Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)

IMS is a needle-based technique that targets muscle tightness tied to nerve irritation, often where an old injury or postural strain has left a muscle chronically shortened. Your physiotherapist inserts a fine needle into the affected muscle band, deliberately producing a small, controlled response that causes the muscle to cramp briefly and then release, while increasing local blood flow to support healing.

It's grounded in physiology rather than traditional acupuncture's meridian system — needle placement is based on anatomy and the specific pattern of your pain, not fixed points.

A typical course runs four to ten sessions, spaced one to two weeks apart, usually combined with manual therapy and movement-based exercise for the best result.

You'll typically feel a distinct muscle twitch as the needle reaches the right spot — a sign it's working — sometimes with brief discomfort. Soreness similar to a vaccine site, lasting a day or two, along with mild fatigue, is a normal response.