As a non-profit charitable organization, iSTOP's operations are vigorous and eventful.  Its chronic pain treatment center serves thousands of patients in Canada and educates physicians from around the world.  iSTOP is also an international pain research organization, sponsoring fellowships, and holding frequent training courses on Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS).

Since April of 2013 we have seen a few changes with the website.
Check for news, upcoming events, announcements, lectures, etc. through the below apps.

Upcoming Events - LINK

Featured near future events, check the calendar for the entire year.

News - LINK
Recent and not so distant happenings, saved for posterity.

Videos - LINK

Facebook - LINK
Casual postings, external, some fun stuff too.

Twitter - LINK
Quick blast announcements.

Linkedin - LINK
Connect on this professional network to find fellow CGIMS practitioners, we appreciate all the referrals for membership renewals. Practitioners from far and wide may be found in the...

International Gunn IMS Practitioners Directory - LINK
Find a certified CGIMS practitioner worldwide prior to travel, work or relocation.
Never leave home without it ; )

2012

PROTOCOL

July 16, 2012

As per letter  of July 16, 2012 from the Chief Medical Officer of Health,  Alberta Health and Wellness, please click on:

news_update_ims_plungers_july_16_2012_1    PDF

Please note that iSTOP GunnIMS Plungers were manufactured by Dong Bang of Korea and the stop order remains in effect by Alberta Health Services.

2010

December 13, 2010

A masterpiece, (5.0 out of  5 stars) By  Tomas Nakazato "tomnaka" (Lima, Peru) - This review is from: Gunn Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Intramuscular Stimulation for Myofascial Pain of Radiculopathic Origin (Hardcover)

This is the best book for all practitioners who treat myofascial pain syndromes. Dr. Gunn clearly explains the origin of chronic pain based upon "denervation supersensibility", a physiological phenomena based upon Canon and Rosenblueth Law of Denervation. When a nerve has a disfunction or damage (i.e. neuropathy), its organs and tissues that innervates become hipersensitive:

- The sensitive fibers become hipersensitive, generating pain, hiperalgesia, disestesia and allodynia (which explains the symptoms of neuropathic pain).
- The autonomic fibers become hipersensitive, generating goose bumps, peripheric vasoconstriction, trophic changes, and less electrical skin resistance (that is how the "acupuncture point finders" work), etc. (it also explains some visceral symptoms due to somatic injuries).
- The motor fibers become hipersensitive, generation taut bands and contraction knots, characteristics of myofascial pain described by Travell and Simons.

I definitely recommend this book. Dr. Gunn has been awarded for his contribution in the field of chronic pain several times, and he has written a chapter in "Bonica's management of pain" (the "byble of pain") For all Physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitations physicians) and Physical therapists, this is a must.

November 22, 2010

PIEZO-DX RECALLED

As a valued member, iSTOP would like to keep you informed about safety issues regarding the treatment of Chronic Pain.  This is to notify you that the Piezo-DX Quartz Stimulator device is currently being recalled from the Canadian market.  This particular medical device has been sold in Canada since 2002.

This medical device is now being recalled by Health Canada because the manufacturer of the Piezo-DX Quartz Stimulator (ITO Company Ltd.) does not have a current Medical Device License from Health Canada.

In accordance with section 64 of the Canadian Medical Device Regulations, if you own one or more Piezo-DX Quartz Stimulators, please discontinue all clinical and/or personal usage and distribution of this particular medical device.

If you have in the past purchased this medical device from iSTOP or other suppliers for resale distribution, please contact your customers regarding this recall as instructed above.

IMS Plunger stop order reconfirmed

Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW) recently reconfirmed a stop

order on reusable IMS plungers remain until validated cleaning

and reprocessing instructions are received from IMS manu-

facturers/distributers. The decision was communicated to IMS

manufacturers/distributors along with the necessary steps

required before the stop order can be lifted.

The stop order was issued by Alberta’s Acting Chief Medical

Officer of Health because of the risk of transmitting blood borne

infections from patient to patient and manufactures instructions

with some IMS plungers were not sufficiently detailed to enable

users to determine the required process to correctly reprocess

for safe re-use.

Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health

Alberta Health and Wellness, Government of Alberta

Thanks,

Audrey Lowe PT, MScPT, BScPT

Competence and Professional Practice

College of Physical Therapists of Alberta

300 10357 109 Street

Edmonton, AB T5J 1N3

T: 780.438.0338  ext 349 Direct: 780.702.5349

F: 780.436.1908

Toll-free: 1.800.291.2782

E: alowe@cpta.ab.ca

W: www.cpta.ab.ca

Protecting Albertans through effective regulation and leadership

2009

IMS courses in Canada:

It is with delight that we can report that three courses are planned for 2009 (April in Vancouver, May in Calgary and October in Vancouver).  All three these courses are already fully booked and there are enough names on the waitlist to consider another course.  This is an indication that GunnIMS is growing and becoming a 'treatment of choice' for many practitioners. 

Our sincere thanks to all who are helping in spreading the word!

Research project:

We have been approached by UBC to do some research on GunnIMS. 

More information will be posted as it comes available.

2008

March 25, 2008:

Please review updated sterilization protocols at www.istop.org/protocols.html

Sterilization of Plungers:

Please refer to our website at www.istop.org/protocols.html for the protocols on cleaning and sterilizing plungers.

OR

Click on Education and then on Protocols.

Awards for Dr Gunn!

Dr Gunn was the recipient of two prestigious awards this year.

1.   On April 17, 2007 he was admitted as a Companion of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors.

Dr Gunn was introduced as follows:

In 2005 Dr Gunn made possible the building of the much-admired Gunn Gallery in the Ward Library at Peterhouse.  The Gunn Gallery marks the Library's coming of age.  It has given Peterhouse one of the best and most beautiful of all College libraries.  Dr Gunn's gift of rare, antique Chinese porcelain has added further grace to this inspirational space, much loved by College members and visitors.

A graduate and Honorary Fellow of the College, Dr Gunn has also funded the Tan Sri Gunn Lay Teik Studentship for a succession of Peterhouse graduate students in all disciplines, established in memory of his late father, who was a Peterhouse student in the 1920's.

Dr Gunn is a pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of pain.  Founder and President of the Institute for the Study and Pain in Vancouver, he specializes in treating chronic pain caused by nerve damage.  Dr Gunn is distinguished for developing the treatment known as Intramuscular Stimulation, which bridges the gap between western medicine and traditional Chinese acupuncture.  In 2002 he was names as a Member of the Order of Canada - the nation's highest honor.

Dr Gunn received this award from the Chancellor, Prince Phillip.

2.   Dr Gunn was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London, UK. 

Fellows are elected by other physicians who consider that they are eligible, having sufficiently distinguished themselves in the practice of medicine, medical science or medical literature.

The ceremony for this award took place on July 24, 2007 in London.