What other mechanical device must patients avoid using TENS with?

Patients utilizing Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy should avoid using it in conjunction with a cardiac pacemaker. This is primarily due to the way TENS devices generate electrical impulses to alleviate pain. These electrical signals may interfere with the functioning of a pacemaker, which is designed to regulate heart rhythms through its own electrical impulses. If the TENS unit produces electrical activity that intersects or disrupts the signals being generated by the pacemaker, it could potentially lead to serious complications, including arrhythmias or other cardiac issues.

Other devices like artificial limbs, heating pads, and splints do not pose the same risk of interference with cardiac devices. While there may be considerations around comfort and safety with those devices when using TENS, they do not pose the direct risk that using TENS with a pacemaker does. Thus, the advisability of avoiding the combination is specifically focused on the potential for significant cardiovascular ramifications.