Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a system for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndromes (chronic pain conditions that occur in the musculoskeletal system when there is no obvious sign of injury or inflammation). IMS is grounded in Western Medical Science, and has a solid foundation in its radiculopathic model of pain, which is now supported by many experts in the field. The treatment was developed by Dr. Chan Gunn in the 1970’s and utilizes acupuncture needles because they are the thinnest implements available that are designed to penetrate deep within the muscle tissue, specifically targeting injured muscles that have contracted and become shortened from distress.
IMS relies heavily on a thorough physical examination of the patient by a competent practitioner, trained to recognize the physical signs of neuropathic pain. This physical exam is indispensible because chronic pain is often neurological as opposed to structural, and therefore, invisible to X-rays, MRI, bone and CT scans. Failure to recognize these signs will result in an inaccurate diagnosis, and thus a poor starting point for physical therapy.
Treatment involves dry needling of the affected areas of the body without injecting any substance. The goal of treatment is to release muscle shortening, which presses on and irritates the nerve. IMS, in effect, treats the underlying neuropathic condition that causes the pain. When competently performed, IMS has a remarkable success rate, as proven by the amelioration of symptoms and signs, even for chronic back pain.
Currently we have two physiotherapists practicing Gunn IMS:
Joanne McBrinn
Lyndal Solomon