Circulate Wellness. Live Energized.
Experience the Rejuvenating Power of Counterpulsation Therapy
At Emma Clare Med Spa, your wellness is our priority. Our trained specialists provide personalized care in a comfortable, spa-like setting. We combine medical precision with holistic rejuvenation—ensuring each session is tailored to support your unique goals.
At Emma Clare Med Spa, we offer Counterpulsation Therapy, a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that improves cardiovascular function, enhances circulation, and supports whole-body vitality. Ideal for boosting energy, heart health, and recovery, this therapy is a powerful tool for proactive wellness.
What Is Counterpulsation Therapy?
Also known as Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP), this therapy uses inflatable cuffs on the legs that gently compress in sync with your heartbeat. This promotes better blood flow to the heart, improves oxygen delivery, and reduces cardiac workload—naturally enhancing your overall circulation and well-being.
Counterpulsation Therapy
Evidence-Based Cardiac Treatment with Global Clinical Validation
Counterpulsation therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that was first developed at Harvard University in the United States during the 1950s. In the U.S., it has been approved for the treatment of cardiac disease since 1995, and the therapy was later introduced in the United Kingdom in 2004, with specialized treatment centers established in Bradford and Wimbledon. Over the past 27 years, the benefits of counterpulsation therapy have been supported by numerous clinical studies published in leading medical journals worldwide, confirming its safety and effectiveness.
Emmaclare in Houston offers advanced Counterpulsation Therapy as part of a comprehensive, non-invasive approach to cardiovascular and overall wellness care. In addition to its well-established role in supporting heart health, recent research has identified broader therapeutic benefits, including enhanced sports recovery and performance, as well as physical and psychological benefits in otherwise healthy individuals. The length of therapy is personalized and depends on the primary indication and individual health goals.
External Counterpulsation (ECP) works by improving circulation within the heart muscle. The therapy helps open existing blood vessels and promotes the growth of new blood vessels in areas of the heart that are not receiving sufficient blood flow. It also stimulates the release of naturally occurring compounds that help reduce inflammation throughout the body, supporting improved cardiovascular function and overall systemic health.
25+ Years Of Experience
How It Works
The Physiological Mechanism Behind Counterpulsation Therapy
During counterpulsation therapy, the heart’s electrical activity (ECG) is continuously monitored using electrodes placed on the chest, while blood vessel pressure is measured through a comfortable finger probe. This real-time monitoring ensures accurate timing and safety throughout each treatment session at EMMACLARE in Stafford, serving patients from Sugar Land, Richmond, and the Greater Houston area.
When the heart enters its relaxation and filling phase (diastole), a series of specialized cuffs gently and rapidly inflate in sequence—starting from the calves, moving to the thighs, and then the buttocks. This coordinated inflation temporarily reverses blood flow within the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart. As a result, both the volume and speed of blood flow to the coronary arteries are significantly increased.
The coronary arteries run along the surface of the heart and supply vital oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. When these arteries become narrowed or blocked, they can lead to chest pain (angina) or heart attacks. By enhancing circulation, counterpulsation therapy helps improve oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, supporting better cardiac function.
Over time, the increased blood flow encourages the opening of small blood vessels within the heart muscle, known as collateral vessels, and promotes the development of new blood vessels through angiogenesis. These natural adaptations help improve long-term circulation, even in areas of the heart that previously received limited blood supply.
Counterpulsation therapy also supports favorable changes in key blood-borne compounds that are essential for maintaining the health of the endothelium, the delicate inner lining of all blood vessels. This contributes to reduced inflammation, improved vascular function, and overall cardiovascular wellness.
Importantly, the benefits of counterpulsation therapy often extend well beyond the treatment period. Many patients treated at EMMACLARE continue to experience lasting improvements in circulation, heart health, and overall well-being for months or even years after completing therapy.
Side effects
Counterpulsation therapy has very few side effects.
It takes time during the first session to acclimatize to the rhythmic squeezing of the cuffs, and the therapist will gradually increase the pressure until the treatment level is reached. Rarely, in the first few days after treatment, cardiac patients may experience a change or an increase in chest pain. Any change will be discussed with the cardiologist, and appropriate action will be taken. Clients who have not exercised for a long time sometimes experience aching muscles in the first week of treatment. This is similar to starting any new form
of exercise.
What other benefits can counterpulsation therapy offer?
Energy and vitality:
it is a powerful form of exercise for the whole body, similar to a hard work out at a gym, but achieved whilst lying down at rest. It enables vigorous exercise even in individuals who are unable to exercise due to symptoms or disability.
Weight loss:
it can support weight loss by improving wellbeing and physical fitness, enabling individuals to take more regular exercise.
Depression:
depression is a common condition and varies in severity. It is not commonly appreciated that there is a strong association between depression and heart disease Middle aged women with depression or Bipolar disorder have a fourfold increased risk of developing coronary disease. Recently published studies from Denmark and China have shown that counterpulsation therapy leads to a significant long term reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Erectile Dysfunction:
it improves blood flow to the penis and is an effective non-drug, non-surgical alternative for erectile problems. Results vary depending on the underlying cause of the problem.
Sports recovery and performance:
it can speed the time to recovery after exercise and after injury and it has been shown to improve power output, even after very short treatment times.
Diabetes:
blood sugar levels improve with counterpulsation therapy and in many cases insulin requirements fall.
Inflammation:
it leads to a rapid reduction in markers of inflammation in the body and can be beneficial in chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Lupus.
Vision and Voice:
individuals who have had therapy often report an improvement in their vision. Professional singers have reported improvements in both vocal range and voice quality.
Skin:
blood flow and oxygen deliver to the skin are enhanced, some chronic skin conditions can improve following treatment.
Counterpulsation
Statement of purpose
Aims
To promote cardiac health via External Counterpulsation,( ECP) an innovative outpatient treatment which improves cardiac blood flow.
ECP is FDA and European Society of cardiology level 2a approved
To provide a high standard of individualized care, in a friendly and professional environment, taking in to account patient preference, age, gender, religious views and cultural diversities.
All clients have a pre treatment personalized screening programme to determine their suitability.
To improve the quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic stable angina.
The service is designed and supervised by consultant cardiologists to ensure that all service users receive care that is appropriate and safe.
To treat other forms of cardiac disease which are deemed suitable for ECP by a consultant cardiologist.
To offer ECP to non cardiac wellness clients who wish to improve their general health and wellbeing.
Appropriate individualized health screening will be undertaken prior to treatment commencing.
ECP can also be used to aid sportsmen and women as part of a training programme. Pre treatment screening is required.
Our Objectives
- To develop the understanding and use of ECP in cardiac patients.
- To offer ECP to clients who wish to improve their health and wellness.
- To involve our clients by seeking their views on all aspects of how we run our service and respond by making improvements that reflect their observations and suggestions.
- To constantly strive to improve the quality of the services we provide.
- To ensure that the delivery of our services is understood and accessible to all clients, irrespective of cultural and ethnic diversity and disability.
- To demonstrate excellent clinical governance.