Are You Struggling With Nagging Pain & Muscle Tightness
If you've been dealing with muscle tightness or nerve pain that just won't let go, the kind that shrugs off stretching, ice, and rest, Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) and Trigger Point Dry Needling might be the missing piece. Both use thin, sterile acupuncture needles to reach the muscles and nerves that are actually causing your pain, not just the spot where you feel it.
At Revive Whole Body Health in St. Albert, these treatments are delivered by physiotherapists with real, hard-won certifications behind them, not a weekend course. Lisa Lydiatt holds a certificate in Gunn IMS and is certified with the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute. Mary Bazzarelli holds Level 2 certification in functional dry needling. Between them, they bring decades of hands-on experience treating patients across St. Albert and the greater Edmonton area.
What Is IMS & Dry Needling?
Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) was developed by Dr. Chan Gunn, a Vancouver-based physician, to treat pain rooted in the nervous system. When a nerve is irritated or injured, the muscles it supplies become shortened, tight, and supersensitive, even long after the original injury has healed. Dr. Gunn found that inserting a fine acupuncture needle directly into that tight, tender muscle triggers a reflex: the muscle contracts, then releases and lengthens. That release takes pressure off the nerve, and pain settles down.
IMS is a specialized skill. Lisa completed her Gunn IMS certification on top of her physiotherapy training and comprehensive coursework in orthopedic manual and manipulative therapy, training that helps her recognize the specific physical signs of neuropathic (nerve-driven) pain before she ever picks up a needle.
Trigger Point Dry Needling works on a related but distinct problem: myofascial trigger points, the small, hyper-irritable knots that form in muscle and the surrounding connective tissue (fascia). Inserting a needle directly into a trigger point creates a local twitch response that changes the chemistry and tension in that tissue, and helps stimulate the nervous system to release the body's own natural pain-relieving chemicals.
Mary earned her Level 2 functional dry needling certification as a complement to her McKenzie Method training. She's one of only a few clinicians in the Edmonton area to hold McKenzie certification, which gives her a broader diagnostic lens for figuring out why a trigger point formed in the first place, not just where it is.
Conditions IMS & Dry Needling Can Help
- Chronic or persistent muscle and nerve pain
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Tension headaches and jaw pain (TMJ)
- Tendinitis and repetitive strain injuries
- Sports injuries and overuse injuries
- Muscle tightness following whiplash or motor vehicle accidents
- Myofascial trigger points and chronic muscle knots
- Pain that hasn't fully resolved with other treatments
Not sure if your symptoms fit? A physiotherapy assessment is the best way to find out. Book a visit and we'll help you figure out the right approach.
What to Expect During Treatment
1. A real assessment first. Before any needle comes out, your physiotherapist takes a thorough history and runs a physical exam to confirm IMS or dry needling is actually the right fit for what's going on with you, and to rule out anything that isn't.
2. Needle insertion. A very fine, sterile, single-use acupuncture needle is inserted into the target muscle or trigger point. You may feel a brief, deep ache or a muscle twitch. Patients often describe it as a "cramping" sensation rather than sharp pain. It typically lasts only a few seconds per site.
3. The release. As the muscle contracts and then relaxes, tension eases and blood flow to the area improves. Several sites may be treated in a single session, depending on the muscle group involved.
4. Afterward. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours is common, similar to the feeling after a deep muscle workout. Most patients return to normal activity the same day, and your physiotherapist will guide you on aftercare, stretching, or complementary exercise.
5. A plan, not a one-off. IMS and dry needling work best as part of a broader treatment plan. Your physiotherapist will let you know how many sessions are typically needed for your specific issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Both use similar needles, but the purpose is different. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and works with energy pathways (meridians). Dry needling and IMS are Western medical techniques that target specific muscles, trigger points, and nerves based on physiotherapy and neuroscience, though some Revive practitioners, including Lisa, are also certified through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute.
Most patients feel a brief, deep ache or muscle twitch rather than sharp pain. It's a different sensation than a typical injection. Discomfort is usually short-lived, and any soreness afterward tends to resolve within a day or two.
IMS specifically targets nerve-related muscle tightness (neuropathic pain) using Dr. Gunn's approach, while trigger point dry needling targets myofascial trigger points, tight knots in muscle and fascia. Your physiotherapist will determine which approach, or combination, fits your specific pain pattern.
It varies by condition and how long you've had it. Many patients notice improvement within a few sessions, but your physiotherapist will build a plan specific to your assessment findings.
Ready to get to the root of your pain?
IMS and dry needling are two of the most targeted tools we have for stubborn muscle and nerve pain, and they're delivered here by physiotherapists who've put in the years of certification to do it right.
Call us at (780) 460-7384 or email frontdesk@revivehealth.ca to book an assessment with Lisa or Mary at Revive Whole Body Health in St. Albert.
