UBC Faculty of Medicine CPD Certification Course for Medical Doctors and Physiotherapists
This is an intramuscular dry needling course that goes beyond trigger point dry needling. Gunn IMS is a total system for the diagnosis and treatment of persistent myofascial pain syndromes, including muscle, joint, tendon, bursal, fascial, neural and biomechanical problems. The approach is based on a neuropathic model of musculoskeletal dysfunction developed by Dr C. Chan Gunn and described in his book “The Gunn Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain”. His conceptual framework explains patterns of physical findings commonly seen in persistent myofascial pain syndromes and has been commended by many physicians practising in the field of chronic pain including John D. Loeser, Stephen Butler and Anders E. Sola. Patrick D. Wall describes Dr Gunn’s approach as being, “in the best of the traditions of classical medicine”.
Dr Gunn has endowed UBC with the responsibility for the ongoing teaching of the Gunn IMS model of treatment – a teaching program that has run continuously since 1994. Since 2013, the Gunn IMS Program has been part of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and is now located in the Chan Gunn Pavilion on the UBC Vancouver campus. The course is coordinated by UBC Faculty of Medicine ‘s Continuing Professional Development Division, which has certified and granted the course 38 Mainpro+® credits for physicians. All course proceeds are used to support program development and research in Gunn IMS.
The program’s focus is on the safe, effective management of neuropathic musculoskeletal problems, using intramuscular dry needling and related postural and rehabilitative concepts. The application of the model requires an advanced level of clinical reasoning and pattern recognition, mature clinical judgement, extensive anatomical knowledge and precise palpation skills. For this reason, the prerequisites for attending this course include a minimum of four years experience treating musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr Gunn has endowed UBC with the responsibility for the ongoing teaching of the Gunn IMS model of treatment – a teaching program that has run continuously since 1994. Since 2013, the Gunn IMS Program has been part of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and is now located in the Chan Gunn Pavilion on the UBC Vancouver campus. The course is coordinated by UBC Faculty of Medicine ‘s Continuing Professional Development Division, which has certified and granted the course 38 Mainpro+® credits for physicians. All course proceeds are used to support program development and research in Gunn IMS.
The program’s focus is on the safe, effective management of neuropathic musculoskeletal problems, using intramuscular dry needling and related postural and rehabilitative concepts. The application of the model requires an advanced level of clinical reasoning and pattern recognition, mature clinical judgement, extensive anatomical knowledge and precise palpation skills. For this reason, the prerequisites for attending this course include a minimum of four years experience treating musculoskeletal conditions.
Format
During the COVID-19 pandemic the course format for out-of-province courses has been changed. Please read this page for more details. Courses run out of the UBC campus will follow the traditional format as outlined below:
This is a two-part course – on successful completion of both parts of the program, participants will be awarded certification in UBC Gunn IMS. Part 1 of the course (4 days) covers education regarding Dr Gunn’s neuropathic model of myofascial pain syndromes, the effects of dry needling, and contraindications and safety considerations for dry needling (including avoiding serious complications). You will learn how to conduct and interpret an assessment based on the neuropathic model to determine the cause of myofascial pain syndromes, which can then be used to devise a treatment plan using the Gunn IMS model. Also, on Part 1, you will learn to safely and effectively dry needle muscles of the cervical and lumbar spine; shoulder and pelvic girdles; and upper and lower limbs. Part 2 of the course (3 days) focusses on clinical reasoning related to application of the neuropathic model of treatment. Also, on Part 2, you will learn safe and effective needling of muscles that are more technically-demanding and carry greater risk of adverse effects, including the thoracic spine and TMJ.
This is a two-part course – on successful completion of both parts of the program, participants will be awarded certification in UBC Gunn IMS. Part 1 of the course (4 days) covers education regarding Dr Gunn’s neuropathic model of myofascial pain syndromes, the effects of dry needling, and contraindications and safety considerations for dry needling (including avoiding serious complications). You will learn how to conduct and interpret an assessment based on the neuropathic model to determine the cause of myofascial pain syndromes, which can then be used to devise a treatment plan using the Gunn IMS model. Also, on Part 1, you will learn to safely and effectively dry needle muscles of the cervical and lumbar spine; shoulder and pelvic girdles; and upper and lower limbs. Part 2 of the course (3 days) focusses on clinical reasoning related to application of the neuropathic model of treatment. Also, on Part 2, you will learn safe and effective needling of muscles that are more technically-demanding and carry greater risk of adverse effects, including the thoracic spine and TMJ.
Prerequisites and Requirements
UBC Gunn IMS operates under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, as well as the BC College of Physical Therapists.
Physicians and physiotherapists wishing to register for the UBC Gunn IMS course must provide the following in advance of course attendance and practicum:
1. Copy of your degree.
2. Proof of registration:
a. For applicants based in Canada: with your provincial licensing body of current practice
b. For applicants based outside Canada: with your local licensing body of current practice
3. Proof of Malpractice Insurance up to $3 million per occurrence, EFFECTIVE IN CANADA.
For applicants from outside Canada who require insurance in Canada, insurance is available:
a. For physicians: from the Canadian Medical Protection Association, the national insurer for all Canadian Physicians (https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca). The Canadian Medical Protection Association will cover foreign physicians as long as they are eligible for registration in Canada. The minimum length of coverage is two months. They can be contacted at 1-800-267-6522 (in Ottawa area: 613-725-2000) or https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/en/connect/contact-us
b. For physiotherapists: from the BMS group: https://www.cpa.bmsgroup.com/coverage-options.html. They can be contacted at 1-855-318-6136 or cpa.insurance@bmsgroup.com.
PLEASE NOTE THE APPLICATION FOR INSURANCE BY PRACTITIONERS FROM OUTSIDE CANADA WILL REQUIRE TEMPORARY/COURTESY REGISTRATION IN THE PROVINCE IN WHICH THE COURSE YOU ATTEND IS HELD. THIS IS A LENGTHY PROCESS. PLEASE ALLOW AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS FOR THIS IN YOUR APPLICATION PROCESS.
PHYSIOTHERAPISTS MUST PROVIDE #4 AND #5:
4. Professional experience: Proof of 4 years musculoskeletal and/or neuromuscular physiotherapy clinical experience treating patients post-licensure ( i.e. not including student placements).
Please provide a letter from your employer(s) confirming this clinical experience. Letters must come directly from the employer with whom you gained this clinical experience. References need to be on the workplace letterhead, signed by the workplace owner/director/supervisor; must state that the caseload was musculoskeletal or neurological, and must contain the typical number of weekly hours worked and employment start and end dates (if applicable).
Note: the 4 year period must be 4 years full time clinical experience. For example, 4 years part time will not meet the prerequisite 4 years clinical experience.
5. ONE of the following (a. or b.):
a. Eligible dry needling training:
i) Acupuncture Canada CAFCI designation (completion of the Level I courses Parts 1, 2A & 3A /A1, A2, A3 program and examinations),
ii) Acupuncture Canada ACC designation – Level I (i.e. completion of both the AA1 and AA2 courses and the associated Level I Examination),
iii) Certificate of Medical Acupuncture, Medical Acupuncture Program (MAP), under the Division of Continuous Professional Learning, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (University of Alberta),
iv) McMaster University Contemporary Acupuncture Program, or
v) Other dry needling training - may be accepted as meeting the prerequisite standard. Please submit evidence of your training for consideration.
b. Eligible post-graduate musculoskeletal training:
i) Level 3 (upper and lower) of the Intermediate Diploma of Manual Therapy certified by the Orthopaedic Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA),
ii) UBC Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapy (GCOMPT), or
iii) Other musculoskeletal post-graduate training - may be accepted as meeting the prerequisite standard. Please submit evidence of your training for consideration.
Note to Female Participants
Female participants who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should rather consider registering for another course (post-partum) because pregnancy is contra-indicated for IMS. Because of the small groups you work in during both Part 1 and Part 2, having an uneven group because one of the participants are pregnant (and therefore cannot participate fully) is not conducive to the learning experience.
Registration Procedure
1. Please mail or email us your completed registration form and payment, along with all the required documentation.
2. Please prepare your documents well in advance of the course date to ensure your participation and facilitate a smooth registration process.
3. Please note that the cut-off date for registration is one (1) month before the start of the course.
4. The course components consist of theory, physical examination and needle practice labs in which you will be a needle subject; the latter facilitates experiential learning of the physical and autonomic effects of needling. All participants will be expected to be needled and to be subjected to detailed neuro- and musculoskeletal examination. Should you be recovering from surgery, physical trauma, or be engaged in litigation following trauma of any kind you must delay participation on this course until all issues have been resolved. Needling is contraindicated in the presence of acute trauma or within 3 to 6 months following major surgery.
5. All course participants must ensure that their inoculations for Hepatitis B and A are current and you will be required to sign a course waiver. The waiver will be sent to you along with your reminder to pay the balance of your fees approximately one month before the course start date. Your signed waiver MUST be received before the start of the course.
2. Please prepare your documents well in advance of the course date to ensure your participation and facilitate a smooth registration process.
3. Please note that the cut-off date for registration is one (1) month before the start of the course.
4. The course components consist of theory, physical examination and needle practice labs in which you will be a needle subject; the latter facilitates experiential learning of the physical and autonomic effects of needling. All participants will be expected to be needled and to be subjected to detailed neuro- and musculoskeletal examination. Should you be recovering from surgery, physical trauma, or be engaged in litigation following trauma of any kind you must delay participation on this course until all issues have been resolved. Needling is contraindicated in the presence of acute trauma or within 3 to 6 months following major surgery.
5. All course participants must ensure that their inoculations for Hepatitis B and A are current and you will be required to sign a course waiver. The waiver will be sent to you along with your reminder to pay the balance of your fees approximately one month before the course start date. Your signed waiver MUST be received before the start of the course.
Fees and Registration
This course is offered in two parts. The student fee is CDN$1850 for Part 1 (4 day course) and CDN$1375 for Part 2 (3 day course). There is no GST/HST charged for Gunn IMS courses. Completion of both parts is required before certification is provided. Part 2 is usually completed within 4-6 months of successfully completing Part 1.
Certification
To receive certification, students must:
- pass both anatomy and theory written exams
- be deemed by course instructors to have safe and accurate needling technique
- pass both anatomy and theory written exams
- be deemed by course instructors to have safe and accurate needling technique
