Emsella Chair: A Breakthrough in Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening
Pelvic floor disorders affect a significant number of people, particularly women, and can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including urinary incontinence, pain, and discomfort. While there are various treatments available to manage these conditions there are none as fast and convenient as the Emsella chair. We’re going to take a closer look at the Emsella chair, how it works, its benefits, clinical research, who can use it, and more. But first, let’s deep dive into the symptoms that might bring you to the clinic for an Emsella chair treatment.
What is urinary incontinence and what causes it?
Urinary incontinence is a condition in which a person experiences involuntary urine leakage. It can occur in men and women of all ages, but it is more common in older adults, especially women. It’s estimated that between 3 and 6 million people in the UK suffer with some degree of urinary incontinence. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:
- Stress incontinence: This type of incontinence occurs when physical activities, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising, put pressure on the bladder and cause urine to leak out.
- Urge incontinence: This type of incontinence is also known as overactive bladder and occurs when there is a sudden and intense urge to urinate that is difficult to control, leading to involuntary urine leakage.
- Overflow incontinence: This type of incontinence occurs when the bladder is unable to empty fully, causing urine to leak out in small amounts.
- Mixed incontinence: This type of incontinence is a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, causing embarrassment, discomfort, and limiting daily activities. Treatment options depend on the type and severity of incontinence and may include lifestyle changes, pelvic floor muscle exercises, medication, medical devices, or in severe cases surgery. The Emsella chair is an FDA-approved medical device to treat all types of urinary incontinence but most commonly we see it used to treat clients suffering from stress incontinence.
What is stress incontinence?
As outlined previously stress incontinence occurs when physical activities, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising, put pressure on the bladder and cause urine to leak out. Stress incontinence can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Weak pelvic floor muscles: The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and urethra, and weak muscles can lead to incontinence.
Childbirth: The process of giving birth can cause damage to the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, leading to incontinence.
Menopause: A decrease in oestrogen levels during menopause can lead to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.
Prostate surgery: Men who have had prostate surgery may experience incontinence as a result of damage to the muscles that control urine flow.
Chronic coughing: Chronic coughing, such as that caused by smoking, can put a strain on the pelvic floor muscles and lead to incontinence.
Obesity: Being overweight or obese can put extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and increase the risk of incontinence.
Certain medications: Some medications, such as diuretics, can increase urine production and contribute to incontinence.
What is the Emsella chair and how does it help urinary incontinence?
The Emsella chair is a non-invasive device that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. The chair is designed to deliver targeted electromagnetic waves to the muscles in the pelvic region, causing involuntary contractions that help to improve muscle tone, strength, and function.
During a treatment session, a person sits on the chair fully clothed in a straight-backed, wide-legged position. When the treatment protocol is started the chair emits electromagnetic waves that penetrate deep into the pelvic floor muscles, causing them to contract involuntarily. These contractions are similar to those experienced during kegel exercises but are more intense and sustained, making them more effective for muscle strengthening. In just 28 minutes the Emsella chair will deliver the equivalent of 11,000 kegel exercises. These involuntary contractions are not painful, many Emsella users report only tightening, buzzing & pinging sensations during the treatment.
What are the benefits of using the Emsella chair?
The physical benefits of using the Emsella chair include:
– Improved bladder control and continence
– Reduced pelvic pain and discomfort
– Improved sexual function
– Increased muscle strength and tone
Additional benefits of using the Emsella chair include:
– Non-invasive and painless treatment
– Does not require any intimate examination and is delivered fully clothed
– It is quick and convenient, each treatment takes just 28 minutes
– A full treatment course takes just 2-3 weeks
– There is no downtime or recovery period required
What clinical trials have there been to prove its efficacy?
Several clinical trials have been conducted to assess the efficacy of the Emsella chair in improving pelvic floor muscle function. In one safety and efficacy study, which included 75 women who showed symptoms of stress, urge or mixed urinary incontinence, 81% of participants reported a significant improvement in their symptoms after completing six Emsella treatments. Another study found that 95% of participants experienced an improvement in quality of life, and 75% reduced pad usage after completing a series of Emsella treatments.
Who can use the Emsella chair?
The Emsella chair is suitable for both men and women who are experiencing pelvic floor muscle weakness, incontinence, or other related conditions. The Emsella chair is used most to treat women with symptoms of urinary incontinence and sexual discomfort, and to treat men with symptoms of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation.
There are some medical conditions that would prevent using the Emsella chair including Pregnancy, Copper Coil, Cardiac Pacemakers, Implanted Defibrilators, Electronic Implants, Metal Implants, Drug Pumps, Haemorrhagic conditions, Anticoagulation therapy, Heart disorders, Epilepsy & Cancer patients.
How long do the results from the Emsella chair last?
The duration of the results from Emsella treatments can vary from person to person. However, many people report sustained improvement in their symptoms for several months after completing a series of treatments. Regular maintenance treatments can help to prolong the effects as do ensuring that pelvic floor exercises become a daily habit. There are many apps on the market that can assist in completing effective pelvic floor exercises daily including the NHS Squeezy app.
What to expect from an Emsella chair treatment step by step
Before beginning the Emsella chair treatment a clinician will outline the treatment and take a brief medical history and overview of symptoms from you. This is essential to ensure that the treatment is suitable and safe for you.
Following successful consultation, the client will sit on the Emsella chair fully clothed in an upright straight-backed, wide-legged position. The clinician will begin the 28-minute treatment protocol and stay with the client to ensure they are comfortable.
Activities such as reading a book or magazine can be carried out during treatment, however electronic devices such as phones and tablets cannot be used due to the electromagnetic technology in the Emsella chair.
When the treatment is complete the client can return to normal daily life as the treatment requires no downtime. The client will need to schedule a course of at least 6 treatments to be spread equally over a 2-3 week period for the Emsella chair treatment to be as effective as possible.
Where has the Emsella chair been featured in the press?
The Emsella chair has been featured in various news outlets and publications, including Daily Mail, The Times, Health.com, Get the Gloss, Vogue, and Women’s Health. Many of these features have focused on the chair’s non-invasive approach to treating pelvic floor disorders and its ability to improve the quality of life for those who suffer from these conditions. As interest in non-invasive treatments for pelvic floor disorders continues to grow, it is likely that the Emsella chair will continue to gain media attention as an effective and accessible option for patients.
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Emsella Chair Reviews
“In a really short space of time the Emsella chair has really reduced the pelvic floor weakness that I was experiencing. Since having 2 children I’d found that I would need to go to the toilet multiple times before bed and at least once during the night. I also experienced light leaking when jumping on a trampoline. After just 2 sessions on the Emsella chair I started to notice a difference in the frequency that I was going to the toilet both during the day and at night and that has continued to improve with each treatment. I’m so pleased I decided to go for it as it has made a huge difference to daily life and my quality of sleep.”
Charlotte – 32
“Since having a hysterectomy 12 years ago I’ve struggled with bladder weakness and leaking when coughing, sneezing & laughing both when standing and siting. I found that I could go a long time between needing to go to the toilet but then it would creep up on me and result in leaking. I feel that since having the Emsella treatment it’s increased my awareness of when I need to go to the toilet so I’m going more often and leaking less.”
Lucy – 41
Emsella Chair at Aqua-Tox
We offer the Emsella chair treatment in a private & relaxing treatment room in our Hertfordshire wellness clinic. We offer both trial sessions and courses however for optimum results a course of at least 6 treatments over a 2-3 week period is recommended.
Take a look at our Emsella chair treatment page to find out more about the Emsella chair at Aqua-Tox and to explore pricing & availability.