EMSELLA is a 28-minute, fully clothed session using HIFEM electromagnetic technology to trigger roughly 11,200 involuntary pelvic-floor contractions, FDA-cleared for stress urinary incontinence. At Dynamic Athlete it is never given alone: it is delivered as Dynamic Core+, paired with focused shockwave, after a physician assesses candidacy at screening. A standard course is six sessions.
Most EMSELLA explainers online come from med spas describing a single chair and a session count. What they usually skip is candidacy screening, who the treatment is genuinely built for versus who it is not appropriate for, and what happens if leakage or core instability is one part of a bigger picture. This page walks through what a session and a full course actually involve at a sports medicine practice, honestly, including where EMSELLA is not the right first step.
What an EMSELLA session actually involves
You sit fully clothed on the EMSELLA chair for about 28 minutes. There are no needles, no incisions, and no anesthesia. The chair delivers high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) stimulation that triggers approximately 11,200 supramaximal pelvic-floor contractions in that single session, far beyond what voluntary effort can produce. You can read, take a call, or simply sit through it. There is no recovery period. Most patients return to normal activity, including athletic training, immediately afterward.
Who EMSELLA is for, and who it is not for
Candidates include postpartum patients returning to running, lifting, or sport; masters athletes managing stress or urge incontinence; men and women rebuilding core stability after injury or surgery; and anyone whose pelvic floor weakness is limiting athletic performance or bladder control. Dynamic Athlete treats the pelvic floor as part of a performance and musculoskeletal system, not a cosmetic add-on, which is why postpartum recovery and athletic core work sit alongside continence care in the same protocol. Related reading: postpartum recovery.
EMSELLA is not appropriate for everyone. A physician evaluation screens for contraindications before anything is scheduled: pacemakers, defibrillators, or other implanted electronic devices in the treatment field; metal implants in the pelvic region; pregnancy; and active malignancy in the pelvic region. An IUD is a relative contraindication evaluated case by case at your consultation. If any of these apply to you, say so up front. It changes what a candidacy conversation looks like, not whether you get one.
Screening comes first, not the chair
Before anything is scheduled, Aneesh Garg, DO, CAQ, or his clinical team reviews your medical history, discusses your symptoms and goals, and assesses candidacy. At Dynamic Athlete, that evaluation also asks whether your leakage or instability connects to a broader movement pattern, a core strength deficit, or a separate condition that needs its own workup, per our screening protocol, because pelvic floor symptoms are frequently a downstream sign of something upstream, not an isolated muscle problem.
What a full course looks like, and what maintenance means
A standard course is six sessions, typically scheduled twice weekly over about three weeks. There is no fasting requirement and no anesthesia, so you can drive yourself to and from every appointment. A re-evaluation generally occurs six to twelve weeks after the course to assess how you responded and whether maintenance is indicated. When maintenance is appropriate, sessions are typically spaced every three to six months, depending on how your tissue responded and your goals. This is not a one-and-done treatment; it is a course with a defined follow-up point.
| What to expect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Session length | About 28 minutes |
| Clothing | Fully clothed, seated |
| Anesthesia or needles | None |
| Standard course | Six sessions, typically twice weekly for about three weeks |
| Downtime | None; same-day return to activity |
| Re-evaluation | Six to twelve weeks after the course |
| Maintenance | Every three to six months, if indicated |
Why EMSELLA is always paired with focused shockwave here
At Dynamic Athlete, EMSELLA is delivered as Dynamic Core+, which pairs EMSELLA’s HIFEM muscle contractions with focused shockwave in the same protocol. It is never administered alone. HIFEM addresses the neuromuscular side of pelvic floor and core weakness; focused shockwave is used for the surrounding connective-tissue and circulatory environment. Dynamic Athlete is the only clinic in Boulder offering this specific combination. Full detail on the protocol, candidacy, and the science behind it is on the EMSELLA therapy page, and the pelvic floor mechanics behind the approach are in our pelvic floor dysfunction guide.
What results look like, honestly
EMSELLA is not a permanent fix, and results vary from person to person. Whether it fits your case is a consultation question, not a claim made in advance.For pelvic floor and core patients specifically, that is measured against your starting symptoms and goals at your follow-up evaluation, not a generic benchmark.
If you are currently experiencing red-flag symptoms, blood in your urine, pelvic pain, fever, sudden-onset symptoms, or an inability to empty your bladder, those warrant prompt evaluation by a urologist or gynecologist rather than a pelvic floor strengthening consultation. Medically reviewed by Aneesh Garg, DO, CAQ, double board-certified in Sports Medicine and Internal Medicine. This article is educational and does not replace an individualized medical evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
What happens during an EMSELLA session near Boulder?
You sit fully clothed on the EMSELLA chair for about 28 minutes while high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology triggers approximately 11,200 supramaximal pelvic-floor contractions, far more than voluntary exercise can produce. There are no needles, no incisions, and no anesthesia. You can read, take a call, or simply relax through the session. There is no recovery time, and most patients return directly to their normal schedule, including athletic training, immediately afterward. At Dynamic Athlete, every session is part of the Dynamic Core+ protocol, which also includes focused shockwave.
Who is a good candidate for EMSELLA in Boulder?
Good candidates include postpartum patients returning to running, lifting, or sport; masters athletes managing stress or urge incontinence; men and women rebuilding core stability after injury or surgery; and anyone whose pelvic floor weakness is limiting bladder control or athletic performance. Dynamic Athlete treats the pelvic floor within a sports medicine and musculoskeletal framework, so candidacy also considers whether your symptoms connect to broader movement patterns or core instability. Candidacy is confirmed at a physician evaluation, not assumed from a phone call.
Who should not get EMSELLA?
EMSELLA is not appropriate for patients with pacemakers, defibrillators, or other implanted electronic devices in the treatment field; metal implants in the pelvic region; active pregnancy; or active malignancy in the pelvic region. An intrauterine device (IUD) is a relative contraindication evaluated case by case. A physician evaluation before scheduling determines whether any of these apply to you and, if so, discusses what that means for your options. This screening step happens before any session is booked, not after.
How many sessions does a full EMSELLA course involve?
A standard course is six sessions, typically scheduled twice weekly over about three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 28 minutes. A re-evaluation generally occurs six to twelve weeks after the course is complete to assess your response and determine whether maintenance is appropriate. When maintenance is indicated, sessions are usually spaced every three to six months depending on how your tissue responded and your ongoing goals, whether that is continence, core stability, or both. Session count is not fixed for every patient; it can be adjusted based on your evaluation, your starting symptoms, and your progress through the initial course.
Does EMSELLA work for men too?
Yes. EMSELLA treats the male pelvic floor, including bladder control concerns some men experience after prostate surgery, and general pelvic floor weakness affecting core stability or continence. The session format is identical for every patient: fully clothed, seated, about 28 minutes, no needles, and no downtime. There is no separate male protocol or reduced evaluation; whether EMSELLA fits your specific case is decided at a physician consultation with Aneesh Garg, DO, CAQ, the same screening process used regardless of sex, reviewing your history and any contraindications before scheduling.
Why is EMSELLA always paired with focused shockwave at Dynamic Athlete?
EMSELLA’s HIFEM technology addresses the neuromuscular side of pelvic floor and core weakness through thousands of involuntary contractions per session. On its own, it does not address the connective-tissue and circulatory environment surrounding those same muscles, which is a separate contributor to pelvic floor and core dysfunction. Dynamic Athlete pairs EMSELLA with focused shockwave in a single protocol called Dynamic Core+ specifically to treat both the muscular and connective-tissue sides together, rather than one in isolation. EMSELLA is never scheduled as a standalone treatment here, and Dynamic Athlete is the only clinic in Boulder offering this exact combination under one physician-directed protocol.
What do EMSELLA results look like, and how long do they last?
Results vary from person to person, and EMSELLA is not a permanent fix; ongoing maintenance sessions are common every three to six months depending on tissue response. Whether it will help your specific case is confirmed at a consultation, not promised in advance.
Do I still need to do Kegels if I get EMSELLA?
EMSELLA induces far more intense pelvic-floor contractions in a single session (about 11,200 supramaximal contractions in a 28-minute session) than voluntary Kegels can achieve, but simple exercises between sessions can help maintain awareness and activation once your course is complete. Think of EMSELLA as building the strength foundation and Kegels as helping maintain it afterward. Unlike Kegels, which depend on consistent, correct technique performed on your own, EMSELLA induces the contraction directly, which is part of why it can help patients who have struggled to get results from exercises alone.
If you would like a candidacy evaluation for the Dynamic Core+ protocol, request a consultation or call (303) 997-1733.