Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation (Gunn IMS)

Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation (Gunn IMS)

Effective relief from:

• Neck pain and headaches
• Lower back pain
• Sciatica
• Degenerative disc disorders
• Disc herniations
• SI joint pain
• Lateral epicondylitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Shoulder impingement
• Hip bursitis
• Patellafemoral syndrome
• TMJ problems
• Plantar fasciitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

And much more!

What is Intramuscular Stimulation?

IMS is a system for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain and many common musculoskeletal conditions.  It is grounded in western medical science based on the radiculopathic model of pain. This model is supported by many experts in the field. Radiculopathic pain, or neuropathy, occurs when a nerve link to a part of the body fails causing that part to become highly irritable and extremely excitable (often referred to as supersensitized).  

What leads to neuropathy?

The most common cause of neuropathy is spondylosis (narrowing of the space surrounding the nerve root). When muscle shortening in spinal muscles occurs, it causes pressure on the intervertebral disc, facet joint and peripheral nerve root. Due to this pressure, a vicious cycle of pain can arise. Pressure on the nerve as a result of the shortened muscles leads to more shortening of the local spinal muscles, which in turn causes more pressure on the nerve.

How does this relate to pain and dysfunction in the extremities?

Neuropathy doesn’t just affect the muscles around the spine, it occurs in all muscles that are supplied by the nerve. Shortening can lead to added stress on tendons causing tendonitis.  Shortening in muscles crossing a joint can increase the joint pressure and can cause joint pain and eventually lead to degenerative changes such as osteoarthritis.

How are these neuropathies detected?

IMS relies heavily on a thorough physical examination of the patient looking for subtle physical signs of neuropathy. The causes of common orthopedic conditions are often neurological as opposed to structural, and therefore invisible to expensive x-rays, MRI tests, bone and CT scans. This unique assessment often allows the IMS therapist, with a sound background in anatomy and neurophysiology, to be effective in treating conditions that have not responded to conventional therapies or traditional acupuncture.

What is the goal of IMS?

The goal of IMS treatment is to release muscle shortening, which presses on and irritates nerves.  IMS is very effective for releasing shortened muscles under contracture, thereby decreasing mechanical pain from muscle pull as well as pressure placed on nerves.  In effect it treats the underlying neuropathic condition that causes pain and excess strain on tissues.

Why are acupuncture needles used?

Supersensitivity and muscle shortening cannot be operated on and ‘cut away’, while painkillers and other analgesic medications only mask pain and promote toxicity, compounding the problem. IMS treatments utilize acupuncture needles to penetrate deep within muscle tissue that has contracted and become shortened from distress. The result of this technique works in three distinct ways. First, a stretch receptor in the muscle is stimulated, producing a reflex relaxation (lengthening) in the muscle.  Second, the needle causes a micro-injury drawing blood to the area. This initiates a natural healing process by drawing platelet derived growth factor to the area.  Third, the treatment creates an electrical potential in the muscle to make the nerve function normally again.  

Who can benefit from IMS?

IMS has a remarkable success rate for most common musculoskeletal conditions in the spine or extremities. It can be effective in the relief of symptoms from chronic neck and back pain even with nerve root pain. Many conditions in the extremities that are deemed to be due to mechanical loading or repetitive strain will actually have an underlying neurological component that can be improved through IMS. To find out whether a condition can be helped through this technique a thorough physical assessment by an IMS practitioner is recommended.