EmSella pelvic floor treatment in Littlehampton
If you leak when you cough, sneeze or exercise, feel sudden urgency, or have been told you have a weak pelvic floor after childbirth or prostate treatment, you can now have EmSella chair treatment in Littlehampton — not only in Chichester. At Littlehampton Natural Health Centre, sessions are led by Amelia Altenburger, an HCPC-registered physiotherapist with extra pelvic-floor training (Mummy MOT and POGP). You remain fully clothed. A typical appointment is 30 minutes. EmSella is not a substitute for assessment: we will first check whether the chair, hands-on pelvic floor physiotherapy, or a combination is appropriate.
Book a free preliminary telephone consultation or call 01903 734373.
Who EmSella may help
People visit us from Littlehampton, Rustington, East Preston, Angmering, Arundel, Bognor Regis, Yapton and Worthing with symptoms such as:
- Stress urinary incontinence (leaking with a cough, laugh, sneeze or run)
- Urgency or going to the toilet more often than feels normal
- Pelvic-floor weakness after pregnancy or birth
- Pelvic-floor changes around menopause
- Leakage or control problems after prostate surgery (post-prostatectomy)
- Some men with mild erectile difficulties that may relate to pelvic-floor muscle function
- A wish to strengthen the pelvic floor when Kegel exercises have been hard to do well
EmSella is not automatically right for pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, or every type of bladder problem. Overactive or tight pelvic-floor muscles often need physiotherapy first, not more contraction. That is why a consultation with Amelia comes before a course of chair sessions. If you need a full clinical assessment, including the option of an internal examination (always with consent), see pelvic floor physiotherapy in Littlehampton.
What EmSella is (and what it is not)
The BTL EmSella chair is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to make the pelvic-floor muscles contract and relax while you sit, fully clothed, on the chair. The manufacturer describes a 30-minute session as producing thousands of supramaximal contractions — often summarised as “equivalent to 11,000 Kegels”. That figure is a manufacturer comparison, not a promise that one visit will match months of supervised physiotherapy.
EmSella can be useful when you struggle to find or load the pelvic floor yourself, want a clothed option with no internal examination during the chair session, and have been assessed as having weakness rather than an untreated medical cause.
EmSella is not: surgery, a diagnosis, a weight-loss treatment, or a guarantee of dryness. It does not replace your GP, continence nurse or urogynaecology team if you have red-flag symptoms (blood in urine, unexplained pelvic masses, sudden severe pain, new neurological symptoms, or recurrent infections).
EmSella vs pelvic floor physiotherapy
| EmSella chair | Pelvic floor physiotherapy | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | You sit clothed on the chair for about 30 minutes | History, examination (external; internal only with consent), education, exercise, manual therapy |
| Best for | Building contractile strength when muscles are weak and you can tolerate electromagnetic treatment | Finding why you leak or have pain; teaching technique; prolapse advice; postnatal check; tight/painful floor |
| Undressing | No | Sometimes, for examination |
| Typical course | Phased sessions (see below), then maintenance | Individual plan; often home exercise between visits |
| At this clinic | Booked as EmSella with Amelia | Booked as pelvic floor physiotherapy with Amelia |
Many patients do both: physiotherapy to assess and coach, EmSella to load the muscle. We will not sell a 12-pack before a conversation.
What happens at Littlehampton Natural Health Centre
1. Free preliminary telephone consultation
A short call with Amelia to see whether EmSella is even in the right territory. Complete the online questionnaire beforehand if you can.
2. Initial consultation (£45 in person or by telephone)
Symptoms, history, medications, previous surgery, and your goals. You should leave with a recommended plan — chair, physiotherapy, both, or a GP/NHS referral.
3. Chair sessions
You sit on the padded seat. Intensity is adjustable (the clinic describes a 0–100 dial). Sensation is usually strong pulsing or buzzing in the pelvic floor, not sharp pain. Wear comfortable clothes. You can normally drive and return to the day afterwards.
4. Review
Progress is reviewed (listed at £25 on the price list). Plans are then stepped down or changed.
Typical course (guide, not a protocol)
Taken from the clinic’s current explanation of phases — Amelia will individualise this:
- Phase 1 — strengthen: often around 6 sessions over about 3 weeks (commonly twice a week).
- Phase 2 — settle the gains: fewer sessions, sometimes weekly or fortnightly for a handful of visits.
- Phase 3 — maintenance: some people continue a few times a year (the site describes up to 4 sessions a year for many patients).
Published EmSella research and manufacturer materials report that a proportion of patients notice less leakage and better quality-of-life scores. Your result depends on the type of incontinence, how well you attend, and whether other issues (prolapse, infection, medication, constipation) are addressed. We will not tell you that one session “cures” incontinence.
Fees
- Preliminary telephone consultation: Free
- Initial consultation (in person or telephone): £45
- EmSella treatment: £80 per session
- Maintenance plan (annual review included): £66 per session
- EmSella 6 plan (reviews included): £396
- EmSella 12 plan (reviews included): £792
- Review with Amelia: £25
Book online or call reception on 01903 734373. Full list: Price list.
Who you will see
Amelia Altenburger is an MSK and pelvic floor physiotherapist at the clinic. She graduated from the University of Chichester with a BSc in Physiotherapy, is HCPC-registered, and has completed additional pelvic-floor training with Mummy MOT and POGP. Read more on Amelia’s profile.
Who should not sit on the chair without a clinical check
EmSella is not suitable for everyone. Suitability is checked in the consultation. If you are pregnant, or you have an implanted electronic device, please tell Amelia before booking. Always bring a list of implants and medications.
Local clinic details
Littlehampton Natural Health Centre, 10C Granville Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5JU. Free on-street parking around the clinic. Open Monday to Friday (closed for lunch; see contact for exact hours). We regularly see patients from Rustington, East Preston, Ferring, Angmering, Arundel, Bognor Regis, Felpham and Worthing who would rather not travel to Chichester for every session.
Frequently asked questions
Does EmSella hurt?
Most people feel strong, repetitive pelvic-floor contractions, not sharp pain. You control intensity on the device. Tell Amelia if anything feels wrong.
How long is a session?
Chair time is typically 30 minutes. Allow a little extra for arrival; the clinic asks patients to arrive early.
Will I have to undress?
No. Chair sessions are fully clothed. Wear comfortable clothing.
How soon might I notice a change?
Some people notice a difference after a few sessions; others need the full first phase before they judge. Research summaries used by the manufacturer report quality-of-life and leakage improvements in a majority of studied patients. That is not a guarantee for you.
Can men have EmSella?
Yes, after assessment. It is sometimes used for leakage after prostate surgery and for selected pelvic-floor-related symptoms. It is not a stand-alone treatment for all erectile dysfunction.
Can I have EmSella if I also need physiotherapy?
Yes. Many people should. If your pelvic floor is tight, painful, or you cannot coordinate a contraction, start with pelvic floor physiotherapy.
Is it available on the NHS?
EmSella chair treatment is not typically an NHS offering locally. NHS pelvic health physiotherapy is available via GP or self-referral in Sussex; we can discuss when that is the better first step.
Are the 95% / 75% figures your clinic’s results?
No. Those figures, used in manufacturer and some clinic materials, come from published EmSella research and marketing summaries. Ask us which papers we rely on. We do not publish unverified in-house cure rates.
Can I book a course without a consultation?
No. Use the free preliminary call or the £45 consultation first so we do not treat the wrong problem.
What if I am postnatal?
You are welcome, once you have had your GP postnatal check and Amelia has screened you. A Mummy MOT physiotherapy assessment is often the better first appointment if you also have tummy-gap, scar or back-pain concerns.
Do I need to do Kegels at home as well?
Often yes — if they are the right exercise for you. Wrong or bracing Kegels can worsen tightness. We will tell you whether to add home practice.
Is there downtime?
There is normally no recovery period. You may feel tiredness in the pelvic floor, similar to a gym session.
Book
- Free preliminary call: JaneApp treatment 310
- Consultation: JaneApp treatment 309
- Reception: 01903 734373 · reception@lnhc.co.uk
Reviewed by Amelia Altenburger, HCPC-registered physiotherapist, August 2026. Information only; not a personal diagnosis.