Latest Content Updates
2021 UBC Chan Gunn Lecture (Video)
Subscribers can now view the entire 2020 UBC Chan Gunn Lecture in our video library– The Making of the ‘World’s Greatest Athlete’. Speakers: Damian Warner, Dave Zelibka, Cory Choma
Updated Spinal Nerve Supply Chart
We have thoroughly updated our spinal nerve supply chart to be used as an appendix with the current UBC Gunn IMS Needling Manual. Found in the Essential Documents section for subscribers.
Ask an instructor – Parkinson’s Disease
“Wondering if there is any contraindication to using IMS to treat shoulder pain in a patient with a long history of Parkinson’s disease? He does have a deep brain stimulator. No blood disorders or blood thinners.” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Ask an instructor – Channelopathy
“I have a 29 year old female patient who has been referred with long-standing medial calf pain and a diagnosis of channelopathy. Can Gunn IMS be used to treat this condition and would it be an effective treatment long-term?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Ask an instructor – Waiting Period After Jaw Reconstruction
“I have a patient who had upper jaw reconstruction. Does needling on the neck/shoulder blade still have to wait for at least 3 months?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Ask an instructor – Vinyl vs Nitrile Gloves
“Given the cost of gloves these days our clinic wants to start using vinyl instead of nitrile. Are vinyl gloves safe enough against needle stick injuries?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
2020 UBC Chan Gunn Lecture (Video)
Subscribers can now view the entire 2020 UBC Chan Gunn Lecture in our video library– The Elite Athlete, their Support Team and Gunn IMS. Speakers: Cory Choma, Quin Sekulich, Neville Wright
Ask an instructor – Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
“I have a patient with an incomplete spinal cord injury from many years ago and it is stabilized with Harrington rods. I wanted to confirm it would be safe to use IMS with this patient – perhaps not at her back, but hips and lower extremities to improve function and reduce pain as long as her sensation as intact, please confirm if this would be correct?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Video Case Study of the Month – Susan Massitti
This physio doctoral student reported unrelenting lateral knee pain which did not respond to any “conventional interventions” from very skilled medical professionals. A neuropathic assessment revealed that GunnIMS was appropriate. Her symptoms resolved once the dysfunctional nervous system started to be stimulated to allow neuro-muscular coordination to be retrained. Susan shares that Gunn IMS was one of the tools to get this gal back running! Find the video here
Ask an instructor – Pregnancy
“My client is a health female with chronic myofascial neck pain that responds well to IMS. She is 13 weeks pregnant and is struggling with headaches. I wanted to know if there has been any new research regarding whether IMS can be used during pregnancy?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Ask an instructor – Residual Shingles Pain
“Can Gunn IMS be used to treat persistent herpes zoster? We have a patient who is >30 days post onset and is presenting with allodynia and paresthesia in a dermatomal (thoracic) distribution, was asked by the patient if IMS may be a useful treatment to reduce pain” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Dry Needling During Covid-19
We answer the question “Is it safe to dry needle during the COVID-19 pandemic”. You can find a video Q & A, support text, and a checklist to follow when returning to practice. This content is free and available here.
Ask an instructor – Needling and artificial joints
“I have taken another needling course where they say it is fine to needle into metal implants and artificial joints. Is this really not safe to do?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Video Case Study of the Month – Lorrie Maffey
Lorrie Maffey discusses the treatment and management of a patient who came to her with shoulder pain following many unsuccessful rounds of treatment from other practitioners. Watch and learn how Lorrie connects the dots to look beyond just the local tissue and assesses and treats the whole body. Find the video here
Video Case Study of the Month – Cory Choma
The use of Gunn IMS has expanded greatly since it was introduced in the 1970’s. Cory Choma presents the collaborative effort between the Gunn IMS physio, the athlete and his coach in the career of Neville Wright. This 3 time Olympian has stated that his longevity in Olympic Bobsleigh is due to the important interaction of his team. You can be a part of many athletes participation in sport through their career. Listen to Cory’s story.
Ask an instructor – Gunn IMS for shingles pain
“Someone has called our clinic inquiring if I can do GunnIMS for her shingles pain. Is this an appropriate use of IMS?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Ask an instructor – Risk of osteomyelitis?
“We have been taught to use bony backdrops with our IMS technique. Is there any risk of creating osteomyelitis from the needle touching the bone?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Ask an instructor – Transplant recipient
“Are there any restrictions in providing CGIMS to a transplant recipient? She received a new liver 3 years ago, has no known complications at her last visit and has been doing great for several years. She is not on prophylactic antibiotics.” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
2019 Annual UBC Chan Gunn Lecture (Video)
Practical Application of Gunn IMS to Clinical Challenges Cory Choma, Lorrie Maffey, Susan Massiti Video of the presentations can be viewed here. Thursday October 24th5:30 – 7:30PMRudy North Lecture Theatre, UBC
Determining the Appropriate Dosage of Dry Needling – Practical Considerations
In this article we discuss factors to consider when choosing the amount of needling stimulus to provide to patients. A framework is also provided for adjusting treatment intensity in a safe and effective manner.
New Gunn IMS research presented at Canadian Orthopaedic Symposium (Video)
Lyndal Solomons and Lorrie Maffey presented on Management of Mid-Portion Achilles Tendinopathy with Exercise and Intramuscular Dry Needling on June 9th. Video can be viewed here.
Ask an instructor – Needling through tattoos
“I’m wondering if there is a consensus among instructors regarding needling around tattoos and why you would/wouldn’t needle there. Among co-workers we seem to be split on the issue. Thanks “ Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor section.
Physiotherapy Practice Intramuscular Dry Needling Article
Lyndal Solomons has authored an article in the Physiotherapy Practice Prevention and Health Promotion issue. Our members are eligible to read the article even if you do not have access with a valid CPA membership.
Ask an instructor – Harrington Rods
“I have a 40 yo female patient with scoliosis, and Harrington rods placed 25 years ago, from T1-L2….” “My question is after 25 years is it safe to needle the paravertebal muscles in the regions of the rods?” Find out the answer in our Ask an Instructor Section.
Dry Needling Photos
Are you having trouble finding photos of dry needling with practitioners wearing gloves? So were we! We decided to have some taken and share them with you. Members are free to use them for their online or print materials.
Cervical Spine Adverse Event Report
Summary of a case report from the journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation where a subdural hematoma is caused from trigger point dry needling of the cervical spine. UBC Gunn IMS safety guidelines for needling the neck are outlined.
Communicating Indications for IMS
Gunn IMS aims to treat pain that stems from neuropathy/radiculopathy, but it does not purport to treat neuropathic pain of every type as this can be caused by many different pathophysiologies. This bulletin explores this subtle and very important difference and makes recommendations on how to communicate this in a consistent manner.
Fillable Neuropathic Assessment Form
We’ve added a fillable neuropathic assessment form to the essential documents section containing the entire Gunn IMS assessment in a condensed 2 page format. It is a fillable pdf so it can be completed directly on your computer, printed and used for paper charting, or as a background template for digital medical records.
Clinic Preparation Checklist
After you have successfully completed UBC Gunn IMS Certification please ensure that you are following these steps before utilizing IMS in your clinical care:
CGIMS Pricing for APS Dry Needles through Remington Medical
Remington Medical is offering a significant discount to all CGIMS practitioners. For more details Log In or Contact Us.
Join our community
The Gunn IMS Member’s website is dedicated to providing practice resources and support for all those trained in Dr. Gunn’s Methods. All Gunn IMS clinicians trained through iSTOP or UBC are eligible for membership.