Acupuncture & Intramuscular Stimulation

Restore Your Physiological Function

Originating in China thousands of years ago, acupuncture involves the insertion of single-use, sterilized needles into specific areas of the body. A medical procedure called “dry needling” or intramuscular stimulation (IMS) is used to relieve muscle soreness. It functions by improving blood flow to the afflicted region and hormone release that reduces pain. IMS has been demonstrated to have fast pain relief and is a safe and effective therapy choice.

Being unable to get relief from persistent or recurrent muscular discomfort is the worst possible situation. Numerous people experience neuropathic or chronic musculoskeletal pain brought on by nerve sensitivity or malfunction. Muscles that are related to faulty nerves may become painfully weak, tight, and shortened. Your muscles seem incapable of ever relaxing. Intramuscular stimulation, often known as IMS, may help to reduce the discomfort and stiffness associated with illnesses that cause chronic or recurring muscle pain. When muscles are wounded, compensating for an injury elsewhere in the body, or are getting strange signals from the spine and nerves, they can tighten up and form trigger points. The acupuncture needle is put into a trigger point once the physiotherapist has located it. As the physiotherapist inserts the needle into the constricted muscle band, you should experience sharp pain or a twitching feeling. Once the therapist has properly agitated the stiff muscles, the needle will be taken out. Your therapist could repeat this procedure several times using various trigger sites. The depth of the trigger point has a complete bearing on the depth of the IMS needling. Some muscles are quite close to the skin’s surface, such as those in the mouth or forearm. In some cases, the depth of the needle insertion might be as little as 1-2 cm. Sometimes the trigger points are more profound and might be 5–10 cm below the skin, such in the hip or calf.

Is IMS a type of dry needle procedure?

Yes! A range of therapeutic methods known as “dry needling” include stimulating a tissue with a needle in order to facilitate healing or muscular relaxation. The term “wet needling” describes procedures in which a person is given a substance (such as a drug or vaccination) through the needle.

IMS: How long does it take to work?

After your first session, intramuscular stimulation (IMS) is incredibly successful in releasing tight muscles and minimizing discomfort. After the first session, we anticipate some improvement, but typically 3–4 sessions are needed to confirm that IMS is effective, with the majority of injuries healing after 8–10 sessions.

What next for my IMS treatment?

It’s crucial to stay hydrated, keep moving, and warm the needle site after an IMS session. After your workout, this will lessen your discomfort. You should feel less discomfort and have more movement as the soreness from the needling subsides (often within 24 hours).

Acupuncture or IMS Can Often Aide in Treating Pain From

• Headaches
• Sciatica
• Back Pain
• Tendinopathy
• Chronic Pain
• Arthritis

We have physiotherapists who are certified to deliver acupuncture or IMS services to our patients at both of our locations. Please note that as our acupuncture services are provided by registered physiotherapists, they will be billed as a physiotherapy service.

Practitioners offering IMS include Edmund Gu, Jennifer Scott, Amy Guidinger, Andrea Box, Jason Luce, and Tara Lazarski. Practitioners offering acupuncture include Dorothy Berwick, Edmund Gu, Paige Larson, Jennifer Scott, and Tara Lazarski.