Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) for chronic pain - Calgary Downtown Integrative Health Group

Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a treatment for certain conditions that cause chronic pain. It is used in chronic neck, shoulder, low back and leg pain and other conditions, caused when an oversensitive nerve keeps a muscle contracted for too long. The muscle becomes shortened, causing tension and further pain in other muscles and tissues. IMS directly treats the cause of the pain by relaxing the shortened muscle and allowing it to return to its normal state.

Intramuscular Stimulation directly treats the cause of the pain by relaxing the shortened muscle and allowing it to return to its normal state. During an IMS treatment very fine acupuncture needles are inserted into the shortened muscle at the points where it is tight. The needles change the electrical potential of the muscle, and cause micro-injuries that stimulate blood circulation and healing. The needles cause almost no pain when inserted into normal muscle. They cause painful cramping when they are inserted into a shortened, hypersensitive muscle. After the muscle cramps, it relaxes.

With weekly treatments over several weeks, the initial pain is followed by long-term relief for many patients.

We welcome you to visit our convenient Calgary downtown location.