Acupuncture & IMS in Guelph & Wellington County

Acupuncture and IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation) are treatment techniques that use fine needles to help reduce pain, muscle tension, and nerve-related symptoms. Both can support recovery by improving muscle function, decreasing irritation, and encouraging the body’s natural healing response.

Acupuncture needles are solid, fine, flexible filaments — very different from a hypodermic needle — designed to slide smoothly through tissue without cutting, so they’re unlikely to cause bleeding or damage to underlying structures. No drug is injected; any therapeutic effect comes from the needle itself.

IMS, also known as dry needling or trigger point dry needling, specifically targets muscles that have tightened and shortened in response to injury or strain — as can happen with arthritis, nerve irritation, muscular strain, or ligament strain. Needling these areas is both diagnostic and therapeutic: it’s the first step in breaking the pain cycle by decreasing muscle contraction, improving flexibility, and reducing pain.

Common conditions we treat with Acupuncture & IMS

Acupuncture and IMS are used to relieve pain and improve function in areas affected by muscular tension and spasm, including conditions such as arthritis, nerve irritation, muscular strain, ligament strain, and herniated discs. They’re often used alongside other physiotherapy treatment, and can be a helpful option when relief hasn’t been found through other approaches. Acupuncture and IMS are available at most of our EPA clinics.

What to expect from your Eramosa Acupuncture & IMS experience

Path to Improved Health is the framework every Eramosa patient follows. We’ve used it to guide assessment, treatment, and recovery since 1997 — and it’s how we make sure nothing about your care is left to chance.

Assessment and the right technique for you

Your physiotherapist identifies whether Traditional Acupuncture, Contemporary Medical (Neurofunctional) Acupuncture, or IMS dry needling — or a combination — best fits the muscular tension, spasm, or nerve irritation contributing to your symptoms.

Precise, targeted treatment

Fine, solid needles are inserted at specific points without injecting any medication. For IMS, needles target contracted, shortened muscle to create a local twitch response — the first step in breaking the pain cycle — while Contemporary Medical Acupuncture uses electrical stimulation at neurofunctional sites to help normalize nervous system activity and increase local blood flow.

Reassessment as part of your plan

Your physiotherapist reviews your response after each session and adjusts needle placement, technique, and frequency as your symptoms change, often combining acupuncture or IMS with other physiotherapy treatment for the best result.

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