Some muscles are hard to activate on your own – whether that’s your pelvic floor, or a muscle that’s switched off after surgery or injury. Our FMS (Functional Magnetic Stimulation) technology uses two tools, the Tesla Chair and targeted stimulation Tesla Former, to help reconnect your brain and muscles and kick-start activation when your body needs a little extra help.
What Is FMS?
Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) uses pulsed magnetic energy to activate the nerves that control your muscles, triggering deep, involuntary contractions – the kind that can be difficult to achieve through effort or exercise alone. It’s non-invasive, requires no needles or medication, and works straight through clothing.
We use two forms of FMS in clinic, each suited to a different need.
Most treatment plans include 6 – 12 sessions, spaced over a few weeks. Many clients begin to feel improvement after just a few sessions, with full results developing over time as muscle tone and neuromuscular control improve.
The Tesla Chair
The Tesla Chair is a seated device that targets the pelvic floor and core. You simply sit down, fully clothed, while the chair delivers repeated pelvic floor muscle contractions – a single 30 minute session can produce the equivalent of tens of thousand of contractions, helping to retrain and restore muscle function efficiently and comfortably.
Why choose it: The pelvic floor is notoriously hard to activate correctly through exercise alone. The Tesla Chair removes that guesswork, activating the pelvic floor directly and consistently.
Who it’s for:
- Urinary incontinence (stress, urge, or mixed)
- Pelvic floor weakness
- Postpartum muscle recovery
- Lower back instability
- Chronic pelvic discomfort
- Enhanced sexual wellness for both men and woman
What to expect: You’ll sit comfortably in the chair, fully clothed, for a session with one of our clinicians. You’ll feel a tapping or pulsing sensation as the muscles contract – it’s not painful, and intensity is adjusted to your comfort.
Tesla Former
Tesla Former deliver the same FMS technology but can be applied to any muscle group – quads, glutes, back, abdomen, arms – making them the tool we use for targeted rehab after surgery or injury.
Why choose it: After surgery or injury, certain muscles can become inhibited or “switch off,” even once pain has settled. This is a normal part of recovery, but it can slow your progress. The Tesla former allow us to isolate and reactivate a specific muscle as part of your broader rehab plan.
Who it’s for:
- Recovering from surgery (e.g. muscle inhibition after joint replacement or ligament repair)
- Recovering from an injury
- Experiencing muscle weakness or difficulty activating a specific muscle
- Working with your physiotherapist on a targeted strengthening plan
What to expect: The Tesla former are placed over the target muscle, on top of clothing, during your session with one of our clinicians. You’ll feel the muscle contracting involuntarily again, not painful, with intensity guided by your comfort.
Is it Painful?
Not at all. The procedure is completely non-invasive and pain-free. Most clients describe a strong but tolerable tapping sensation.
Ready to Get Started
Whether you’re managing bladder leakage, recovering from surgery, or working through an injury, FMS therapy can help get the right muscles working again. You can book in to see our physiotherapist directly (e.g. without a referral from your general practitioner) for both private and ACC-related injuries.