IM injections are used for people of all ages, including infants.
It also discusses the right injection technique as well as possible side effects.
Where Are the Four IM Injection Sites?
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There are four sites you might use to give yourself an IM shot.
These sites have large, easy-to-locate muscles with little fatty tissue.
Upper Arm
Yourdeltoid muscleis the large muscle in your upper arm, just below your shoulder.
The injection site is about 2 inches below that spot (or roughly two or three finger widths).
Be sure to give the injection in the center of the muscles where it is thickest.
It can be difficult to give yourself a shot in the deltoid muscle.
You may need help from a partner.
Thigh
Yourvastus lateralisandrectus femorismuscles are located in your thigh.
They make up what is known as the quadriceps (quad) muscle.
This is the easiest site for an IM injection if you are self-administering.
Buttock
Thedorsoglutealmuscle is the large muscle located in your buttocks.
It is one of the largest muscles on the body but can be awkward to access on your own.
For this site, you will need a partner.
To find this site, divide one butt cheek into fourths from top to bottom and side to side.
Your partner should give the injection in the outer, upper quadrant toward the hip.
This is the part of the buttocks with the least fatty tissue.
Hip
Yourventroglutealmuscle is located near your hip.
To find the site, lie on your back and have your partner stand facing your hips.
Have your partner place the heel of their hand so that their wrist is lined up with your thigh.
Your partner’s thumb should be pointed toward your groin and their fingers should be pointed toward your head.
They should be able to feel the border of a bony area with their ring finger and pinkie.
The ventrogluteal muscle is the most common site for IM injections in adults and children of walking age.
It is a large muscle situated well away from vulnerable nerves like the sciatic nerve.
Thegauge of the needleis especially important as small needles can fail if the injectable medication is thick.
A nurse or other healthcare provider will teach you or your partner how to deliver the injections.
It is important that you are comfortable with the technique before doing it yourself.
There are also numbing creams, typically containing lidocaine, available at most drugstores.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request a repeat demonstration.
Pinching the skin is not necessary when giving an intramuscular injection.
Pinching the skin may cause you to deliver the injection into the subcutaneous layer instead of the muscle.
Instead, use your non-dominant hand to slightly stretch the skin at the injection site.
How Deep Do You Insert a Needle for Intramuscular Injection?
verify the needle goes into the muscle to a depth of at least 1 inch.
Do You Pull Back When Giving an IM Injection?
Pulling back on the plunger before administering the injection is not necessary for most injections.
Be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider when they are showing you how to administer the injection.
Do You Rub After an IM Injection?
Can You Hit the Bone With an Intramuscular Injection?
With the right size needle and proper injection site, the risk of hitting bone is unlikely.
Even so, it doesn’t usually cause pain or complications.
How Can You Practice Giving an IM shot?
This prevents the build-up of scar tissues that can make injections difficult.
Your healthcare provider can show you which injection sites are appropriate.
There also be minor bleeding, pain, swelling, or redness following the shot.
If you give yourself an injection in the dorsogluteal site, there is a risk of sciatic nerve injury.
Significant bleeding is also possible.
Although unlikely, it is possible to get an infection from an IM injection.
When Are IM Injections Given?
They may also be inappropriate for people withhypovolemic shockor muscle wasting as these conditions will affect drug absorption.
double-check you are comfortable with the injection technique before you roll giving yourself shots.
A nurse or other healthcare provider can show you how to do it.
Look out for side effects and report any concerns to your healthcare provider.
Ogston-Tuck S.Intramuscular injection technique: an evidence-based approach.Nurs Stand.
2018;27(6):300-5. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.6.300
