Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) also known as Dry Needling is the treatment of chronic pain of nerve origin using an acupuncture needle to stimulate a muscle.
Chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin is often the result of shortened muscles. These shortened muscles can result in pain locally in the involved muscles and/or at the joints that those muscles affect or move.
IMS will “relax” the shortened muscles by local needle stimulation as well as heal or normalize the nerve pathways. The goal is to release tight muscles which can press on and irritate nerves. This technique can be very effective in promoting long term relief in chronically tight and painful muscles.