Massage & massage chair despite a pacemaker?

The short answer: Modern pacemakers have become significantly more resistant to magnetic fields. Nevertheless, using a massage chair with a pacemaker should always be discussed with a doctor beforehand. This article explains what's important to consider.

Many household appliances like microwaves, washing machines, or even cell phones have built-in magnets and emit magnetic fields during use, which could negatively affect 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 after year.

Most conventional household appliances, such as the aforementioned microwave or washing machine, now cause almost no problems.

Nevertheless, there are certain devices that people with pacemakers should keep a few centimeters away from or even avoid entirely.

But why is that?

Find out more below!

First: What is a pacemaker?

Only a few centimeters in size, a pacemaker (abbreviated: PM) is an "active implant."

An "active implant" is a device inserted into the body that replaces partially or completely failed bodily functions and is powered by an electrical power source, such as a battery.

Pacemakers are usually implanted under the skin below one of the collarbones or in the pectoral muscle and are directly connected to the heart.

The bodily function for which the pacemaker is used is the monitoring and stimulation of heart activity.

This means: If the heart beats too slowly, the PM delivers an electromagnetic pulse – essentially a slight shock – forcing the heart to maintain its natural rhythmic beat.

A rhythmically beating heart ensures that oxygen and blood are pumped through the body at a steady pace.

If the heart beats too slowly due to illness or injury, or if its function is impaired, cardiac arrest and death can result from the interruption of blood circulation.

A pacemaker is therefore vital for people with such an illness or injury, and individuals with a PM implant depend on its flawless and continuous function.

However, strong magnetic fields can disturb or even significantly impair this vital function.

Interesting: How a pacemaker is implanted

How do magnetic fields affect pacemaker function?

A pacemaker generally consists of an electrode, a battery, a logic unit, a pulse generator, and an ECG measuring unit.

The electrode is the connection point between the heart and the pacemaker.

Through it, electrical impulses, which are emitted with each heartbeat, are transmitted to the ECG measuring unit.

The measuring unit compiles the impulses into an electrocardiogram (ECG), and the logic unit determines, based on the measurements, when an electromagnetic pulse should be generated by the pulse generator and how strong it needs to be.

Magnets generate electromagnetic fields that influence the flow of electricity.

These fields are invisible and penetrate everything – including the human body.

Electrical impulses generated during a heartbeat are also electric currents and can therefore be influenced by magnetic fields.

In short: strong magnetic fields can distort electrical impulses transmitted from the heart to the PM via the electrode, or even add entirely new electrical signals.

This falsifies the ECG created by the measuring unit, and the logic unit either dictates the wrong pulse to the pulse generator or, in the worst case, switches it off.

Electromagnetic fields can thus interfere with the pacemaker's ability to generate the correct pulse at the right moment.

How high are the risks nowadays?

Pacemakers have been around 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 exponentially more accessible and practical in the last 20 years.

Modern electrical devices like cell phones or massage devices are found in almost every household, and all of them have built-in magnets that generate magnetic fields during use.

Nevertheless, despite the increase in PM patients and magnetic fields in everyday life, cases of PM malfunction have decreased in recent years.

Modern PM implants are high-tech.

In addition to the components mentioned above, a data storage unit and a programming unit are now built into the PM.

This means the PM does not rely exclusively on measured ECG values to generate the correct pulse but can use clever programming based on previously measured and stored data to recognize when a new ECG has been influenced by a magnetic field.

In such a case, the PM switches to an automatic standard mode and forces the heart to beat at a regular rhythm until the wearer is outside the interfering magnetic field again.

The transition to such a mode is usually not even noticed by the PM wearer.

The magnetic field in question thus 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 process is becoming more modern and advanced year by year. Models are now on the market that have 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 interference.

Most everyday electrical devices are therefore harmless, provided they are not too close to or directly on the pacemaker during use.

Generally, the closer the source of the magnetic field is to the pacemaker, the stronger the field and the higher the risk of interference.

Electrical devices in Germany are therefore subject to strict regulations and requirements regarding the permissible strength of the generated magnetic field.

Not least because extremely strong magnetic fields also pose a health risk for people without pacemakers.

What is the connection to massage chairs?

Like any other modern electrical appliance, massage chairs also have built-in magnets.

In addition, various extra features such as surround sound speakers, mounted tablets, and more create their own small magnetic fields.

Someone using a massage chair is thus subjecting themselves to these various magnetic fields - often for more than half an hour.

For the average user, massage chairs are completely safe.

But how dangerous can this be for pacemaker wearers?

Knowledge is power. In this case: Knowledge is caution.

In most cases, these wellness devices are also safe for PM wearers.

While massage chairs are electrically powered, they are usually designed so that the motor – the source of the magnetic field – is deeper within the internal mechanism and not directly under the seat padding.

The smaller magnetic fields generated by the various luxury features are not strong enough to cause PM interference.

However, much of a risk assessment also depends on the wearer's PM type.

The sensitivity of a pacemaker is often individual and set by the cardiologist according to need.

Some wearers need to use their PM's functions more often than others and are more susceptible to magnetic interference – even if wearers have the same model implanted.

It is absolutely important for a wearer to know what type of PM is implanted and how sensitively it has been set.

Every PM wearer should have a pacemaker ID card containing important information and consult their cardiologist about the tolerable limits of their personal pacemaker.

It is also advisable to carry a magnetic field meter to measure the strength of existing magnetic fields.

Conclusion

Generally, one should be able to use a massage chair with a modern pacemaker.

Nevertheless, please note: All information presented here is not intended as a substitute or alternative to information from doctors or therapists.

Please consult your doctor to determine if you can use your pacemaker with a massage chair.

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 topics: Can a massage chair replace a massage?, Shiatsu Massage Guide and What is a Deep Tissue Massage?.