From the Research
Continuous Passive Motion (CPT) therapy is generally not contraindicated for patients with pacemakers, as it involves gentle, passive movement of joints and does not produce significant electromagnetic interference that would affect pacemaker function 1. Patients with cardiac pacemakers can typically undergo CPT safely, but caution should be exercised with certain types of CPT devices that might incorporate electrical stimulation components. In these cases, the electrical stimulation aspect (not the passive motion itself) could potentially interfere with pacemaker operation.
Before beginning CPT, patients with pacemakers should inform their healthcare provider about their cardiac device to ensure appropriate precautions are taken. The healthcare provider may consult with the patient's cardiologist to confirm safety, especially if the CPT device has electrical components. According to a recent study published in 2021, mechanical lung vibrator and high-frequency chest wall oscillation vests can be used safely in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including pacemakers, without compromising lead integrity or device function 1. However, deactivation of the accelerometer-based activity sensor may be needed when high-frequency chest wall oscillation is planned for CPT to avoid unwanted increases in pacing rate.
Key considerations for CPT in patients with pacemakers include:
- Informing the healthcare provider about the cardiac device
- Consulting with the patient's cardiologist to confirm safety
- Avoiding CPT devices with electrical stimulation components that could interfere with pacemaker operation
- Deactivating the accelerometer-based activity sensor when using high-frequency chest wall oscillation vests. The fundamental reason CPT is generally safe is that standard passive motion machines operate using mechanical systems rather than producing significant electromagnetic fields that could disrupt pacemaker sensing or programming 1.