IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation) Physiotherapy in Downtown Vancouver
IMS, or intramuscular stimulation, is a dry needling technique physiotherapists use on tight, painful muscles. At Vancouver Physiotherapy Hub, IMS is part of a full physiotherapy plan, at 970 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver.
There are many different methods of treating these conditions, but IMS is quickly becoming one of the most popular, and effective, forms of treatment. IMS is a physio treatment that helps loosen stiff muscles, ease joint pain, and improve blood and oxygen flow in the body. It is a great way to optimize sports performance, recover faster from injury, as well as prevent issues from becoming chronic.
Clinically reviewed by Chris Connolly, Registered Physiotherapist (Physical Therapy), CHCPBC · Last reviewed: August 17, 2026
IMS Practitioners
Our Approach
What makes IMS unique at Vancouver Physiotherapy Hub is our approach: IMS been found to be the most effective through a multi-treatment approach. This is because dry needling, in effect, is meant to treat not only your pain but the underlying condition that causes this pain.
Our physiotherapists work to incorporate dry needling into a larger, holistic treatment plan in order to ensure the best recovery possible for you. Electra Health, a separate clinic in the same building, is home to 50+ regulated health professionals, so massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care are a short walk away.
What Can I Expect From My Session?
Dry needling targets trigger points and hypertonic (tight) bands in your myofascial tissue. During your assessment, your physiotherapist creates a roadmap of the trigger points in your body by identifying problematic muscles and tight spots within them.
A small filiform needle is then inserted into these areas and the metabolic waste built up inside the tissue is released. The body increases blood flow and oxygen to the area. When incorporated into a larger, multi-treatment plan, dry needling has been found to be a precise and effective method of treating and relieving muscular pain caused by trigger points.
At Vancouver Physiotherapy Hub, our physiotherapists incorporate dry needling into a larger, holistic treatment plan in order to ensure the best recovery possible for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
IMS can help improve flexibility, increase blood flow and energy, relax tight muscles and improve chronic pain. IMS has also been found to be helpful for the following conditions:
- Tennis elbow
- Shoulder impingement
- Knee pain
- Shin splints
- Plantar fasciitis
- Headaches
No. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. IMS is a physiotherapy technique: your physiotherapist finds the tight bands in a muscle during the assessment and treats those spots.
No. Most people don’t feel the needle go in. When it reaches a tight spot, the muscle can give a quick twitch, which passes in a moment.
Yes. IMS is also called dry needling. A fine needle is placed into a tight band of muscle, guided by your physiotherapist’s assessment.
No. In BC you can book physiotherapy, including IMS, without a doctor’s referral.
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What Our Clients Say About Us
Google Reviews
Chriss Connolly is a great physio, very good needling techniques, helped me with managing pains in my leg.
Karim and Ricky both helped me so much through my car accident recovery. Karim has the gentlest touch (yet effective) with the IMS needles and Ricky’s vestibular therapy helped me so much with my concussion recovery. Definitely recommend these two!
Karim was great, I've had lower back pain but he was patient and informative with helping me develop a strong plan. He helped me relieve a lot of tension through dry needling which was incredibly helpful.