Wellness Fix: Acupuncture & Intramuscular Stimulation

If you find yourself mystified by acupuncture, you’re not alone and you’ve come to the right place! In this episode of The Marc and Mandy Show: Your Wellness Fix, Shirley Estey from Kitsilano Physiotherapy Clinic speaks to the difference between acupuncture and intramuscular stimulation.

Q: Is there a difference between acupuncture and intramuscular stimulation?

Shirley Estey: There is a difference between acupuncture and intramuscular stimulation. Both use very similar needles, but the placement of the needles and the purpose of the treatment is different. So, when acupuncture is performed by a therapist, it is known as anatomical acupuncture. And the needles are placed along a defined pathway or meridian to move energy and heat. The purpose of this is to decrease inflammation and pain and improve blood flow and circulation. And ultimately, we want to speed up the recovery after an injury. 

With intramuscular stimulation, also known as IMS or dry needling, these needles are similar acupuncture, but we are trying to treat neuropathic pain. So, this is pain associated with compression of a nerve. With this form of treatment, we’re trying to improve the muscle function, eliminating that pain and allowing for efficiency whenever that muscle is activatted.

About Kitsilano Physiotherapy Clinic:

Kitsilano Physiotherapy Clinic is a leading Vancouver physiotherapy centre, established in 1978. The team at Kitsilano Physiotherapy Clinic provides one on one hands on approach and individual appointments. To learn more or to book a consultation, visit the Kitsilano Physiotherapy Clinic website.

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