An ECG electrode includes a substrate and one or more holes. The substrate includes on one side an electrolyte gel for contacting a patients skin and an adhesive. The one or more holes perforate the substrate and the adhesive to increase the adhesion between the patients skin and the substrate. The one or more holes can have a circular shape, rectangular shape, crescent shape, polygonal shape, elliptical shape, diamond shape, star shape, or triangular shape. A method for manufacturing an ECG electrode includes assembling a substrate that includes on one side an electrolyte gel for contacting a patients skin and an adhesive and creating one or more holes in the substrate and the adhesive that increase the adhesion between the skin and the substrate. The one or more holes are created using a laser or a drill.