Why GunnIMS?

GunnIMS is a safe and effective physiotherapy technique that uses small, thin needles to release tight, painful muscles and reset the nervous system. GunnIMS goes beyond typical dry needling approaches, considering the whole person and addressing the root causes of persistent pain to create lasting changes.

At Thrive Therapy, our physiotherapists each bring decades of physiotherapy experience and more than 10 years of Gunn IMS practice each. Our physical therapists have completed the extensive training and certification required to use IMS in practice, and have helped hundreds of patients in Edmonton to feel better, move better, and live better.

 

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Meet Our Gunn IMS Practitioners

Each of our four physiotherapists is a certified Gunn IMS practitioner with advanced training that goes beyond standard dry needling certification.

Jen Kiesman — 24 years of physiotherapy experience, 15 years of dedicated Gunn IMS practice. Jen is one of Thrive's founding therapists and has guided hundreds of patients through complex, persistent pain conditions using Gunn IMS treatment.

Natalie Barraclough — 20 years of physiotherapy experience, 10 years of Gunn IMS practice. Natalie's extensive knowledge and experience treating chronic musculoskeletal pain is particularly helpful for patients who haven't found relief through conventional approaches.

Susan Wilkinson — 25+ years of physiotherapy experience, 10+ years of Gunn IMS practice, including 5 years at Thrive Therapy. Susan brings exceptional clinical depth to every assessment and is known for her thorough, whole-body approach to intramuscular stimulation.

Sarah J. Conrad — 20 years of physiotherapy experience, combined with Gunn IMS certification. Sarah has extensive experience in women's health physiotherapy, including practice, teaching and research, offering a uniquely integrated perspective for patients managing complex or layered pain conditions.

The IMS Therapy Process

First, a specialized GunnIMS assessment is done to get a good understanding of the root causes and contributing factors to your pain. Next, a treatment plan is discussed and agreed upon, and your therapist will answer any questions you may have.

Your therapist will position you comfortably and talk with you throughout the process. They will put on gloves and disinfect your skin before inseting an acupuncture needle into the involved muscles (spots often described by patients as ‘knots’). This has multiple effects on the muscles including releasing muscle tension, stimulating tissue healing and “resetting” the nervous system to a relaxed state.

Most people describe the feeling of IMS like a dull ache or pressure, followed by the sensation of release; sometimes it can feel like a muscle cramp. Immediately after, most people notice that the muscles treated feel more relaxed, less sensitive and that mobility in the area is increased.

Most patients experience some post-treatment soreness for 24 to 48 hours following a session, this is a normal part of the healing response. Our therapists use a gentle, graduated approach to dosage and can adjust your treatment based on your comfort level and sensitivity.

Gunn IMS vs. Standard Dry Needling: What's the Difference?

Both Gunn IMS and dry needling use fine acupuncture needles to stimulate change in tight, painful muscles, but they are not the same technique, and the difference matters when choosing your provider.

Standard dry needling is a more general technique used by various healthcare professionals. It typically targets localized trigger points or muscle knots. The training requirements for standard dry needling vary widely depending on the practitioner's profession.

Gunn IMS (intramuscular stimulation) is a specific, evidence-informed system developed by Dr. Chan Gunn, a Canadian physician. It is restricted to experienced, certified physiotherapists who complete rigorous additional training through the ISTOP (Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain). The Gunn IMS model is grounded in a comprehensive, whole-body neurological assessment, not just localized trigger point release, making it particularly effective for chronic and complex pain conditions.

In short: all Gunn IMS practitioners are trained in dry needling, but not all dry needling practitioners are trained in Gunn IMS. At Thrive Therapy, every IMS session is delivered by a certified Gunn IMS physiotherapist.

Gunn IMS (Dry Needling) for Persistent and Chronic Pain

IMS is a safe and effective physiotherapy technique that uses small, thin needles to release tight, painful muscles and stimulate healing, reduce pain, improve function, and reset the nervous system to a more relaxed state. It takes into account a whole-body approach and typically creates change quickly.

Conditions commonly treated with Gunn IMS at our Edmonton clinic include:

  • Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
  • Achilles tendinopathy
  • Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
  • Rotator cuff syndrome and shoulder pain
  • Chronic neck and back pain
  • Sciatica and nerve-related pain
  • Sports injuries and overuse conditions
  • Osteoarthritis-related muscle tightness

Gunn IMS (Dry Needling)

IMS is a safe and effective physiotherapy technique that uses small, thin needles to release tight, painful muscles and stimulate healing, reduce pain, improve function, and reset the nervous system to a more relaxed state. It takes into account a whole-body approach and typically creates change quickly.



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Jen Kiesman

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Natalie Barraclough

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Sarah J. Conrad

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Susan Wilkinson

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions we hear the most:

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Your first appointment is a full 60-minute assessment. Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history, assess your posture and movement patterns, and identify the neurological and muscular contributors to your pain. Treatment is typically introduced during the same session, and your therapist will walk you through each step before proceeding. Most patients leave their first session with a noticeable reduction in muscle tension.

There is no formal downtime after an IMS session. Most patients return to normal activities immediately, though it is common to experience post-treatment soreness for 24 to 48 hours as the muscles respond and begin to heal. Our therapists will advise you on gentle movement and self-care after each session to support your recovery.

Ready to Finally Get Relief?

Book a Gunn IMS assessment with one of our four certified physiotherapists in South Edmonton. Each therapist has over a decade of IMS experience, helping us to identify the root cause of your pain, and start creating real, lasting change.

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