The short answer: Modern pacemakers have become significantly more resistant to magnetic fields. Nevertheless, the manufacturer’s warning still applies to NAIPO massage chairs: not suitable for use by people with pacemakers. For other chairs, this issue should be discussed with a doctor beforehand. This article explains what matters in this regard.
Important safety notice: Not suitable for use by people with pacemakers.
Life isn’t easy for people with pacemakers.
Many household appliances, such as microwaves, washing machines or even mobile phones, contain built-in magnets and emit magnetic fields when in use, which could have a negative effect on people with pacemakers – or so one might think.
But what effect do massage chairs actually have on pacemakers?
In fact, modern pacemakers have become safer and more resistant to magnetic fields year on year.
As a result, most conventional household appliances, such as the microwave or washing machine mentioned above, now cause virtually no problems at all.
Nevertheless, there are certain devices from which people with pacemakers should keep a distance of a few centimetres or even avoid altogether.
But why is that, exactly?
Find out more below!
Table of contents
First of all: what is a pacemaker?
Measuring just a few centimetres in size, a pacemaker (abbreviated to HMS) is an ‘active implant’.
An ‘active implant’ is a device that is inserted into the body to partially or fully replace bodily functions that have failed, and which is powered by an electrical power source such as a battery.
Pacemakers are usually implanted beneath one of the two collarbones, either under the skin or within the chest muscle, and are directly connected to the heart.
The bodily function for which the pacemaker is used is the monitoring and stimulation of the heartbeat.
In other words: if the heart beats too slowly, the pacemaker delivers an electromagnetic pulse – effectively a mild shock – thereby forcing the heart to maintain its natural rhythmic beat.
A heart beating rhythmically ensures that oxygen and blood are pumped through the body at a steady rate.
If the heart beats too slowly due to an illness or injury, or if its function is impaired, this can lead to cardiac arrest and death as a result of the interruption to blood circulation.
A pacemaker is therefore vital for people with such an illness or injury, and those with a pacemaker implant are dependent on it functioning flawlessly and continuously.
However, strong magnetic fields can disrupt this vital function or even impair it significantly.
Interesting fact: How a pacemaker is implanted
How do magnetic fields affect pacemaker function?
Broadly speaking, a pacemaker consists of an electrode, a battery, a logic unit, a pulse generator and an ECG monitoring unit.
The electrode is the connection between the heart and the pacemaker.
Through this, electrical pulses – which are emitted with every heartbeat – are transmitted to the ECG measurement unit.
The measurement unit compiles the pulses into an electrocardiogram (ECG), and the logic unit uses the measured values to determine when the pulse generator should produce an electromagnetic pulse and how strong it needs to be.
Magnets generate electromagnetic fields which influence the flow of current.
These fields are invisible and penetrate everything – including the human body.
Electrical impulses generated during a heartbeat are also forms of electrical current and can therefore be influenced by magnetic fields.
In short: strong magnetic fields can distort the electrical impulses conducted from the heart to the HMS via the electrode, or introduce entirely new electrical signals.
This distorts the ECG generated by the measuring unit, and the logic unit either sends the wrong pulse to the pulse generator or, in the worst-case scenario, causes it to stop.
In this way, electromagnetic fields can interfere with the pacemaker’s ability to generate the correct pulse at the right moment.
How high are the risks nowadays?
Pacemakers have been in use for over 70 years now.
Since 2002, the number of people with pacemakers in Germany alone has more than doubled.
At the same time, technology has become vastly more accessible and practical over the last 20 years.
Modern electrical devices such as mobile phones and massage devices can be found in almost every household, and they all contain built-in magnets that generate magnetic fields when in use.
Nevertheless, despite the increase in the number of pacemaker patients and magnetic fields in everyday life, cases of pacemaker malfunction have fallen in recent years.
Modern MDS implants are high-tech.
In addition to the components mentioned above, a data storage unit and a programming unit are now also built into the ICD.
As a result, the ICD is not solely dependent on the measured ECG readings to generate the correct heart rate, but can, through intelligent programming based on previously measured and stored data, recognise when a new ECG has been affected by a magnetic field.
In such a case, the HMS switches to an automatic standard mode and forces the heart to beat at a regular rhythm until the wearer is once again outside the interfering magnetic field.
The transition to this mode is usually not even noticed by the HMS wearer.
The magnetic field in question therefore has no noticeable effect on the wearer’s well-being.
Another important advance is the design of the electrode, the most sensitive part of the pacemaker.
This is a process that is becoming more modern and advanced with each passing year. There are now models on the market that feature two electrodes, halving the risk of interference from magnetic fields.
Modern pacemakers with bipolar electrodes can withstand magnetic fields with a frequency of up to 650 Hz without experiencing any interference.
Most everyday electrical devices are therefore harmless, provided they are not placed too close to or directly on the pacemaker whilst in use.
As a general rule: the closer the source of the magnetic field is to the pacemaker, the stronger the field and the higher the risk of interference.
Electrical appliances in Germany are therefore subject to strict regulations and guidelines regarding the permitted strength of the magnetic field they generate.
Not least because extremely strong magnetic fields also pose a health risk to people without pacemakers.
So what is the connection with massage chairs?
Massage chairs, like any other modern electrical appliance, also have built-in magnets.
In addition, various extra features such as surround-sound speakers, built-in tablets and more generate their own small magnetic fields.
So, anyone using a massage chair is lying within these various magnetic fields – often for more than half an hour.
For the average user, massage chairs are completely harmless.
But how dangerous could this be for people with HMS?
Knowledge is power. In this case: knowledge is caution.
In most cases, these wellness devices are also safe for people with HMS.
Although massage chairs are electrically powered, they are usually designed so that the motor – the source of the magnetic field – is located deeper within the internal mechanism and not directly beneath the seat upholstery.
The smaller magnetic fields generated by the various luxury features are not strong enough to cause interference with the HMS.
However, when assessing the risk, much also depends on the type of pacemaker the wearer has.
The sensitivity of a pacemaker is often individual and is adjusted by the cardiologist as required.
Some wearers need to use their HMS functions more frequently than others and are more susceptible to magnetic interference – even if they have the same model implanted.
It is absolutely essential for a wearer to know what type of pacemaker has been implanted and how sensitive it has been set.
Every pacemaker wearer should carry a pacemaker ID card containing important information and should consult their cardiologist about the tolerable limits for their specific pacemaker.
It is also advisable to carry a magnetic field meter to measure the strength of any magnetic fields present.
Conclusion
Modern pacemakers are well shielded against magnetic fields. Nevertheless, the manufacturer’s warning applies to NAIPO massage chairs: not for use by people with pacemakers.
Nevertheless, please note: none of the information presented here is intended as a substitute for or alternative to advice from doctors or therapists.
Please consult your doctor to find out whether you can use your pacemaker whilst using a massage chair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a NAIPO massage chair if I have a pacemaker?
No. The manufacturer’s warning applies to NAIPO massage chairs: not for use by people with pacemakers. This also applies to modern pacemakers.
Why can magnetic fields interfere with a pacemaker?
Strong magnetic fields can distort the electrical impulses travelling from the heart to the pacemaker via the electrode. This distorts the ECG signal within the device and, in the worst-case scenario, can cause the pulse to stop. Modern pacemakers often detect such interference and switch to a standard mode.
Who should I ask to find out if another massage device is suitable for me?
Your cardiologist. They will know the type and settings of your pacemaker, as well as the limits that apply to you. The most important details are also set out in your pacemaker card.
Sources
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1206-4887
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0028-1104156
Related articles: Can a massage chair replace a massage?, Shiatsu Massage Guide and What is a deep tissue massage?.
Written by NAIPO Editorial Team · Massage & Product Experts from Hamburg
Product experts, service technicians, and massage enthusiasts at Alsterwell GmbH — specializing in massage technology for over a decade, with our own workshop and showrooms for test sitting.
Fact-checked by David Eberst · Co-founder of NAIPO
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