Services · EMS & Ultrasound
Quiet the muscle. Calm the tissue. Keep the plan moving.
Electrical muscle stimulation and therapeutic ultrasound used as part of an integrated care plan — to ease spasm, support recovery, and help your other care work better.
What it is
EMS and ultrasound, in plain language.
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) uses small, painless electrical pulses to stimulate muscles and reduce discomfort. Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to deliver gentle heat or vibration to deeper tissues. Together, they’re commonly used to ease muscle spasm, calm irritated tissues, and improve treatment response.
At Integrated Provider Group of Minnesota (IPGMN), EMS and ultrasound are supportive modalities used as part of an integrated care plan rather than as stand-alone services. They typically complement chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, and rehabilitation.
What They Help With
When EMS and ultrasound are the right tools
These modalities shine when soft tissue is irritated, in spasm, or slow to settle — and when we want to make the rest of your care more comfortable and effective.
Muscle tightness & spasm
Reactive tissue that’s guarding too hard.
Painful or irritated soft tissues
Tissues that need help calming down.
Recovery after strain or overuse
Speeding the recovery curve after activity.
Supportive pain modulation
Adding a comfort layer on top of hands-on care.
Different treatment depths
Reaching tissues that hands alone can’t.
Adjunct rehab support
Helping you tolerate and progress through rehab.
What Your Care May Include
Two tools, picked when they fit.
Your provider chooses EMS, ultrasound, or both based on what your tissues actually need that visit.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
EMS may be used to stimulate targeted muscles, reduce discomfort, and support treatment of overworked or irritated areas.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Ultrasound is delivered at different frequencies depending on the area and depth of the tissue being addressed, allowing treatment to match the clinical goal.
Comfort & Recovery Support
These modalities are commonly used to improve comfort and help patients tolerate or benefit more fully from hands-on care and exercise.
Integrated Modality Planning
EMS and ultrasound are selected when they fit naturally within the broader treatment strategy, not as isolated add-ons without a larger plan.
Often Combined With
Most useful inside an integrated plan
EMS and ultrasound are most useful paired with the core services that address movement, joint function, and longer-term recovery.
Chiropractic Care
Restoring joint motion is what makes the muscle relaxation actually hold.
Learn more →Soft Tissue Therapy
Hands-on tissue work that complements the calming effect of EMS and ultrasound.
Learn more →Corrective Exercise
Builds the strength and movement patterns that keep symptoms from coming back.
Learn more →Why Patients Choose IPGMN
Modalities used the way they actually help.
Patients choose EMS and ultrasound at IPGMN because they can provide helpful support within a larger treatment plan. Used appropriately, they make care more comfortable and reinforce the goals of hands-on treatment and rehabilitation.
Used with intention
Selected when they fit your plan — not added by default to fill time.
Comfortable
Both modalities are non-invasive and well tolerated.
Care close to home
Seven Twin Cities clinics so you can find appointments that fit your schedule.
What to Expect
Your visit, step by step
EMS and ultrasound sessions are short and usually layered into a regular visit alongside the rest of your care.
Quick check-in
A brief look at your symptoms and which tissues are involved that day.
Modality selection
EMS, ultrasound, or both — with settings selected based on tissue, depth, and goal.
Treatment & integration
A comfortable, short session combined with the rest of your care that visit.
Available at These Locations
EMS & ultrasound at IPGMN clinics
Choose the clinic closest to you. Same-week appointments are usually available.
Edina
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Plymouth
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Shakopee
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Coon Rapids
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Woodbury
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Isanti
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Cambridge
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Modality availability may vary by clinic. We’ll confirm at scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about EMS & ultrasound
What is electrical muscle stimulation (EMS)?
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EMS uses small, painless electrical pulses delivered through pads on the skin to stimulate muscles and reduce discomfort. It can help calm muscle spasm and support comfort within a broader treatment plan.
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
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Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to deliver gentle heat or vibration to soft tissues at specific depths. Different frequencies are used depending on whether the goal is surface-level or deeper tissue treatment.
Will EMS or ultrasound hurt?
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No. EMS feels like a tingling or muscle-tapping sensation that’s adjusted to your comfort level. Ultrasound feels like a warm, gliding pressure. Both are non-invasive and well tolerated.
Do you offer EMS or ultrasound as a stand-alone service?
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These therapies are most useful when paired with chiropractic care, soft tissue work, or rehab — not as isolated services. We use them when they fit naturally inside a larger plan.
How long does treatment take?
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Most EMS or ultrasound sessions are short — typically 5–10 minutes — and are layered into a regular visit alongside the rest of your care.
Ready to feel better?
Same-week appointments at all 7 Twin Cities locations.
