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.
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The IMS Therapy Process
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.
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's
Here are answers to some of the commonly asked questions we get asked about Gunn IMS.
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 puts further compression on the surrounding nerve(s), and a vicious cycle occurs, keeping the muscle tight and the nerve supersensitive. This supersensitivity leads to pain that may moves 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 jointsand discs in the spine; when they are chronically tight, they limit joint mobility and may contribute to degenerative conditions such as arthritis or degenerative disc disease.
As well, tight muscles will constantly pull on tendons resulting in conditions such as Achilles Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow and Rotator Cuff Syndrome. Furthermore, tight muscles will put compression on 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.
Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is generally considered safe when performed by a trained and qualified healthcare professional such as those at Thrive Therapy. However, as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks and considerations to be aware of.
Here are some key points regarding the safety of IMS:
Training and Qualifications: IMS should be performed by healthcare professionals who have received proper training and certification in the technique. This ensures that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the procedure safely. All therapists at Thrive have over 10 years of experience practicing IMS.
Needle Safety: The use of sterile, single-use needles is essential to minimize the risk of infection or other complications. At Thrive Therapy we adhere to strict infection control protocols and dispose of used needles appropriately.
Potential Side Effects: Common side effects of IMS may include temporary discomfort or bruising at the needle insertion sites. Some individuals may experience temporary muscle soreness or fatigue in the first 24-48 hours after the procedure. (This is typically followed by an improvement in overall pain and other symptoms.) Serious complications are rare but can include infection, nerve injury, or puncture of organs. These risks can be minimized by the practitioner’s expertise and proper technique. All therapists who use IMS at Thrive Therapy have at least 10 years of experience using the technique.
Precautions and Contraindications: IMS may not be suitable for everyone. Certain conditions, such as bleeding disorders, local infections, or severe needle phobia, must be considered. Your physiotherapist will assess your medical history and conduct a thorough examination to determine if IMS is appropriate for you.
Individual Variations: Each person’s response to IMS may vary. Some individuals may experience significant pain relief and improved function, while others may experience a lesser degree of benefit, though it is our experience that nearly everyone experiences some degree of improvement even after just one session.
No, Gunn IMS and dry needling are not the same thing, although they are related techniques that involve the use of 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 takes into account 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.
