IMS & dry needling
For the muscle that won't let go.
Fine filament needles into tight, irritated muscle to release it and settle pain. Part of a physiotherapy plan, not a replacement for one.
Some muscles won't release with stretching or massage. A needle can reach them.
Pain settles
Many people feel a change within the first few sessions, not the first few months.
Movement comes back
A muscle that stops guarding lets the joint underneath move the way it should.
Rehab works better
Exercise lands on a muscle that can respond to it, instead of one that is locked up.
What it is
One fine needle. Nothing injected.
IMS and dry needling use a fine, solid needle placed into the tight, tender bands of a muscle that is guarding or in spasm. The muscle responds by releasing. When the pain is coming from an irritated nerve near the spine, treatment includes the muscles along the spine as well as the ones that hurt.
Your therapist decides where to needle, and whether needling fits at all, based on what the assessment shows. You do not need to know what you need before you book.
What a visit looks like
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01The assessment
Which muscles are involved and what is driving them. Needling only makes sense once that is clear.
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02Consent
What will be needled, what it will feel like and what the risks are. Nothing happens until you agree to it.
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03The needling
Expect a deep ache, a cramp or a brief twitch as the muscle releases. Each point takes seconds.
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04The rest of the plan
Movement, exercise or hands-on work to hold the change. Needling opens the window. The rest keeps it open.
Some soreness for a day or two afterward is normal, similar to after a hard workout.
Who books this
It keeps coming back
The same tight spot in the neck, shoulder or back, month after month, no matter how much you stretch it.
It runs down the arm or leg
Pain that travels from the neck or low back, often from an irritated nerve. Needling along the spine can help settle it.
Training keeps aggravating it
Elbow, shoulder, hip or calf pain in people who stay active and would like to keep it that way.
Not a fan of needles? Say so. Needling is always optional, and there is always another way to treat.
Billed as physiotherapy.
Needling is part of a physiotherapy visit, not a separate service. That means it is covered wherever your plan covers physiotherapy, and we direct bill most extended health plans, so many people pay only a portion at the desk.
$115Initial assessment · 45 minutes
Follow-up visits are $105, whether or not needling is used that day. No needling surcharge, no package to buy.
Before you book
- Does it hurt?
- The needle itself is barely felt. The muscle response is what you notice: a deep ache or a cramp that fades quickly. Most people find it very tolerable, and your therapist adjusts as you go.
- Is this acupuncture?
- No. Acupuncture works from traditional points and meridians. IMS and dry needling work from anatomy: specific muscles and the nerves that supply them. We offer acupuncture too, as a separate treatment.
- Is it safe?
- Needles are sterile, single use and disposed of after every treatment. Soreness and minor bruising are the common side effects. Tell your therapist if you are pregnant, on blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, and the rarer risks will be explained before you start.
- How do I book needling?
- There is no separate needling appointment. Book a regular physiotherapy visit and mention needling when you do, so we can book you with a therapist who offers it. If needling is the right tool, they will use it as part of your treatment.
- Do I need a referral?
- No. Book online or call. We direct bill most extended health plans.
Needling at Station
Delivered by registered physiotherapists with post-graduate training in needling, on top of their physiotherapy degree.
Mention needling when you book and we will match you with the right therapist.