IMS Therapy

Intramuscular Stimulation, or IMS, is an effective dry needling technique aimed at reducing muscle tightness that manifests as chronic or recurring pain conditions. Adverse tone, trigger points or tight muscle bands are present in a variety of conditions that may benefit from this needling technique. 

The insertion of a needle into a tight muscle band evokes a reflex relaxation or “twitch” of the muscle involved. This results in releasing the muscle and reducing the pulling effects of the tight muscles across joints, discs, and tendons. It can also help decrease nerve root impingement at the spinal level by helping to decrease the surrounding muscle spasm. By re-activating the muscle, the tension in the muscle decreases and the pain improves.  

Most patients do not describe the sensation as pain, but as an unusual sensation with an overall feeling of “release”. The result is a relaxed muscle with less stress placed on joints, tendons, and nerves. Patients will often feel immediate pain relief and increased movement after IMS. The effects of IMS can be longstanding and cumulative from treatment to treatment. 

After a thorough assessment and discussion of your injury or condition, your physical therapist may suggest IMS dry needling as part of your overall plan of care. As IMS dry needling is a restricted activity, rest assured that your Lime Health physical therapist is an experienced professional registered with Physiotherapy Alberta to safely carry out these types of treatments. 

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapeutic technique that has been around for over 3,000 years. It uses several fine needles to stimulate points along theoretical meridians of energy throughout the body to correct imbalances that are thought to be responsible for specific disease states. These meridians are thought to have a direct effect on pain and tissue healing in the body. Other acupuncture systems are more modern and are based on anatomy, peer reviewed research and trigger points.   

Physical therapists typically use a blending of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine when applying acupuncture as part of treatment. Physiotherapists are trained and certified to treat musculoskeletal conditions with acupuncture typically through either the University of Alberta or the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute. At Lime Health & Wellness, our physiotherapists have completed post-graduate courses and hold professional certifications in acupuncture and are registered with Physiotherapy Alberta to perform such activities.  

When combined with physical therapy, acupuncture is always customized to address each patient’s unique issues and concerns to find the most effective individualized treatment strategy for you. Before treatment begins, a thorough examination is provided that includes a detailed medical history, physical examination, and any precautions are discussed that will help guide the appropriate treatment program. For your safety, we always use sterile, disposable needles. 

Treatments often include multiple sessions performed in a relaxing environment, where the physical therapist inserts needles at specific points throughout the body to stimulate the body’s natural healing response and release of pain-relieving endorphins from the brain. In Western medicine, the insertion of a needle “stimulus” elicits a “response” from the body, naturally providing an influx of healing agents to the region. Patients generally report a reduction in pain, numbness, and postural strain, and most commonly a sense of relaxation after each session. 

When acupuncture is paired with other therapeutic interventions, such as exercise prescription and manual therapy, the result can yield even more substantial improvements for your long-term recovery.