Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)

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Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)
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What is IMS?

• What should you do when a muscle is tight and
  causing you pain? Poke it with a needle of
  course!
• IMS, or Intramuscular Stimulation, is a dry
  needling method developed by Canadian physician
  Dr. Chan Gunn in which an acupuncture needle is
  inserted into trigger points in the muscle.
  These trigger points are localized, taut bands of
  muscle that are usually hyperirritable1 meaning
  that it is likely to cause pain1,2. But how would
  stabbing a sore muscle with a needle make it feel
  better? This can be explained using Dr. Gunns
  model, which is based on radiculopathy.

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• Radiculopathy is basically a fancy way of saying
  that muscle/myofascial pain is the result of the
  disorder of peripheral nerves1. The areas around
  these nerves develop a super sensitivity that
  is manifested in your muscles as muscle
  shortening and the development of taut bands
  (knots in the muscle) as well as pain2. Knots in
  the muscle can add further pressure on the nerve
  leading to more pain, irritability, atrophy, and
  sensitivity1. Essentially these knots in your
  muscles lead to a vicious cycle of restricted
  nerve impulses, decreased blood flow, and pain.

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How does it work?

• When the acupuncture needle is inserted into the
  trigger point, the muscle responds with local
  twitches or jumps. These twitches can be
  thought of as an electrical reset of the nerve
  root that innervates that muscle. After the
  needle is removed, the electrical activity of
  those unwell nerves is reduced1. In other words,
  the overactive unhealthy nerves relax and
  normal flow or nerve impulses is restored. This
  results in decreased pain, muscle relaxation and
  decreased dysfunction!

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What does it feel like?

• When the acupuncture needle is first inserted it
  feels like a mosquito bite or a tiny pinprick.
  The jumps or twitches feel like quick muscle
  cramps, which can be slightly uncomfortable.
  After treatment, normal side effects include
  muscle soreness and possibly some bruising around
  the treatment site. The soreness that is
  experienced is a muscle soreness similar to the
  way your muscle feels after a hard workout.

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Is IMS the right treatment for me?

• IMS treatment is an excellent treatment option
  for a number of pathologies. If you are
  experiencing any of the following common
  diagnoses (or if you just enjoy needles), IMS
  could be a beneficial treatment for you
• Tendonitis
• Epicondylitis (Golfers elbow or tennis elbow)
• Patellar femoral pain syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

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• TMJ dysfunction
• Frozen shoulder
• Rotator cuff syndrome
• Headaches and whiplash
• Sciatica
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Chronic low back pain
• Upper back pain
• Recurrent or persistent pain

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• If you are experiencing continuous dull aching
  pains, tender and tight knots in your muscles, or
  have a limited range of motion, IMS could be the
  treatment that finally works for you. The number
  of treatments required to subdue pain can range
  from one or two to around 82. The severity of the
  injury and how your body responds to the
  treatment can dictate how many sessions are
  necessary.

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• IMS is a can be extremely effective when used as
  a part of a complex treatment regime. It is
  minimally invasive and carries a very low risk.