Are you experiencing unexplainable aching? If there’s no visible tissue damage or inflammation present, but yet, you’re encountering bouts of inexplicable pain, it may be the result of involuntary muscle spasms. More specifically, shortening and contracting of the muscles, which produces the baffling pain.
The solution to your problem may be found in IMS therapy in Calgary. This therapeutic treatment is capable of easing your pain and encouraging wellbeing within your body. And here at Panther Sports Medicine, we have a team of accredited therapists who specialize in this form of physiotherapy in Calgary.
Moreover, we have 10 locations throughout the city to best serve you and aid with your recovery – in whatever capacity you need. Our locations are in Country Hills, Oak Ridge, Cranston Market, Trico Centre, Seton, Deer Valley, Marlborough Mall, South Fish Creek, Mckenzie Towne, and Walden.
Keep reading to learn more about IMS therapy services.
Intramuscular-stimulation (IMS) Massage Therapy Services
Intramuscular Stimulation (also referred to as dry needling) is a potent therapeutic method utilized to reduce muscle pain and enhance muscle functionality. The procedure of IMS involves “acupuncture-like” needles being inserted into myofascial trigger points, also referred to as muscle knots.
Typically, IMS therapy is a single component that is part of a larger therapeutic program. As such, our highly skilled and qualified physiotherapists will resort to IMS/Trigger point needling to either enhance current methods already being used or as an alternative when other methods have failed.
Our physiotherapists will ensure that you are informed of the process as well as the potential results. All of this is done in an effort to make you feel safe and comfortable about the procedure.
What is the Origin of Intramuscular-Stimulation (IMS) Massage Therapy?
Intramuscular Stimulation was developed in the 1970s by Dr. Chan Gunn, a world-class pioneer in the research and therapeutic treatment of chronic pain within the soft tissue.
Dr. Gunn had numerous patients suffering from chronic pain, which stubbornly persisted even if patients weren’t suffering from any serious injuries such as damaged tendons or broken bones.
And even though Dr. Gunn was well-versed in Western medicine best practices, he also had a background in Chinese Acupuncture. He concluded that the majority of chronic pain his patients were experiencing was the result of nerves causing overstimulation to the muscles.
Dr. Gunn called this “neuropathic pain” and believed the pain would ease if he ‘re-started' the impulses nourishing the muscles. To achieve this ‘re-start’, he employed acupuncture needles to reinvigorate the impacted muscles.
Symptoms That Require Intramuscular-Stimulation (IMS)/Trigger point needling
There are a plethora of conditions, aches, and pains that could indicate a need for IMS/Trigger point needling. View the list below to see if you could benefit from this treatment. Additionally, be sure to consult with your physiotherapist for an expert opinion as well.
Some symptoms that could mean you need IMS/trigger point needling treatment include:
- Chronic muscle pain
- Neuropathic pain (malfunctioning of the nerves)
- Tennis and/or golfer’s elbow
- Joint and knee pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Limited mobility
- Continued muscle stiffness
- Restricted muscle function
How Does Intramuscular-Stimulation (IMS)/Trigger Point Needling Work?
When a certified physiotherapist performs IMS, an acupuncture needle is inserted into a restricted and shortened expanse of muscle (also known as a trigger point).
Muscles often become stiff, and as a result, trigger points can develop if they are damaged, compensating for an impairment at another part of the body, or if they happen to be receiving irregular notifications from the nerves or spine.
Once the trigger point is located, the physiotherapist inserts the acupuncture needle in the trigger-sensitive location of the body. You’ll feel a profound ache or even a convulsive sensation as the therapist begins moving the needle up and down over the stiffened expanse of muscle. The practitioner might continue this process numerous times over multiple trigger points.
What are the Benefits of IMS?
The utility of IMS becomes evident when you realize how many conditions it treats. This form of therapeutic treatment has the ability to aid with many conditions, including but not limited to:
- Tennis elbow
- Jaw or Temporomandibular Jaw (TMJ) Issues
- Muscle strains (Quads, calves, hamstring, etc)
- Lower back pain
- Tension headaches
- Rotator cuff tears
- Hip osteoarthritis
Are There Side Effects?
IMS delivers two primary results.
First, as treatment progresses, expect to feel an improvement in mobility. As the IMS releases tension from stiff muscles, you’ll start to experience an enhancement in movement as the stiffness of your joints and muscle tightness alleviates.
Second, you’ll feel a reduction in pain. This is due to the IMS loosening up your muscles and minimizing condensed loads on ligaments, joints, and nerves.
Some other side effects of IMS are the formation of slight aches and bruises. For some people, they may feel fatigued after a session of IMS, but this typically dissipates in a couple of hours.
How Soon Can You Expect to See Results?
While some people may be affected differently by IMS, there is a general consensus on when you can expect to see results. Typically, for the majority of people, it takes 3 to 4 sessions before the desired results become apparent.
Countless people are taken aback at how rapid (and effective) IMS relieves the pain that has been plaguing them for some years.
Other Services
Panther Sports Medicine has a mission to help those struggling with aches, pains, and other physical ailments, so they can live happier and healthier lives. As such, we have listed additional therapy services below. Skim through to see which ones are most appropriate for you and your circumstances.
Physiotherapy
Without your health, you don’t have much else in life. For this reason, ensuring your body is in peak physical condition is essential for your overall health and wellbeing. Physiotherapy is a treatment method used to restore and promote health through a physical examination and diagnosis.
Sports Therapy
A critical component of healthcare, sports therapy is a therapeutic treatment method uniquely designed for the rehabilitation of sports injuries. Regardless of ability or age, Panther Sports Medicine provides sports therapy services that have the capacity to get your body functioning optimally, so you can return to the physical activities you love and enjoy.
Acupuncture
Typically utilized as an additional treatment method alongside other systems, acupuncture is an outstanding inclusion to your overall therapeutic treatment plan. Acupuncture gives way for muscle relaxation, as a result, other treatments used in unison become more effective and potent.
The process involves the utilization of slender needles being inserted into certain areas of the body to produce salutary changes to tissue, muscles, circulation, etc.
Shockwave Therapy
As it continues to gain more prominence, shockwave therapy has quickly proven its effectiveness in alleviating certain conditions where other forms of treatment have failed. Shockwave therapy has the uncanny ability to relieve pain as well as accelerate recovery for conditions related to bone and tissue pain. By delivering a high-octane wave of energy to the impaired tissue, shockwave therapy produces regenerative results that allow for proper healing to occur in the soft tissue, bones, and tendons.
Temporomandibular (Jaw) Joint - TMJ
If you notice that chewing, eating and other everyday oral activities are becoming painful, you may have Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder. The pain often occurs in the temporomandibular joint (the connecting joint that fastens your jaw to your skull). If you believe you’re suffering from this condition, we at Panther Sports Medicine have treatments readily available.
Braces, Orthotics, and Health Products
Despite its best efforts, your body will need support from time to time. This can come in many capacities: orthotics, braces, and other health products can all help ease the pressure your body regularly experiences. Consequently, you’ll feel better and heal faster. These types of solutions can have a profound impact on your recovery time and make life a much more pleasurable experience when you’re dealing with injuries.
Sports Medicine
When living an active lifestyle, it’s pretty much a guarantee that sooner or later, an injury will occur. It comes with the territory. Whether it’s a major or minor injury is irrelevant, because either way, you want to be prepared to treat the damage as best you can when it happens. That’s why at Panther Sports Medicine, we offer sports medicine therapy treatment options to help you with your sports injuries.
Conclusion
We appreciate your interest in Panther Sports Medicine, and we invite you to take the leap to good health and learn more about our company and how we can help improve your health. We have 10 convenient locations in Calgary. Find a location near you and book an appointment with us.
