Can You Use A Massage Chair Or Recliner With A Pacemaker?

Disclaimer: We cannot in any way guarantee, advise or recommend that our massage chairs will or will not adversely affect the function of heart pacemakers or other medical implant devices. It is always best to consult with your doctor & pacemaker manufacturer and recieve clearance before using a massage chair, recliner and other similar products.

Do you have a pacemaker and are interested in using a massage chair? Wondering whether it is safe or not to use a massage chair? The answer to this question is unfortunately not a straight up yes or no. Simply put, you have to be well informed about the risk, and how small this risk is to be able to make a decision yourself.

Chat with us or call 888-612-8862 and we'll recommend a chair that's a good fit for you in terms of strength, fit (your height/weight), price range and other important factors.

What could happen to the pacemaker?

First of all, if you have a pacemaker, you should understand that the tiny battery-operated device controlling your heart’s rhythm can be affected by interferences from electromagnetic devices or any electronic device that produces a strong enough magnetic field.

However, though such interferences might weaken your pacemaker’s signal, it takes a significantly strong magnetic field to cause problematic disruptions such as loss of signals or complete shutdowns. In short, not everything electronic should automatically be considered dangerous to a pacemaker.

So, the question is, do massage chairs use magnets?

Yes, for a variety of reasons. Magnets in massage chairs are used for the moving parts underneath the cushions. They help coordinate changes and establish smooth movements in patterns. In fact, in some more advanced massage chair models, magnets are even utilized in magnetic therapies to help relieve pain and improve the flow of blood.

Then, are these magnets strong enough to impair the function of your pacemaker?

Generally, no. As a rule of thumb, equipment that can produce sufficient magnetic fields (enough to pose disturbances) are often kept away from other devices. This is because they interfere with all other electronic gadgets, not just pacemakers. MRI machines, CAT scans, and other hospital grade tools are some of the examples of devices that can create enough interference for your pacemakers. They are often isolated in special rooms where they can be used in safety without troubling other electronic gadgets.

On the other hand, common household tools that use electricity or have electronic components pose low risk, if any at all. This is mainly because these items do not have enough juice to create significant interference with other stuff. The magnetic field they generate is neither wide enough nor strong enough to be a problem even if using them entails being near these devices.

For this reason, they are used without restrictions or need for isolation. Examples of these electronic devices include mobile phones, computers, electronic tablets, readers, AM/FM radios, wireless controllers, and Bluetooth peripherals. Even kitchen appliances like toasters, blenders, microwave ovens, and electric coffee makers generate magnetic fields, but they too belong to this low-risk category.

If you are still not convinced, then remember that generated magnetic fields are often directly associated with the amount of electricity needed to produce them. In other words, if the device doesn’t use a lot of electricity (like massage chairs), then it most probably does not generate enough magnetic field. Therefore, it would most likely be safe to use even for people who have a pacemaker.

But then, why do some massage chairs manufacturers post warnings about use with pacemakers?

Because despite producing only very weak magnetic fields, the point is they still do generate one. This means that the magnets in the massage chairs, although extremely unlikely, can still possibly affect the signals of the pacemaker. This is why patients with implanted pacemakers are still advised to limit their use of massage chairs, or at the very least be vigilant of changes in their heartbeats while using these chairs.

In cases when a spike or a sudden dip in the heart rate is observed, patients are asked to vacate the chair and seek immediate medical attention to be safe.

How do you use a massage chair if you have a pacemaker?

Again, before purchasing or using a massage chair or recliner, it is very important to first consult your doctor and pacemaker manufacturer to avoid inconveniences and to make sure you're cleared to do so.

Use it the same way everyone else does. Turn it on, sit on the chair, and enjoy a relaxing time. There shouldn’t be any difference whether you have a pacemaker or not. However, if you want to be extra safe, just remember to be vigilant for signs of distress. Get off the chair as soon as you observe any abnormalities in your heartbeat. Additionally, maintain a safe distance from it (while it is on) if you have no intentions of using it. If you do all of these, your chair and your pacemaker should get along just fine.

Do you have other questions to help you decide on choosing the right massage chair for you and your family? You can always checkout our FAQ and Health articles, or you can get in touch with our experts now - we’d be happy to assist you!