Low Intensity Vibration Plate: OK with PM/ICD?

I suffered third degree heart block and got a pacemaker/ICD ten years ago. I also have osteoporosis. Both these things were caused by my chronic illness of sarcoidosis. I can't exercise a lot so I'm looking at a low intensity vibration plate to help my bones. But I wonder if that might have any impact on my pacemaker. Would love input from fellow PM/ICD folks!

(I did find one earlier post on this but it's from 2010.)


8 Comments

Low Intensity Vibration Plate

by Gemita - 2024-06-05 05:59:05

Laugharcher, I also found the link to which you are probably referring which has mixed messages about the safety of using a low intensity vibration plate.  My personal thought is that it might stimulate rate response and make the heart beat faster but I do not feel a low intensity vibration plate would cause any real harm.  

Could you perhaps trial it in a place of safety, with the device manufacturer rep/cardiac therapist present so that you will know the level of exercise that will be safe for you?  Have you spoken to your cardiologist/EP?  If it is likely to make you feel better overall, what have you got to lose by trying?  We need to keep moving with Osteoporosis to stay well, don't we? 

Have you tried the vibration plate?  If so, how did you feel symptom wise while using it and afterwards? 

The link needs to be copied and pasted into our general browser to open:-

https://www.pacemakerclub.com//message/2933/vibration-plate-exercise-machines

Low Intensity Vibration Plate

by Lurker (Doc DX) - 2024-06-05 08:25:17

On time i set my iPhone on vibrate and held it against the PM to see if it set off the rate response. 
 

it didn't.

 

Doc DX

 

excercise

by new to pace.... - 2024-06-05 08:32:10

As long as you keep using  your bones. it should help your osteoporisis. walking, carefully bending.  I have been using a "Wild Yam cream" with botanicals on my spine twice a week to heal my spine fractures, does seem to healing the fractures slowly.  Do not seem to be getting more.  I am not a medical person.

new to pace

vibration plate

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-05 09:34:42

If you have rate response turned on, your rate may go up.

I've use it in physical therapy with no issues. Any magnets in it are far from our devices. 

Low Intensity Vibration Plate

by AgentX86 - 2024-06-05 13:39:41

If I undertand, it's plate that you stand on the vibrates from the feet.  If so, I can't see any reason at all that it would be an issue.  Even if it did affect rate response, who cares?  The higher than useful hearbeat might feel uncomfortable, but it's not going to hurt anything.  Simply stop if it gets too bad.

To build calcium in the bones, they have to be put under stress, but so much as to damage the joints. I was diagnosed with osteopenia, when I had the issue with ameoderone and my thyroid.  My endocrinologist said that walking was the best exercise for mitigating (stopping or reversing) calcium loss in the legs and spine.  Running put the stress on the knees, hips, and tendons, not on the bones.  Swimming didn't put stress on any part of the skeleton, so was useless for this purpose. I suppose that weight lifting would help if there were enough reps, but it would take a lot. Might as well walk.

Gadgets & Appliances

by Penguin - 2024-06-05 14:05:35

I see from your bio that you were 'laid out flat' by using an induction stove and by security wands whilst this pacemaker has been in place.  That's pretty unusual in my limited experience with both of those things.    Obviously experiences and reactions to different gadgets will vary. 

Given previous extreme reactions to appliances / gadgets that are flagged up as potential sources of a reaction, I'd run it past your EP and / or Medtronic for peace of mind. I've looked at devices for use at home that stimulate blood flow in the legs and they mention that they are not suitable for pacemakers. A vibration plate sounds more aggressive - but I've never seen one tbh.

I also agree with AgentX that walking for exercise might be your best bet if you can manage that. 

Thanks, all!

by laughingarcher - 2024-06-05 18:26:04

Appreciate all of your input very much! :-)

Yup, "laid out flat" by an induction stove and a metal detector wand (the latter while visiting the Library of Congress, that was fun!) Gotta update my profile, though, 'cuz five years ago my natural sinus rhythm returned out of the blue (never any drugs) so my PM/ICD is no longer pacing me, it's just my Plan B at this point in case my cardiac sarcoidosis decides to rear its ugly head. My EP calls me her "perplexing patient", LoL.

So my concern is not so much what the vibration plate may do to my heart, more so what it may do to my device. I'm gonna go with Tracy E.'s report of "no issues" and give the vibration plate a try. (Rate response is turned off. Good reminder!)

Sarcoidosis and osteoporosis are a real Catch 22: Sarc granulomas actually manufacture Vitamin D 1,25, which screws up calcium regulation and can result in osteoporosis, kidney stones, etc. This means I cannot take supplemental D or calcium w/o risking too-high levels. 

I do walk and hike but that's getting harder as I age (62) and because sarc causes pretty debilitating fatigue. The vibration plate, while not a magic bullet, sounds like a way to stimulate bone formation (or at least maybe slow down bone loss.)  I'll try it and will report back!  :-)

vibration plate

by mfenn - 2024-07-07 08:50:53

I found this link. May be helpful:

 

https://www.medicinenet.com/can_whole_body_vibration_be_harmful/article.htm

 

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