Gunn IMS
Intramuscular Stimulation
Supersensitivity and muscle shortening cannot be operated on and ‘cut away,’ while ‘painkillers’ and other analgesic pills only mask the pain (often poorly) and promote toxicity, compounding the problem. Neuropathy only responds to a physical input of energy.
Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a total system for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndromes (chronic pain conditions that occur in the musculoskeletal system when there is no obvious sign of injury or inflammation). IMS is grounded in Western Medical Science, and has a solid foundation in its radiculopathic model of pain, which is now supported by many experts in the field. It was developed by Dr. Chan Gunn while he was a physician at the Worker’s Compensation Board of British Columbia in the 70’s, where he investigated the large number of mysteriously stubborn cases after frustration with the ineffective modalities at his disposal. The treatment, which utilises acupuncture needles because they are the thinnest implements available that are designed to penetrate deep within muscle tissue, specifically targets muscles that have tight and tender because their nerve supply has been compromised.
IMS relies heavily on a thorough physical examination of the patient by a competent practitioner, trained to recognise the physical signs of neuropathic dysfunction. This physical examination is indispensable since persistent pain is often functional/neurological as opposed to structural, and therefore cannot be captured by imaging or tests that are static and only observe structure, as opposed to function, like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans. Failure to recognise these signs will result in an incomplete diagnosis, and thus, a poor starting point for therapy.
IMS treatment involves dry needling of affected areas of the body without injecting any substance. The needle sites are taut, tender muscle bands in the limbs or near the spine where the nerve root may have become irritated and supersensitive. Penetration of a normal muscle is painless; however, a shortened, supersensitive muscle will ‘grasp’ the needle in what can be described as a cramping sensation. The muscle then relaxes and becomes less senstive; and the nervous system also becomes less sensitised. The needle used in IMS, essentially becomes a specific and unique tool for both the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic myofascial pain.
The goal of treatment is to release muscle shortening which is causing compression and sensitisation (irritation) of the nerve by which it is supplied. Supersensitive areas can be desensitised, and the persistent pull of shortened muscles can be released. IMS is very effective for releasing shortened muscles under contracture, thereby causing mechanical pain from muscle pull. IMS, in effect, treats the underlying neuropathic condition that causes the pain. When competently performed, IMS has a remarkable success rate, as proven by the amelioration of symptoms and signs, even for chronic back pain with root signs.
Supersensitivity and muscle shortening cannot be operated on and ‘cut away,’ while ‘painkillers’ and other analgesic pills only mask the pain (often poorly) and promote toxicity, compounding the problem. Neuropathy only responds to a physical input of energy.
Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a total system for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndromes (chronic pain conditions that occur in the musculoskeletal system when there is no obvious sign of injury or inflammation). IMS is grounded in Western Medical Science, and has a solid foundation in its radiculopathic model of pain, which is now supported by many experts in the field. It was developed by Dr. Chan Gunn while he was a physician at the Worker’s Compensation Board of British Columbia in the 70’s, where he investigated the large number of mysteriously stubborn cases after frustration with the ineffective modalities at his disposal. The treatment, which utilises acupuncture needles because they are the thinnest implements available that are designed to penetrate deep within muscle tissue, specifically targets muscles that have tight and tender because their nerve supply has been compromised.
IMS relies heavily on a thorough physical examination of the patient by a competent practitioner, trained to recognise the physical signs of neuropathic dysfunction. This physical examination is indispensable since persistent pain is often functional/neurological as opposed to structural, and therefore cannot be captured by imaging or tests that are static and only observe structure, as opposed to function, like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans. Failure to recognise these signs will result in an incomplete diagnosis, and thus, a poor starting point for therapy.
IMS treatment involves dry needling of affected areas of the body without injecting any substance. The needle sites are taut, tender muscle bands in the limbs or near the spine where the nerve root may have become irritated and supersensitive. Penetration of a normal muscle is painless; however, a shortened, supersensitive muscle will ‘grasp’ the needle in what can be described as a cramping sensation. The muscle then relaxes and becomes less senstive; and the nervous system also becomes less sensitised. The needle used in IMS, essentially becomes a specific and unique tool for both the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic myofascial pain.
The goal of treatment is to release muscle shortening which is causing compression and sensitisation (irritation) of the nerve by which it is supplied. Supersensitive areas can be desensitised, and the persistent pull of shortened muscles can be released. IMS is very effective for releasing shortened muscles under contracture, thereby causing mechanical pain from muscle pull. IMS, in effect, treats the underlying neuropathic condition that causes the pain. When competently performed, IMS has a remarkable success rate, as proven by the amelioration of symptoms and signs, even for chronic back pain with root signs.
Dr. Chan Gunn
Dr. Chan Gunn matriculated at Peterhouse in 1950, and was elected to an Honorary Fellowship of the College in 1997. He is a pioneer in the treatment of pain, and is President of the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain based in Vancouver, Canada. He is also Clinical Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, US. In 2001, Dr Gunn was awarded the Order of British Columbia, and in 2002 he became a member of the Order of Canada, the Nation’s highest honor. In 2007, Dr. Gunn was also admitted as a Companion of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors and elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He was awarded the UBC Honorary Alumni Award in 2023.
What is Gunn IMS?
The video below about Gunn IMS was made for the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) by our program director, Dr. Lyndal Solomons, as part of a collection of educational videos to be made available to the general public about various topics related to persistent pain.
The video covers:
• the Gunn IMS model of persistent musculoskeletal pain - what it is and how it is different from other models of persistent pain
• how dry needles help with persistent pain and what research has shown us about the effects of treatment with dry needles
• who Gunn IMS treatment could help, i.e., what sort of problems tend to respond well to Gunn IMS treatment
You can watch the video here:
The video covers:
• the Gunn IMS model of persistent musculoskeletal pain - what it is and how it is different from other models of persistent pain
• how dry needles help with persistent pain and what research has shown us about the effects of treatment with dry needles
• who Gunn IMS treatment could help, i.e., what sort of problems tend to respond well to Gunn IMS treatment
You can watch the video here:
If you would like to see more of the IASP video collection about pain, please go to:
https://www.instagram.com/iasp_pain/reels/
https://www.instagram.com/iasp_pain/reels/
