Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation - 2026
Intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) is increasingly used in clinical practice to modify or enhance the effects of needling interventions. Yet few published guidelines exist to assist clinicians in their clinical reasoning for selecting stimulation parameters or determining an adequate IMES dose for musculoskeletal conditions. This online course, updated in 2026, will teach clinicians how to safely and effectively implement IMES into practice based on the most recent scientific evidence.
Description
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, such as IMES, effectively reduce pain in various musculoskeletal conditions, including myofascial pain. Yet few published guidelines currently exist to assist clinicians in their clinical reasoning for selecting stimulation parameters or determining an adequate dose 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, unsubstantiated claims and opinions, empirically driven practice patterns, inconsistent terminology, and overlap with other electricity-based interventions, such as electroacupuncture (EA).
This online course was updated in 2026. Clinicians will learn how to safely and effectively implement IMES into practice. Beyond that, this course introduces learners to the best available clinical and experimental research on electricity-based needling interventions in a way that is engaging and immediately applicable.
Students can attend a 2-day live practical course after completing this online course. 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:
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Schedule
- Pre-Course Quiz (30 minutes)
- Introduction to IMES (100 minutes)
- Evidence of IMES for pain conditions (160 minutes)
- Basic Principles and Science of IMES (100 minutes)
- Mechanisms of IMES (120 minutes)
- IMES of Trigger Points (100 minutes)
- IMES for Muscle Strengthening and Motor Recovery (60 minutes)
- Safety and Adverse Events (75 minutes)
- 2026 Update (45 minutes)
- Clinical applications of IMES (75 minutes)
- Post-course Quiz (30 minutes)
Who Should Attend
- Physical Therapists
- Physicians
- Chiropractors
- Doctors
- Dentists
- Veterinarians
- Physician Assistants
- Occupational Therapists
- Athletic Trainers
- Nurses
- Nurse Practitioners
- Acupuncturists
Course CEUs
This course has been approved by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 1.4 CEUs. (14.0 contact hours).
Course Objectives
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