Dry Needling or Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)
What is Dry Needling or Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)?
Dry Needling (DN) or Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) uses a fine and flexible stainless-steel needle to release tight painful bands of muscle caused by an abnormally functioning nervous system.
How much does it cost?
Dry needling is an optional treatment offered with physiotherapy. Speak to your practitioner if dry needling will benefit you.
| Service | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapy Assessment | 60 minutes | $160.00 |
| Physiotherapy Follow-Up 30 | 30 minutes | $105.00 |
| Physiotherapy Follow-Up 45 | 45 minutes | $155.00 |
| Physiotherapy Follow-Up 60 | 60 minutes | $210.00 |
Practitioners
Leroy Ho
MScPT, ACCDN (Dry Needling), BScKin
Physiotherapist
Leroy is a physiotherapist with a decade of experience working with persistent and complex pain. His clinical interests include chronic musculoskeletal pain, central sensitization, fibromyalgia, and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) & Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS).
Rather than focusing solely on the painful area, Leroy takes a broader approach to understanding why pain and physical limitations can persist. He is particularly interested in cases where an injury has not recovered as expected, symptoms have continued despite conventional treatment, or multiple factors are contributing to a person's pain and function.
Leroy has been part of the Changepain since 2017. He initially joined the clinic as an administrative assistant while completing his Bachelor’s degree of Kinesiology, working closely with the clinic's medical team. He later spent 3 years as a Kinesiologist before completing his Master’s of Physiotherapy in Oxford, UK, where he also played varsity hockey. He returned to Changepain following his studies and now serves as the Lead Clinical Physiotherapist.
While recognizing that complex pain rarely has a one-size-fits-all solution, Leroy uses a blend of treatment strategies that is guided by both current and maturing research. His approach is grounded in exercise science & recovery while utilizing numerous desensitization methods. A key part of his practice is helping people find the right dosage and entry point to movement. With complex and chronic pain, a careful plan must be considered to avoid flare ups and post-exertional malaise. Lastly, he values true integrative coordination and enjoys working in tandem with your medical & allied health team at changepain.
Intramuscular Stimulation FAQs
Dry needling has been shown to immediately increase range of motion, decrease muscle tone, and decrease pain with musculoskeletal conditions. The suggested benefits can be seen below.
Local Twitch Response: Dry needling can elicit a local twitch response which is an involuntary contraction of the affected muscles that are being dry needled. This response can lead to alteration in the length and tension of the muscle fibers.
Effects on Blood Flow: Sustained contraction of the taut muscle bands in trigger points might cause local ischemia and hypoxia. Dry needling causes vasodialiation in the small blood vessels leading to increased muscle blood flow and oxygenation.
Neurophysiological Effects: Dry needling may produce local and central nervous system responses to restore homeostasis at the site of the trigger point which results in reducing both the central and peripheral sensitization of pain.
IMS may be a care option for treating your pain. This will be determined by you and your physiotherapist either after completing your physical assessment on your initial visit or later at one of your regular physiotherapy follow-up sessions. To discuss this care option or to start please book an initial or follow-up physiotherapy appointment.