IMS/Dry Needling is a treatment technique that uses a solid filament needle to penetrate the skin in order to reach a myofascial trigger point within a muscle.
Trigger points are taut bands within a muscle that may cause local and referred pain as well as limit movement.
While using the same needles, IMS is not acupuncture. IMS uses anatomical landmarks of the body to locate and treat trigger points to relieve pain and improve overall function; whereas traditional acupuncture targets specific points on the body that exist along meridians.
Like acupuncture, there are contraindications to IMS therapy. Specifically, if you are pregnant, or have a pacemaker, or an active infection, you are not a suitable candidate for IMS therapy. At Collingwood Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists have received extensive training in the appropriate use of sterile, single use dry needles. Your therapist will ask questions about your health history and perform a detailed assessment to determine if your treatment area is suitable for IMS therapy.
During the session, the therapist will clean the skin with Stanhexidine. When the needle is inserted into the taut muscle or trigger point, you may experience a feeling of heaviness, achiness or a cramping sensation of that muscle. Your therapist may then decide to leave the needles in place for a period of time or remove then immediately.
By releasing shortened, tight muscles and restoring proper nerve-muscle communication, the body can heal properly.
By relaxing the muscle fibers, normal blood flow is restored
IMS therapy loosens tight muscles, giving your joints and soft tissues the freedom to move the way they’re supposed to.
Instead of temporarily numbing pain like medications, IMS works by correcting the underlying problem: irritated nerves and dysfunctional muscles. Once those muscles are released and reset, they’re less likely to spasm, tighten, or trap you in that pain cycle again.
Situated on Kingsway and Tyne street, our clinic is in a bustling area surrounded by shops and cafes. You’ll find plenty of places to grab a bite or run errands before or after your appointment.
© 2025 Collingwood Physio // Analog + Digital
