched nerve.”
HOW CAN IMS HELP ME AND MY CONDITION?
In IMS, a thin acupuncture needle is inserted into a tight muscle band or trigger point (often described by patients as “knots”). This has multiple effects on the muscle including releasing muscle tension, stimulating tissue healing and “resetting” the nervous system.
To the patient it feels like a dull ache or pressure, followed by the sensation of release. Immediately after, patients notice that the muscles treated feel more relaxed, less sensitive and that mobility in the area is increased. This essentially “jump-starts” the nerve and muscle function, resulting in a reflex relaxation and a ‘reset’ of the nervous system. Tissue healing is also stimulated, with increased blood flow to the area.
The effects of IMS are typically longstanding and are cumulative from treatment to treatment.
IS IMS SAFE?
IMS is generally safe when performed by trained professionals, such as the experienced team at Thrive Therapy. However, as with any procedure, there are risks to consider.
IMS should only be performed by certified healthcare providers with proper training. At Thrive Therapy, our therapists have over 10 years of experience using sterile, single-use needles to minimize infection risks and adhere to strict safety protocols.
Common side effects include temporary discomfort or bruising at the needle site, with serious complications being rare. Your therapist will assess your medical history to determine if IMS is right for you, as some conditions may make it unsuitable. While results vary, most patients see improvement after even one session.
IS IMS THE SAME AS "DRY NEEDLING"?
No, Gunn IMS and dry needling are not the same, although they are related techniques that involve fine acupuncture needles. In both approaches the needle is used as a tool for stimulating change in the body and nothing is injected.
While there are similarities, dry needling is a more general technique employed by various healthcare professionals to target localized ‘trigger points’ or ‘muscle knots’. Gunn IMS, on the other hand, is a specific approach developed by Dr. Chan Gunn, a Canadian physician, and it is restricted to experienced physical therapists.
The primary difference is in the comprehensive full-body assessment and treatment approach that forms the basis of GunnIMS and considers the interrelatedness and complexity of the body’s systems.
WHAT DOES IMS FEEL LIKE?
Most patients do not describe the sensation of IMS as “pain”, but rather as an unusual sensation with an overall feeling of pressure or deep ache, followed by “release” and relief. Immediately after needling, patients notice that the muscles treated feel more relaxed, less sensitive and that mobility in the area is increased.
