Chronic pain can take over your life. It stops you from doing the things you love, like walking, working, playing with your kids, or even getting a good night’s sleep. When pain becomes a daily burden, even small tasks start to feel extremely painful. Many people try different treatments, including painkillers, massage therapy, cold and heat therapy, or even surgery, but the pain often returns. That’s where IMS Physical Therapy, also known as Intramuscular Stimulation, comes in.
Intramuscular Stimulation, or IMS, is a special kind of physiotherapy that targets the real cause of chronic pain—tight muscles and overactive nerves. IMS therapy uses fine needles, much like acupuncture, to reach deep muscle tissues. It helps release muscle knots, reduce nerve irritation, and restore normal movement. The best part? IMS doesn’t just treat symptoms—it aims to fix the root problem. In this blog, we’ll explore how IMS works, its benefits, and why it might be the right choice for your pain relief journey.
Who Can Benefit from IMS?
IMS therapy is helpful for people who have long-lasting or unexplained muscle pain. If you have tried other treatments and the pain still comes back, IMS can work for you. Some common conditions treated with IMS include:
- Lower back pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Tennis elbow
- Sciatica
- Knee pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic headaches
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Post-surgical muscle tightness
IMS is especially useful when scans like MRIs or X-rays show nothing wrong, but you still feel pain. That’s often a sign the problem is in your soft tissues and nerves, not your bones or joints.
Top Benefits of IMS Therapy
1. Long-Term Pain Relief
IMS therapy doesn’t just cover up pain; it addresses the cause. By calming irritated nerves and releasing tight muscles it helps reduce or even remove pain over time. Many patients feel lasting relief after a few sessions.
2. Improved Flexibility and Movement
Tight muscles can make it hard to move your neck, back, arms, or legs. IMS therapy helps those muscles relax, making it easier for you to move freely without discomfort.
3. Faster Healing
After injuries or surgeries, muscles can become stiff and painful. IMS helps improve blood circulation to those areas, speeding up the healing process and helping you return to your normal activities sooner.
4. Less Need for Medications
Many people rely on painkillers to get through the day. IMS offers a drug-free alternative that reduces your need for medication. This also means fewer side effects and less risk of addiction.
5. Treats Pain That Other Methods Miss
IMS can be very helpful when other treatments fail. It reaches deep muscle tissues that are hard to treat with massage or regular physiotherapy. Because of this, IMS is often used for hard-to-treat or chronic pain cases. It’s an effective form of muscle stimulation treatment that goes straight to the source of pain and tension, instead of just relieving surface-level discomfort.
6. Safe and Low Risk
IMS is generally safe when done by a trained physiotherapist. Side effects are usually minor and short-lived, such as mild soreness or small bruises at the needle site. In most cases, day-to-day activities can be resumed on the same day.
The IMS Session Experience
If you’re new to IMS, here’s what a typical session looks like:
- The physiotherapist checks your posture, movement, and pain areas.
- They identify tight muscles or trigger points that might be causing your pain.
- A thin, sterile needle is inserted into those muscles.
- You might feel a twitch or cramp when the needle hits the tight spot.
- After the twitch, the muscle starts to relax, and blood flow improves.
Sessions usually last 30 to 60 minutes. You might feel sore for a day or two after, but this is normal and part of the healing process.
IMS vs. Acupuncture
Though IMS and acupuncture both use needles, they are very different treatments:
- IMS is based on modern medical science; acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese medicine.
- IMS targets tight muscles and nerve irritation; acupuncture targets energy points.
- IMS is done by physiotherapists; acupuncture is done by trained acupuncturists.
IMS is more focused on treating physical pain caused by muscles and nerves, especially in chronic conditions.
Is IMS Right for You?
IMS is a great option for you if:
- You’ve had pain for more than 3 months
- Your pain keeps coming back
- Other treatments haven’t helped much
- You prefer a drug-free treatment
- You intend to enhance your muscle function and flexibility
However, IMS may not be suitable for everyone. It’s not recommended during pregnancy or for people with bleeding disorders or certain medical conditions. Always talk to your physiotherapist in Surrey before starting IMS.
Conclusion
Chronic pain can affect your work, sleep, relationships, and happiness. If you’ve been struggling with persistent pain that doesn’t seem to improve, Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) could be the best solution. It’s safe, drug-free, and focuses on treating the real cause of pain—not just the symptoms.
IMS therapy helps your muscles relax, improves nerve function, and brings back your natural movement. Whether you have back pain, neck stiffness, or sore joints, IMS can help you feel better and live more freely.
Don’t let pain control your life. Take the first step toward relief. Experience the benefits of IMS therapy by scheduling your visit to Khalsa Physiotherapy Clinic in Surrey, BC, today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
IMS therapy, used for Intramuscular Stimulation, is a modern form of IMS Physical Therapy that targets tight, painful muscles and irritated nerves. It uses thin needles to stimulate muscle tissue, promote healing, and relieve pain—especially in chronic conditions.
Both treatments use needles, but IMS treatment is based on Western medicine and focuses on physical issues like nerve sensitivity and muscle tightness. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and aims to balance energy flow.
In IMS needling, a physiotherapist inserts a sterile, fine needle into tense or shortened muscles. This creates a twitch response, which helps the muscle relax and improves circulation. It’s a key part of IMS physiotherapy for chronic pain relief.
Yes, IMS dry needling is considered safe when performed by a trained physiotherapist. Mild soreness or bruising is common but temporary. It’s a non-drug, low-risk muscle stimulation treatment ideal for many types of pain.
Intramuscular stimulation can treat various conditions, including:
- Lower back pain
- Sciatica
- Neck and shoulder tightness
- Fibromyalgia
- Post-surgical muscle pain
Headaches caused by muscle tension
