Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation

Intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) is increasingly used in clinical practice to modify or enhance the effects of needling interventions. Recent evidence from clinical studies and systematic reviews suggests that electrotherapeutic modalities like IMES effectively reduce pain in various musculoskeletal conditions, including myofascial pain. Yet, no published guidelines currently exist to assist clinicians in their clinical reasoning for selecting stimulation parameters or determining adequate dosage for the use of IMES for any musculoskeletal condition.

Furthermore, navigating the literature to understand IMES is difficult for busy clinicians due to the high volume of new research, empirically driven practice patterns, inconsistencies in terminology, and the overlap with other electricity-based interventions, such as electroacupuncture (EA).

This online course will teach clinicians how to safely and effectively implement IMES into practice. Beyond that, this course exposes learners to the best available clinical and experimental research on electricity-based needling interventions in a manner that is interesting and immediately applicable. 

Students can attend a practical 2-day live course after completing this online course (link). During the live course, we will review suggested IMES approaches for a variety of conditions, such as neck pain, lateral epicondylalgia, low back and pelvic pain, hip and knee pain, and for muscle strengthening, motor recovery, and spasticity.

The IMES equipment used during the Myopain Seminars IMES courses is available from Myopain Seminars:

• ES-160 Needle Stimulator
• AXUS ES-5
• ES-130

After you register, you will get a confirmation email followed by a second email with the course link. Please follow the instructions in the second email to access the course and start learning!

There are no prerequisites for this course.

1. Pre-Course Quiz (30 minutes)
2. Introduction to IMES (100 minutes)
3. Evidence of IMES for pain conditions (160 minutes)
4. Basic Principles and Science of IMES (100 minutes)
5. Mechanisms of IMES (120 minutes)
6. IMES of Trigger Points (100 minutes)
7. IMES for Muscle Strengthening and Motor Recovery (60 minutes)
8. Safety and Adverse Events (75 minutes)
9. Clinical applications of IMES (75 minutes)
10. Post-course Quiz (30 minutes)

This course has been approved by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 1.4 CEUs. (14.0 contact hours)

Upon completion of the course, learners will;

• Understand the physiological effects of IMES on the neuromuscular system
• Understand the individual stimulation parameters of IMES
• Understand clinical reasoning for the selection of IMES parameters
• Be able to compare and define the common electricity-based needling interventions
• Explain the known clinical and mechanistic effects of IMES on pain
• Explain the known clinical and mechanistic effects of IMES to trigger points
• Name at least five precautions and contraindications of IMES