High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Energy (HIFEM) Therapy

Strengthen, Retrain, and Support Your Pelvic Floor

High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Energy, commonly referred to as HIFEM, is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate muscles and nerves.

For pelvic floor rehabilitation, you remain comfortably seated and fully clothed while the HIFEM Chair produces repeated pelvic floor muscle contractions. These contractions are designed to help strengthen weakened pelvic floor muscles, improve neuromuscular control, and support better pelvic function.

FDA-cleared HIFEM chair technology is indicated for non-invasive stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles for rehabilitation of weak pelvic muscles and restoration of neuromuscular control in the treatment of male and female urinary incontinence. 

What HIFEM Chair Therapy May Help With

HIFEM Chair Therapy may be incorporated into a pelvic health treatment program for appropriate patients experiencing:

• Urinary leakage
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Urinary urgency or frequency
• Pelvic floor muscle weakness
• Reduced pelvic floor muscle control
• Postpartum pelvic floor weakness
• Pelvic floor deconditioning
• Reduced pelvic stability

Because pelvic symptoms can have different causes, treatment begins with an evaluation to determine whether HIFEM Therapy is appropriate for your individual needs.

How HIFEM Works

During treatment, high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy stimulates the nerves and muscles of the pelvic floor, producing repeated muscle contractions without the need for internal probes or manual activation.

These contractions may help:

Activate
Recruit pelvic floor muscles that may be weak or difficult to contract voluntarily.

Strengthen
Improve pelvic floor muscle strength and neuromuscular control.

Support
Help improve muscular support of the bladder, pelvis, and surrounding structures.

Retrain
Assist the nervous system and pelvic floor muscles in working together more effectively.

The “10,000 Kegels” Claim

The manufacturer markets a typical HIFEM Chair treatment session as producing the equivalent of approximately 10,000 Kegel-like pelvic floor contractions.

This is a manufacturer marketing claim and not a universally verified clinical equivalence. Individual results vary.

What Does Treatment Feel Like?

You remain fully clothed and comfortably seated during treatment.

Patients generally feel repeated pelvic floor muscle contractions along with a pulsing or tingling sensation. Treatment intensity can be adjusted according to your comfort and tolerance.

There are:

• No needles
• No internal probes
• No downtime
• No restrictions after each treatment session

You can return to your normal daily activities immediately afterward.

Treatment Schedule

Treatment starts with six sessions, scheduled one to two times per week.

Your physical therapist will monitor your response throughout the treatment series and may make additional recommendations based on your symptoms, pelvic floor function, and overall goals.

When Might I Notice Improvement?

Response varies from person to person.

Some patients may begin noticing changes during their treatment series, while others may experience improvement gradually afterward.

Results can depend on factors including the cause and severity of symptoms, pelvic floor muscle function, medical history, and participation in the overall rehabilitation program.

Individual results vary, and specific results cannot be guaranteed.

Urinary Health, Pelvic Floor Function & Sexual Wellness

Clinical research has reported meaningful improvements in urinary symptoms following HIFEM pelvic floor treatment.

Research has also reported improvements in certain aspects of sexual function among some patients undergoing pelvic floor rehabilitation. These findings reinforce the important role the pelvic floor plays beyond bladder control.

Healthy pelvic floor muscles contribute to:

• Urinary control
• Pelvic stability
• Sexual function
• Bowel function
• Core support
• Coordination with the abdominal and hip muscles
• Comfort during movement and everyday activities

By helping strengthen and retrain the pelvic floor muscles, HIFEM Therapy may support improved pelvic function as part of an individualized rehabilitation program.

Individual results vary. Improvement in sexual function is not guaranteed.

HIFEM Therapy for Women

HIFEM Therapy may be considered as part of pelvic floor rehabilitation for women experiencing:

• Urinary leakage
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Pelvic floor weakness
• Postpartum pelvic floor changes
• Reduced pelvic floor muscle control
• Pelvic floor deconditioning

Depending on your individual needs, HIFEM may be combined with:

• Pelvic floor muscle training
• Core rehabilitation
• Breathing and pressure-management strategies
• Manual therapy
• Movement retraining
• Bladder and bowel education
• Home exercise

HIFEM Therapy for Men

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is also important for men.

HIFEM Therapy may be considered for appropriate male patients experiencing urinary leakage, pelvic floor weakness, or reduced pelvic floor muscle control, including some individuals recovering from prostate-related procedures.

A pelvic health evaluation helps determine whether HIFEM Therapy or another treatment approach is appropriate for your individual condition and goals.

HIFEM Therapy for Pain Relief

This electromagnetic therapy system is also FDA-cleared for peripheral nerve stimulation for relief of:

• Chronic intractable pain
• Post-traumatic pain
• Post-surgical pain
• Chronic painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities

The FDA-cleared pain indication applies to adults age 18 and older. 

Treatment recommendations are based on your condition, medical history, symptoms, and physical therapy evaluation.

FDA-Cleared Rehabilitation Applications

Electromagnetic muscle-stimulation technology may also be used for rehabilitation applications including:

• Relaxation of muscle spasms
• Maintaining or increasing range of motion
• Muscle re-education
• Prevention or retardation of disuse atrophy
• Increasing local blood circulation
• Immediate post-surgical stimulation of calf muscles to help prevent venous thrombosis

These are established FDA-recognized indications for powered muscle stimulation used as an adjunct to rehabilitation. 

HIFEM + Physical Therapy

At Spine & Pelvic Physical Therapy, we do not view technology as a replacement for individualized physical therapy.

HIFEM Therapy may be incorporated into a broader rehabilitation program that can include:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Pelvic floor muscle training
• Strengthening
• Mobility and range-of-motion training
• Muscle re-education
• Manual therapy
• Movement retraining
• Bladder and bowel strategies
• Core rehabilitation
• Patient education
• Home exercise programs

Our goal is not simply to stimulate muscles during a treatment session.

Our goal is to help you improve control, strength, mobility, confidence, function, and overall quality of life outside of the clinic.

Is HIFEM Therapy Right for Everyone?

Not necessarily.

Electromagnetic stimulation may not be appropriate for certain patients, including people with some implanted electronic devices, certain metal implants near the treatment area, pregnancy, or other medical conditions.

Your physical therapist will review your medical history and screen for potential contraindications before treatment begins.

Ready to Learn More?

Whether you are experiencing urinary leakage, pelvic floor weakness, changes in pelvic function, chronic pain, or another appropriate rehabilitation condition, our team can evaluate your needs and determine whether HIFEM Therapy should be part of your treatment plan.

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