
EMSELLA is a noninvasive pelvic-floor therapy that uses focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate the muscles responsible for supporting the bladder and helping control urination.
During treatment, electromagnetic energy passes through clothing and activates repeated contractions throughout the pelvic-floor muscles. These contractions are intended to help retrain and strengthen muscles that may be difficult to engage effectively through voluntary exercise alone.
EMSELLA may be considered for appropriately screened women and men experiencing urinary leakage related to pelvic-floor weakness.
It is not surgery, does not require an internal probe, and does not involve medication or injections.
What Is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues located at the base of the pelvis. These muscles support structures that may include the bladder, urethra, bowel, uterus, vagina, and prostate region.
The pelvic-floor muscles contribute to:
- Bladder control
- Bowel control
- Pelvic-organ support
- Core stability
- Sexual function
- Control of pressure during coughing, sneezing, lifting, or exercise
When these muscles become weak, poorly coordinated, or difficult to activate, urinary leakage may occur.
Pelvic-floor weakness can affect both women and men.
How Does EMSELLA Work?
During an EMSELLA session, the patient sits on a specially designed chair while remaining fully clothed.
The chair produces high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy that stimulates repeated pelvic-floor muscle contractions. The contractions occur automatically throughout the session without the patient needing to consciously perform each one.
This stimulation is intended to:
- Activate the pelvic-floor muscles
- Improve muscular awareness
- Support pelvic-floor strengthening
- Help retrain neuromuscular control
- Improve the muscles’ ability to contract during pressure or movement
- Support better bladder control
The intensity is adjusted gradually according to the patient’s comfort and treatment protocol.
EMSELLA does not physically prevent every episode of urinary leakage, and no result can be guaranteed. Improvement depends on the cause of the symptoms, severity of muscle weakness, treatment completion, health history, and individual response.
What Types of Urinary Incontinence May EMSELLA Address?
Urinary incontinence describes the involuntary leakage of urine. Different types of incontinence can have different causes, and not every type is caused solely by weak pelvic-floor muscles.
Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when physical pressure on the bladder leads to leakage.
Common triggers include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Laughing
- Running
- Jumping
- Lifting
- Exercising
- Standing suddenly
- Sudden urinary urgency
- Difficulty reaching the restroom in time
- Frequent urination
- Leakage triggered by running water
- Waking during the night to urinate
Stress incontinence is often associated with reduced pelvic-floor support or difficulty contracting the muscles when abdominal pressure increases.
Urge Urinary Incontinence
Urge incontinence involves a sudden, strong need to urinate followed by involuntary leakage.
Patients may experience:
Urge symptoms can have multiple causes. A medical evaluation may be recommended before EMSELLA treatment.
Mixed Urinary Incontinence
Mixed incontinence includes features of both stress and urge incontinence.
A patient may experience leakage during coughing or exercise as well as sudden episodes of urinary urgency.
Because mixed symptoms may have several contributing factors, treatment recommendations should be based on an individualized evaluation.
Common Symptoms of Pelvic-Floor Weakness
Possible symptoms include:
- Urine leakage while coughing or sneezing
- Leakage during exercise
- Leakage while running or jumping
- Difficulty reaching the restroom in time
- Sudden urinary urgency
- Frequent urination
- Waking at night to urinate
- Leakage after childbirth
- Leakage associated with menopause
- Reduced bladder control after prostate treatment
- Difficulty effectively performing pelvic-floor exercises
- Reduced confidence during social or physical activities
Urinary symptoms can also result from infection, medication, diabetes, neurological conditions, prostate problems, pelvic-organ prolapse, bladder disorders, or other medical concerns.
A consultation helps determine whether EMSELLA may be appropriate or whether medical evaluation should come first.
EMSELLA for Women
Women may develop pelvic-floor weakness following pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, hormonal changes, menopause, aging, surgery, weight changes, chronic coughing, or repetitive pressure on the pelvic floor.
EMSELLA may be considered for women experiencing:
- Leakage after pregnancy or childbirth
- Leakage while exercising
- Leakage during coughing, laughing, or sneezing
- Urinary urgency
- Mixed urinary incontinence
- Reduced pelvic-floor muscle control
- Difficulty performing effective Kegel exercises
EMSELLA is not a replacement for an obstetric, gynecological, urogynecological, or urological evaluation when symptoms are unexplained, severe, painful, or accompanied by other concerns.
EMSELLA for Men
Men may also experience urinary leakage due to pelvic-floor weakness, aging, prostate treatment, prostate surgery, neurological factors, or other medical conditions.
EMSELLA may be considered for appropriately screened men experiencing:
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Urinary leakage following prostate treatment
- Reduced pelvic-floor muscle control
- Difficulty activating the pelvic-floor muscles
- Leakage during movement or exercise
- Mixed urinary symptoms
Men with new urinary symptoms, pain, blood in the urine, difficulty starting urination, or incomplete bladder emptying should receive appropriate medical evaluation.
Potential Benefits of EMSELLA
Depending on the cause of the symptoms and individual response, potential benefits may include:
- Stronger pelvic-floor muscle contractions
- Improved pelvic-floor awareness
- Better neuromuscular control
- Reduced episodes of urinary leakage
- Improved confidence during exercise
- Improved comfort during everyday activities
- Noninvasive treatment
- No internal probe
- No injections
- No incisions
- No anesthesia
- Ability to remain fully clothed
- Little or no interruption to normal activities
Treatment outcomes vary. EMSELLA cannot guarantee that urinary leakage will completely resolve or that results will be permanent.
Who May Be a Good Candidate for EMSELLA?
EMSELLA may be considered for adults who:
- Experience urinary leakage
- Have weak or poorly coordinated pelvic-floor muscles
- Leak while coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising
- Experience reduced bladder control after childbirth
- Have urinary leakage associated with menopause or aging
- Experience certain post-prostate-treatment symptoms
- Have difficulty performing pelvic-floor exercises effectively
- Prefer a noninvasive treatment
- Have realistic expectations
- Do not have a contraindication to electromagnetic treatment
The best way to determine candidacy is through a consultation and health screening.
Who Should Not Receive EMSELLA?
EMSELLA is not appropriate for everyone. Treatment may be contraindicated or require medical clearance for patients with certain medical conditions or implants.
Tell the provider if you:
- Are pregnant or may be pregnant
- Have a pacemaker
- Have an implanted defibrillator
- Have another implanted electronic device
- Have metal implants in or near the treatment area
- Have a copper or metal-containing intrauterine device
- Have a medication pump
- Have recently undergone pelvic or abdominal surgery
- Have an active infection
- Have a suspected urinary tract infection
- Have uncontrolled bleeding
- Have a seizure disorder
- Have significant heart disease
- Have a known pelvic tumor
- Have severe pelvic pain
- Have a condition affected by electromagnetic energy
- Take medication that may affect treatment safety
This list is not exhaustive. Complete health information is essential before treatment begins.
When Should Urinary Symptoms Be Medically Evaluated?
Urinary leakage is not always caused by pelvic-floor weakness. Medical evaluation should be considered for new, unexplained, painful, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Contact an appropriate healthcare provider when symptoms include:
- Pain or burning during urination
- Blood in the urine
- Fever
- Pelvic pain
- Difficulty beginning urination
- Inability to urinate
- Weak urine flow
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Repeated urinary tract infections
- New numbness or weakness
- Sudden loss of bladder or bowel control
- Symptoms following significant trauma
- New urinary symptoms during pregnancy
- Unexplained weight loss
- Significant pelvic pressure or a visible bulge
Sudden loss of bladder control accompanied by leg weakness, groin numbness, or severe back pain requires urgent medical evaluation.
What Happens During an EMSELLA Consultation?
Your consultation allows the provider to learn about your symptoms and determine whether treatment may be appropriate.
You may be asked about:
- When the urinary symptoms began
- What activities trigger leakage
- How frequently leakage occurs
- Whether you experience urgency
- Pregnancy and childbirth history
- Menopause symptoms
- Previous pelvic or prostate surgery
- Urinary tract infections
- Pelvic pain
- Medications
- Medical implants
- Neurological conditions
- Current pelvic-floor exercises
- Previous incontinence treatment
- Your treatment goals
- How EMSELLA works
- What the treatment feels like
- Recommended session frequency
- Possible side effects
- Contraindications
- Alternative care options
- Pricing and payment policies
- Realistic expectations
The provider will also explain:
A consultation does not guarantee that treatment will be recommended.
What Should I Expect During an EMSELLA Treatment?
EMSELLA treatments are performed while you sit on the device’s treatment chair.
You will remain fully clothed, although metal items such as belts, coins, keys, jewelry, or electronic devices may need to be removed before treatment.
The provider will help position you correctly so that the electromagnetic energy reaches the intended pelvic-floor muscles.
During the session:
You sit upright on the treatment chair.
The provider confirms your positioning.
The treatment intensity begins at a lower setting.
The intensity is gradually adjusted according to comfort.
The pelvic-floor muscles contract repeatedly.
You remain awake and can communicate throughout treatment.
A typical session may last approximately 30 minutes, although appointment length and protocol can vary.
What Does EMSELLA Feel Like?
Patients generally feel repeated contractions throughout the pelvic-floor muscles. The sensation may feel like:
- Tightening
- Tingling
- Rhythmic muscle contractions
- Deep muscle engagement
- Pressure in the pelvic area
The sensation can be intense or unusual, especially during the first session, but it should remain tolerable.
Tell the provider immediately if you experience pain, burning, excessive discomfort, numbness, or another unexpected symptom.
Does EMSELLA Hurt?
EMSELLA is generally described as a noninvasive treatment that does not require anesthesia. However, individual experiences vary.
Some patients may notice:
- Strong muscular contractions
- Temporary muscle fatigue
- Mild pelvic soreness
- Temporary urinary urgency
- Temporary discomfort
Treatment intensity should be adjusted according to the patient’s response and tolerance.
Severe pain or persistent urinary symptoms are not something to ignore and should be medically evaluated.
How Many EMSELLA Treatments Will I Need?
A commonly recommended starting series includes six treatments, often scheduled twice a week. However, the number, timing, and intensity of sessions should be personalized.
Your treatment plan may depend on:
- Type of urinary incontinence
- Severity of symptoms
- Pelvic-floor muscle condition
- Medical history
- Previous pelvic procedures
- Treatment tolerance
- Individual response
- Long-term goals
Completing the recommended series may provide better results than receiving occasional isolated treatments.
No specific number of sessions can guarantee a particular outcome.
When Will I Notice Results?
Some patients report changes during or soon after the treatment series, while others notice gradual improvement over several weeks.
The timing and degree of improvement may depend on:
- Severity of pelvic-floor weakness
- Type of urinary symptoms
- Age
- Hormonal status
- Previous pregnancy or surgery
- General health
- Completion of the recommended series
- Individual biological response
- Continued pelvic-floor exercise
Results should be evaluated based on changes in leakage frequency, urgency, pad use, activity confidence, and quality of life—not just muscle sensation during treatment.
Is There Downtime After EMSELLA?
EMSELLA is noninvasive and generally does not require a surgical recovery period.
Most patients can return to work, exercise, and normal daily activities after a session.
Temporary effects may include:
- Pelvic-floor muscle fatigue
- Mild soreness
- Tingling
- Temporary urinary urgency
- Temporary changes in muscle sensation
Follow the provider’s aftercare instructions and report symptoms that are severe, unusual, or persistent.
How Long Do EMSELLA Results Last?
The duration of improvement varies. Pelvic-floor strength and bladder control can change due to:
- Aging
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Menopause
- Prostate procedures
- Weight changes
- Chronic coughing
- Constipation
- Heavy lifting
- General health
- Exercise habits
Some patients may benefit from periodic maintenance sessions or continued pelvic-floor exercises.
EMSELLA does not prevent future pelvic-floor weakness or guarantee permanent bladder control.
EMSELLA and Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises involve voluntarily contracting and relaxing the pelvic-floor muscles.
They may be helpful, but some patients:
- Have difficulty identifying the correct muscles
- Contract the abdominal or buttock muscles instead
- Do not perform enough repetitions
- Use improper technique
- Have difficulty maintaining a consistent routine
EMSELLA creates involuntary pelvic-floor contractions while the patient remains seated. It may help patients strengthen and become more aware of the muscles involved.
Patients may still be encouraged to continue properly performed pelvic-floor exercises between or after treatments.
In some situations, referral to a pelvic-floor physical therapist may also be appropriate.
Schedule an EMSELLA Consultation in Woodbridge, VA
Urinary leakage can affect physical activity, sleep, travel, work, and confidence. A private consultation can help determine whether weak pelvic-floor muscles may be contributing to your symptoms and whether EMSELLA is an appropriate option.
Kline Chiropractic & Wellness offers noninvasive EMSELLA pelvic-floor treatments for appropriately screened women and men in Woodbridge, Prince William County, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.
Call Kline Chiropractic & Wellness at (703) 680-4344 or request an EMSELLA consultation online today.
Kline Chiropractic & Wellness
4004 Genesee Place, Suite 213
Woodbridge, VA 22192
EMSELLA is not appropriate for every patient or every cause of urinary incontinence. Treatment recommendations, experiences, and results vary. EMSELLA is not a substitute for primary, urological, urogynecological, obstetric, pelvic-floor physical therapy, or emergency medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EMSELLA used for?
EMSELLA provides noninvasive electromagnetic stimulation of the pelvic-floor muscles. It is intended to help rehabilitate weak pelvic muscles and restore neuromuscular control for urinary incontinence in women and men.
Is EMSELLA FDA-approved?
EMSELLA’s underlying device platform has received FDA 510(k) clearance for noninvasive electromagnetic stimulation of pelvic-floor musculature for the treatment of male and female urinary incontinence. FDA clearance is different from FDA approval.
Do I have to undress for EMSELLA?
No. Patients remain fully clothed during treatment. Metal objects may need to be removed before sitting on the chair.
Is EMSELLA an internal treatment?
No. EMSELLA does not require an internal probe or vaginal or rectal device.
How long does an EMSELLA session take?
A typical treatment session lasts approximately 30 minutes. Appointment time may vary based on consultation and office protocol.
How many treatments are normally recommended?
A commonly used starting plan includes six sessions, often completed over approximately three weeks. Recommendations should be personalized.
Does EMSELLA hurt?
Most patients feel strong pelvic-floor muscle contractions rather than pain. Individual experiences vary, and treatment intensity can be adjusted.
Is there downtime after treatment?
Most patients can resume normal activities immediately. Temporary muscle fatigue, soreness, tingling, or urinary urgency may occur.
Can EMSELLA treat stress incontinence?
EMSELLA may be considered for stress urinary incontinence associated with weak pelvic-floor muscles, such as leakage during coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercise.
Can EMSELLA help urge incontinence?
Some patients with urge or mixed symptoms may be candidates, but urinary urgency can have multiple causes. An appropriate evaluation is important.
Can men receive EMSELLA?
Yes. The technology is intended for both women and men with urinary incontinence related to weak pelvic-floor muscles.
Can EMSELLA help after prostate surgery?
It may be considered for appropriately screened men with pelvic-floor weakness and urinary leakage following certain prostate procedures. Medical clearance may be recommended.
Can EMSELLA help after childbirth?
It may be considered for women experiencing pelvic-floor weakness or stress leakage following pregnancy and childbirth. Treatment should not begin during pregnancy, and postpartum timing should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Can I receive EMSELLA with an IUD?
Certain metal-containing intrauterine devices may affect candidacy. Tell the provider exactly which type of IUD you have before treatment.
Can I receive EMSELLA with a pacemaker?
EMSELLA is generally not appropriate for patients with pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, or certain electronic implants.
Can EMSELLA improve sexual function?
Stronger or better-coordinated pelvic-floor muscles may affect intimate function for some patients, but EMSELLA should not be advertised as a guaranteed treatment for sexual dysfunction. The FDA-cleared indication is urinary incontinence.
Is EMSELLA covered by insurance?
Coverage varies. Some insurance plans may classify the treatment as elective or may not cover treatment performed in this setting. Contact the office and your insurance provider to confirm benefits and costs.
How much does EMSELLA cost?
Pricing depends on the recommended treatment series, available packages, and current office policies. Contact Kline Chiropractic & Wellness for current pricing.
When should I see a urologist or urogynecologist?
Medical evaluation may be appropriate for blood in the urine, painful urination, repeated infections, difficulty emptying the bladder, severe pelvic pain, prolapse symptoms, new neurological symptoms, or incontinence that does not improve.
