Supramax Pelvic Floor Chair in Norwich

What is the Supramax Pelvic Floor Chair?

The Supramax is an advanced electromagnetic pelvic-floor treatment. You simply sit comfortably on the specially designed chair while electromagnetic energy stimulates the pelvic-floor muscles, creating repeated, powerful contractions. Unlike traditional pelvic-floor exercises, where you consciously contract your muscles yourself, the chair creates involuntary contractions through electromagnetic stimulation. The aim is to help strengthen and condition the pelvic-floor muscles and improve their ability to contract and support the pelvic region.

A typical session takes around 30 minutes, and you remain fully clothed throughout. (Pure Tone Aesthetics)

There are:

• No injections
• No surgery
• No internal probes
• No anaesthetic
• No need to undress
• No downtime

You simply sit in the chair and allow the technology to stimulate the muscles.

How does Supramax work?

The Supramax uses focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate the pelvic-floor muscles.

During treatment, this produces repeated supramaximal contractions — contractions that are stronger and more numerous than most people can voluntarily achieve through pelvic-floor exercises alone.

The Supramax manufacturer states that a 30-minute treatment can produce approximately 10,000 supramaximal pelvic-floor contractions. (Pure Tone Aesthetics)

These repeated contractions are designed to exercise the pelvic-floor muscles, helping to improve muscle strength, tone and endurance over a course of treatment.

The treatment is therefore best thought of as an intensive form of pelvic-floor muscle stimulation rather than a quick “fix”.

As with any muscle-strengthening treatment, results vary between individuals and depend on the underlying cause of pelvic-floor weakness, your starting muscle function and your response to treatment.

What can the Supramax Chair help with?

The Supramax may be suitable for people experiencing symptoms associated with pelvic-floor weakness, including:

Urinary leakage

One of the most common reasons people seek pelvic-floor treatment is urinary leakage.

This may happen when you:

• Cough
• Sneeze
• Laugh
• Run
• Jump
• Exercise
• Lift something
• Experience sudden pressure on the bladder

This is often referred to as stress urinary incontinence. Pelvic-floor strengthening can form part of a wider approach to managing these symptoms.

Pelvic-floor weakness after childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth can place significant demands on the pelvic-floor muscles.

Some women notice:

• Urinary leakage
• Reduced pelvic-floor strength
• Difficulty controlling the bladder during exercise
• A feeling of weakness
• Changes in intimate function

The Supramax can be considered as part of a postnatal pelvic-floor strengthening programme once you have been appropriately assessed as suitable.

Menopause and pelvic-floor changes

Hormonal changes around menopause can be associated with changes to pelvic and urinary health. If you have noticed changes in bladder control or pelvic-floor strength during this stage of life, a pelvic-floor assessment can help determine which treatment or combination of approaches may be appropriate.

General pelvic-floor strengthening

You don’t necessarily have to wait until symptoms become significant before thinking about pelvic-floor health. Some patients are interested in strengthening and maintaining their pelvic-floor muscles as part of their overall wellbeing.

Men’s pelvic-floor health

Pelvic-floor problems are not exclusively a women’s issue. Men also have pelvic-floor muscles and can experience weakness, urinary leakage and reduced pelvic-floor control. Pelvic-floor strengthening may therefore be relevant for men as well as women, depending on individual circumstances.

Can Supramax help urinary incontinence?

Pelvic-floor strengthening can be helpful for some types of urinary incontinence, particularly where weakened pelvic-floor muscles are contributing to the problem.

However, urinary leakage has many possible causes.

This is important. A pelvic-floor chair should not be viewed as a substitute for medical assessment where symptoms are new, unexplained, severe or changing. At The Clinic, we want to understand what you are experiencing rather than simply putting you onto a machine. Your medical history, symptoms and suitability should be discussed before treatment. Where appropriate, we may recommend that you speak to your GP, pelvic-health physiotherapist or another relevant healthcare professional.

Is Supramax the same as doing pelvic-floor exercises?

No. Traditional pelvic-floor exercises involve consciously contracting and relaxing the pelvic-floor muscles yourself. The Supramax uses electromagnetic stimulation to create powerful involuntary contractions. This means the two approaches work differently. We do not see the Supramax as meaning you should stop doing pelvic-floor exercises. For many people, the best approach may involve combining professional pelvic-floor advice and exercises with appropriate treatment. The aim is to support pelvic-floor function rather than replace good pelvic-health habits.

What does the Supramax treatment feel like?

One of the biggest questions patients have is:

“Will it hurt?”

The treatment is generally described as a strong but manageable muscle contraction sensation. You remain seated throughout the treatment and the intensity can be adjusted according to your comfort and treatment stage. You may feel the pelvic-floor muscles contracting rhythmically. It can feel unusual initially because the muscles are being stimulated involuntarily, but you should not be expected to tolerate treatment that feels excessively uncomfortable. Your practitioner will guide you throughout the session.

What happens during a Supramax appointment?

Your appointment begins with a discussion about your concerns and what you would like to achieve.

We will discuss:

• Your symptoms
• Your medical history
• Your expectations
• Your treatment goals
• Whether Supramax is appropriate for you
• The expected benefits
• Possible side effects and risks
• Alternatives
• The likely treatment programme

If treatment is considered appropriate, you remain fully clothed and sit comfortably on the chair. The applicator stimulates the pelvic-floor muscles while you relax. The intensity is gradually adjusted according to your tolerance. A treatment takes approximately 30 minutes. Once the treatment is complete, you simply get up and continue with your day. There is generally no recovery period required. (Pure Tone Aesthetics)

How many Supramax treatments will I need?

Pelvic-floor strengthening is a process rather than a one-off event. A course of treatment is generally recommended when the aim is to achieve meaningful muscle conditioning. The exact number and frequency of sessions should be determined according to your individual circumstances, goals and response to treatment. Some clinics recommend approximately six sessions as an initial course, although treatment programmes vary. (Springwell Clinic) At The Clinic, we believe treatment should be individualised rather than automatically prescribing the same course to everybody. We will discuss your recommended treatment plan during your consultation.

When will I see results?

Everyone responds differently. Some people notice changes in pelvic-floor awareness or control during a course of treatment, while others may require more time. Muscle strengthening does not happen instantly. The aim is progressive improvement in muscle strength and function.

Your results can also depend on:

• Your starting pelvic-floor strength
• The cause of your symptoms
• Your age
• Hormonal changes
• Previous pregnancy and childbirth
• Your general health
• Whether you continue pelvic-floor exercises
• The severity and type of incontinence

We therefore prefer to talk about potential improvement rather than guaranteed results.

How long do Supramax results last?

Pelvic-floor muscles, like other muscles in the body, require ongoing use and conditioning. Results are not necessarily permanent after completing a course. Your practitioner can discuss whether maintenance treatments may be appropriate based on your individual response. Continuing pelvic-floor exercises and maintaining good pelvic-health habits may also be important in supporting longer-term results.

Is there any downtime?

One of the advantages of the Supramax Chair is that it is non-invasive and does not require a recovery period. You remain fully clothed throughout the treatment and can generally return to normal activities immediately afterwards (Pure Tone Aesthetics). There is no surgical recovery and no need to take time away from work or normal daily activities.

Is Supramax suitable for everyone?

No. Although the treatment is non-invasive, electromagnetic muscle stimulation is not suitable for everyone. A medical assessment is important before treatment. Certain implanted electronic devices and some metal implants may mean that electromagnetic treatment is inappropriate. Pregnancy and certain medical conditions may also require treatment to be postponed or avoided (Berkshire Aesthetics). This is why we ask you to complete a medical history and discuss your health with us before treatment.

Please always tell us about any implanted medical devices, implants, recent procedures, pregnancy, medical conditions or medication that may be relevant.

If we feel that Supramax is not appropriate, we will explain why and discuss alternative options where possible.

Are there any side effects?

Supramax is designed to be a non-invasive treatment, and most people tolerate the treatment well. You may experience temporary muscle fatigue, tenderness or an unusual sensation in the pelvic area following treatment as the muscles have been intensively stimulated. Your practitioner will explain the possible risks and side effects before treatment. If you experience anything unexpected or concerning following a treatment, contact the clinic for advice.

Supramax for women after childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth can have a significant impact on pelvic-floor function.

Some women experience leakage when returning to:

• Running
• Exercise
• Trampolining
• Lifting
• High-impact workouts

Others may simply feel that their pelvic floor is not as strong as it was before pregnancy. Pelvic-floor rehabilitation should be individualised after childbirth. Supramax may be one option for appropriate patients, but it should not replace a proper postnatal assessment where this is required.

Supramax and menopause

Menopause can bring changes to bladder, pelvic and sexual health. If you have noticed urinary leakage, urgency or reduced pelvic-floor strength, it is worth discussing these symptoms rather than assuming they are something you simply have to live with. A pelvic-floor assessment can help determine whether electromagnetic pelvic-floor stimulation is appropriate or whether another treatment or medical assessment would be more suitable.

Supramax for men

Pelvic-floor strengthening can also be relevant to men. Men may experience pelvic-floor weakness following certain procedures or as part of ageing and other health changes. Symptoms may include urinary leakage or difficulty controlling the pelvic floor. As with women, the underlying cause should be considered before treatment. Supramax should therefore be viewed as one potential part of a broader pelvic-health approach rather than a universal treatment for every urinary or sexual-health concern.

What are the advantages of the Supramax Chair?

Patients choose pelvic-floor chair treatment because it offers a combination of convenience, privacy and non-invasive muscle stimulation.

Fully clothed

There is no need to undress.

Non-invasive

There are no needles, injections or surgery.

Quick

Sessions are approximately 30 minutes.

No downtime

You can generally return to your normal routine immediately.

Hands-free

Once you are positioned correctly, the chair delivers the stimulation for you.

Suitable for men and women

Pelvic-floor weakness can affect everyone.

Supramax vs pelvic-floor exercises

The two approaches are not necessarily competitors. Pelvic-floor exercises are an important part of pelvic-health management and can be performed regularly at home. Supramax provides electromagnetic stimulation that produces repeated involuntary contractions during a treatment session. For some patients, combining professional pelvic-floor advice, exercises and an appropriate course of chair treatment may provide a more comprehensive approach. If you are unsure whether you are correctly engaging your pelvic-floor muscles, a pelvic-health physiotherapist can be particularly helpful.

What about pelvic-floor physiotherapy?

Pelvic-floor physiotherapy remains an important treatment option for pelvic-floor dysfunction.

A specialist pelvic-health physiotherapist can assess:

• Muscle strength
• Muscle coordination
• Relaxation
• Breathing patterns
• Pelvic-floor technique
• Bladder habits
• Bowel habits
• Postural factors
• Individual symptoms

For some people, physiotherapy may be the most appropriate first step. For others, Supramax may complement their existing pelvic-floor programme. The right approach depends on the individual.

Who may benefit from Supramax?

Supramax may be worth considering if you:

• Experience occasional urinary leakage
• Have noticed pelvic-floor weakness
• Have experienced pelvic-floor changes following childbirth
• Are experiencing pelvic-floor changes around menopause
• Want to support pelvic-floor strength
• Want a non-invasive treatment option
• Prefer a treatment where you remain fully clothed
• Are looking for a convenient alternative or complement to traditional exercises

A consultation is important before treatment to establish whether it is appropriate for you.

Who should seek medical advice first?

You should speak to your GP or appropriate healthcare professional if you have new, unexplained or worsening urinary symptoms, blood in the urine, significant pelvic pain, recurrent urinary infections or other symptoms that require medical investigation. Pelvic-floor treatment should not delay investigation of an underlying medical condition. At The Clinic, patient safety always comes before treatment.