Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Four IM Injection SitesProper Injection TechniqueTipsPossible Side EffectsTiming
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Four IM Injection Sites
Proper Injection Technique
Tips
Possible Side Effects
Timing
This article shows you how to find the four IM injection sites and provides instructions on how to give the shots safely. It also discusses the right injection technique as well as possible side effects.
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How to Give an Intramuscular Injection
Where Are the Four IM Injection Sites?
There are four sites you can 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.
To find the injection site, feel for the bone at the top of your arm where your arm meets 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.
To find these muscles, imagine lines dividing the front of your thigh into thirds from the top to the bottom.
The vastus lateralis muscle is considered the preferred site for IM injections in infants and babies, particularly those not yet walking.
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.
The dorsogluteal muscle may seem the preferred choice because it is so large, but IM injections pose risks as there are major blood vessels and nerves located there, including thesciatic nerve.
Hip
Yourventroglutealmuscle is located near your hip. While it is possible to give yourself a shot there, it may be easier to do with a partner.
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.
Next, your partner should spread their pointer finger and middle finger into a “V” and give the injection between those fingers.
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.
Proper Technique for IM Injections
Your healthcare provider will give you a prescription for your IM medication as well as for the appropriately sized syringes and needles. 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.
If you are concerned about pain, you can numb the injection site for five to 10 minutes with ice. There are also numbing creams, typically containing lidocaine, available at most drugstores.
To give yourself or someone else an IM injection:
Always ask your healthcare provider for clear instructions on how to give an IM injection. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request a repeat demonstration. Some of the most common questions about giving IM injections include:
Do You Pinch the Skin for an IM Injection?
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.
Make sure 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?
Your first instinct may be to massage an intramuscular injection site to ease the pain or help “get the medicine in,” but doing so is not recommended. Massaging the injection site may force the medication from the muscle into the skin layers, reducing the absorption of the drug.It can also cause bruising.
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. With that said, some muscles (like the deltoid muscle of the upper arm) are smaller in some people, and it is possible to hit bone if the shot is not given in the thickest part. Even so, it doesn’t usually cause pain or complications.
How Can You Practice Giving an IM shot?
Alternating Injection SitesIf you need to give yourself IM injections regularly, be sure to alternate injection sites. This prevents the build-up of scar tissues that can make injections difficult. Your healthcare provider can show you which injection sites are appropriate.
Alternating Injection Sites
If you need to give yourself IM injections regularly, be sure to alternate injection sites. This prevents the build-up of scar tissues that can make injections difficult. Your healthcare provider can show you which injection sites are appropriate.
What Is Z-Track Method for Injection?
There may be temporary pain and discomfort during the IM injection itself, but these tend to ease quite quickly. 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. This can lead to a painful condition calledsciaticathat tends to resolve on its own but can make you uncomfortable for several days or weeks. Significant bleeding is also possible.
Although unlikely, it is possible to get an infection from an IM injection. This can occur if you do not adhere to hygienic practices (like washing your hands), reuse needles or syringes, or use medications that are expired or look tainted.
When to Seek Medical AttentionSeek immediate medical care if you have signs of severe infection at an injection site, including.High fever with chillIncreasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pain at the injection siteA pus-like dischargeRed streaks spreading outward from the injection site
When to Seek Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical care if you have signs of severe infection at an injection site, including.High fever with chillIncreasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pain at the injection siteA pus-like dischargeRed streaks spreading outward from the injection site
Seek immediate medical care if you have signs of severe infection at an injection site, including.
When Are IM Injections Given?
Self-administered IM injections may be used for different reasons, includingassisted fertility treatments,gender-affirming hormone therapy,vitamin B12 supplementation, and somedisease-modifying treatmentsfor autoimmune diseases likerheumatoid arthritis.
If you’re takingblood thinnersor have ableeding disorderorlow platelet count, your healthcare provider may avoid intramuscular injections due to the risk of bleeding. They may also be inappropriate for people withhypovolemic shockor muscle wasting as these conditions will affect drug absorption.
Summary
There are four sites on your body that can be used to give yourself an intramuscular injection: the upper arm, thigh, hip, and buttocks.
Make sure you are comfortable with the injection technique before you start 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.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ogston-Tuck S.Intramuscular injection technique: an evidence-based approach.Nurs Stand. 2014;29(4):52-9. doi:10.7748/ns.29.4.52.e9183Shepherd E.Injection technique 1: administering drugs via the intramuscular route.Nurs Times [online].2018;114(8):23-5.Nakajima Y, Fujii T, Mukai K, et al.Anatomically safe sites for intramuscular injections: a cross-sectional study on young adults and cadavers with a focus on the thigh.Hum Vaccin Immunother.2020;16(1):189–96. doi:10.1080/21645515.2019.1646576Elgellaie A, Ashcroft E, Larkin TA.Effects of thickness of muscle and subcutaneous fat on efficacy of gluteal intramuscular injection sites.Br J Nurs. 2018;27(6):300-5. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.6.300
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ogston-Tuck S.Intramuscular injection technique: an evidence-based approach.Nurs Stand. 2014;29(4):52-9. doi:10.7748/ns.29.4.52.e9183Shepherd E.Injection technique 1: administering drugs via the intramuscular route.Nurs Times [online].2018;114(8):23-5.Nakajima Y, Fujii T, Mukai K, et al.Anatomically safe sites for intramuscular injections: a cross-sectional study on young adults and cadavers with a focus on the thigh.Hum Vaccin Immunother.2020;16(1):189–96. doi:10.1080/21645515.2019.1646576Elgellaie A, Ashcroft E, Larkin TA.Effects of thickness of muscle and subcutaneous fat on efficacy of gluteal intramuscular injection sites.Br J Nurs. 2018;27(6):300-5. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.6.300
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ogston-Tuck S.Intramuscular injection technique: an evidence-based approach.Nurs Stand. 2014;29(4):52-9. doi:10.7748/ns.29.4.52.e9183Shepherd E.Injection technique 1: administering drugs via the intramuscular route.Nurs Times [online].2018;114(8):23-5.Nakajima Y, Fujii T, Mukai K, et al.Anatomically safe sites for intramuscular injections: a cross-sectional study on young adults and cadavers with a focus on the thigh.Hum Vaccin Immunother.2020;16(1):189–96. doi:10.1080/21645515.2019.1646576Elgellaie A, Ashcroft E, Larkin TA.Effects of thickness of muscle and subcutaneous fat on efficacy of gluteal intramuscular injection sites.Br J Nurs. 2018;27(6):300-5. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.6.300
Ogston-Tuck S.Intramuscular injection technique: an evidence-based approach.Nurs Stand. 2014;29(4):52-9. doi:10.7748/ns.29.4.52.e9183
Shepherd E.Injection technique 1: administering drugs via the intramuscular route.Nurs Times [online].2018;114(8):23-5.
Nakajima Y, Fujii T, Mukai K, et al.Anatomically safe sites for intramuscular injections: a cross-sectional study on young adults and cadavers with a focus on the thigh.Hum Vaccin Immunother.2020;16(1):189–96. doi:10.1080/21645515.2019.1646576
Elgellaie A, Ashcroft E, Larkin TA.Effects of thickness of muscle and subcutaneous fat on efficacy of gluteal intramuscular injection sites.Br J Nurs. 2018;27(6):300-5. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.6.300
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