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.
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.
Our physical therapists have completed the extensive training and certification required to use IMS in practice, and have helped hundreds of patients to feel better, move better, and live better.
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.
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.
FAQ
Here are some of the questions we hear the most:
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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
