10 Best Heating Pads For Sore Muscles And Body Pains – 2023
These pads are your savior if you are suffering cramped-up muscles and joints.
Aditi Naskar Diploma In Health & Wellness
Expertise: Health & Wellness
Experience: 4 years
Aditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She i... more
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Say “hello” to the best heating pad in the world and “goodbye” to sore muscles and body pains. An age-old pain relief method, heat therapy can relax the muscles and enhance pain tolerance. From managing pain from injury, backache, period cramps, swelling, sprains, and after birth, heat therapy works wonders. Therefore, we have prepared a list of the 10 most effective heating pads in this article that you should have now. We have also put a buying guide to ease your search mission.
In This Article
Types Of Heating Pads
- Electric Heating Pad
Image: Shutterstock
This is one of the most commonly used heating pads. It uses voltage power and requires a power source to work. The best part about this type of heating pad is that it is equipped with multiple temperature settings and is highly durable. It doesn’t require recharging. This electric heating pad is ideal for back pain.
- Microwaveable Heating Pad
Image: Shutterstock
This type of heating pad is useful for traveling. It is compact and wireless. The device is filled with water or gel or has organic ingredients like rice or flaxseeds. These constituents are packed in a sack that can be microwaved. The heat is then transferred onto the surface of the heating pad. This is ideal for period cramps or mild back pain used along with some pain-relieving lotions. It is budget-friendly.
- Infrared Heating Pad
This heating pad can be used to relieve chronic back pain or other severe conditions. It delivers deeper and more concentrated heat that penetrates the surface of the skin. It is more powerful than regular heating pads.
Besides providing instant relief from aching muscles, heating pads help relax your body. They can be used to soothe different kinds of body pains. Here are a few benefits.
Benefits Of Using A Heating Pad
1. Heating Pads Help Relieve Body Soreness
If you indulge in heavy workouts, sports activities, or other tiring acts, heating pads will alleviate the ‘after-effect’ pain.
2. Heating Pads Loosens Stiff Muscles
The heat exerted from these devices soothes tightened muscles by allowing better blood flow. This will help you relax and perform activities without causing pain.
3. Heating Pads Help Treat Chronic Conditions
Heating pads provide short-term relief to people with arthritis. They also boost immunity and allow your body to heal on its own.
Top 10 Heating Pads To Buy In 2023
1. Sunbeam XL King Size Ultra Heating Pad: Best King Size Heating Pad
Get rid of everyday muscle aches with this heating pad. It helps deliver even and powerful heat across achy areas. It offers three heat settings. You can use it with moist or dry heat. The easy-slide controller for heat settings is designed especially for arthritis patients. Check this video to learn more about the product.
Pros
- Machine washable
- 9-foot power cord
- Deliver instant comfort and relief
- Affordable
Cons
None
2. Pure Enrichment PureRelief™ XL Heating Pad
The Pure Enrichment PureRelief Heating Pad is an effective solution for muscle tension and pain relief. It utilizes targeted heat therapy to provide quick relief from menstrual cramps and sore muscles. With a user-friendly LCD controller, you can choose from six different heat settings for personalized comfort. Within seconds, the heating pad warms up to provide fast relief and allows you to select a temperature ranging from 105℉ to 140℉.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Machine washable
- 6 different heat settings
- Compact
Cons
None
3. Thermophore MaxHeat Deep Heat Therapy: Best Full-Body Heating Pad
This heating pad is nearly twice the size of most heating pads. It covers the entire spinal area, from your shoulders to below the hips. It produces intense moist heat that helps relieve pain and stiffness in muscles instantly. The temperature ranges between 150-165 degrees F. It is the best moist heating pad to treat musculoskeletal pains. This video offers a more detailed explanation of the product.
Pros
- One-touch control features
- Auto shut-off after 25 minutes
- 14″ x 27″ unit size
- Recommended by physical therapists
- 10 feet cord length
Cons
- Availability issues
RememberUse the full-body heating pad for around 10 to 15 minutes at a time once to thrice per day for best effective results.
4. Slimpal Menstrual Heating Pad
The Slimpal Heating Pad is designed to provide up to 11 hours of constant working with its NTC sensor control. This cordless heating pad is lightweight and portable with a rechargeable design. For those suffering from menstrual pain and cramps, this heating pad offers relief by increasing circulation, which helps relax tight muscles.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- 57-inch elastic belt
- Durable
- Easy to use
Cons
- Belt clip may not latch properly
5. Aroma Season Heating Pad
Aroma Season Menstrual Heating Pad is an electric heating pad with a 7.4V 3000mAh battery. It is designed to provide long-lasting, adjustable heat therapy for cramps and period pains. With three temperature settings from 104℉ to 140℉, it is easy to adjust the levels of warmth with the press of a button. The battery works for 6 hours so you don’t need to worry about running out of power during your session.
Pros
- Durable
- Comfortable
- Versatile
- Provides aromatherapy
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Releases an odd smell after heating
6. Soothing Company Therapeutic Neck Wrap: Best Neck Pillow Heating Pad
This microwaveable neck and shoulder wrap is unique. It is filled with heat-absorbing clay beads and flax seeds that soothe your neck, back, shoulders, and abdomen. Alternatively, you can also use it as cold therapy by placing it in the freezer. The best feature of this product is it releases lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, and chamomile scents every time you heat it.
Pros
- Retains warmth/cold for up to 30 minutes
- Comfortable material
- Reusable
- Provides aromatherapy
Cons
- Too heavy
Quick TipPut a clean towel or a suitable piece of clothing around the neck and shoulders to avoid direct application of heat on the skin.
7. UTK Far Infrared Heating Pad: Best Professional Grade Heating Pad
Image: Utk UTK Far Infrared Heating Pad is equipped with 108 natural jade and 42 tourmaline stones to enhance therapeutic benefits. Tourmaline stones absorb heat quickly and emit negative ions. This flexible heating pad can be used for your upper and lower back, shoulders, waist, hips, arms, feet, knees, and calves. It increases blood flow and reduces muscle tension for quick recovery.
Pros
- 21 “X31” accommodative size
- Has a timer
- Has a memory function to store duration and temperature
- 10-foot power cord
- Comes with a travel bag
Cons
- Expensive
8. SuzziPad Microwave Heating Pad
Alleviate joints, stiffness, knotted muscles, and cramps with the SuzziPad Microwave Heating Pad. This neck wrap is infused with millets, flaxseeds, and clay beads. You can use this heat therapy for your shoulders, neck, legs, arms, back, ankle, knee, and any other muscle to get relief from acute pain. The pad comes with double-sided fabric, offering convenience, especially for sensitive skin. You can also use this heating pad as a cold compressor to get relaxation from stress, swelling, and sprain.
Pros
- Ultra-soft
- Skin-friendly
- Durable
- Comfortable
- Versatile
- Flexible
Cons
- May smell odd after heating
9. Comfier Heating Pad
Comfier Heating Pad offers the perfect combination of heat therapy and massage to help relieve tension and soreness in your muscles. It features four powerful massage motors that deliver a soothing vibrating massage, with three adjustable modes, two levels of intensity, and two levels of heat. The wrap-around design is flexible enough to fit up to 58 inches around your waist or lower back area, providing targeted relief right where you need it most.
Pros
- High-quality
- Portable
- Cushiony
- Comfortable
- Auto shut off feature
Cons
None
10. Sacksy Thyme Hot Therapy Relief Heating Pad: Best For Period Cramps
This double-sided hot therapy heating pad is filled with organic flax seed. It is a microwaveable product that needs to be heated for a minimum of 90 seconds before use. Once the sack is heated, you can place the pack on sore muscles. This is a great natural alternative to help soothe aching muscles. But make sure not to heat the product beyond 2 minutes.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Suitable for headache and period cramps
- Portable
- Cushiony and comfortable
Cons
- There are chances of hotspots.
Our recommended heating pads are equipped with multiple features that suit your needs. To help you pick the right product from a wide range of options available, we have put together a buying guide with important features to look for in a heating pad.
Buying Guide For Heating Pads
1. Heat Settings/ Auto Shut-off
Choosing a product with multiple heat settings will help you regulate the temperature, depending on the degree of pain.
An automatic shut-off feature will enable you to relax while using a heating pad without having to worry about the time in case you fall asleep.
2. Heat Up Time
This feature is important because it indicates the time taken by the device to heat up completely. If you are always on the go, pick an infrared heating pad that heats up within minutes. But these are quite expensive compared to the others.
If you prefer a soothing therapeutic experience at leisure, you can pick a microwaveable heating pad.
3. Material
The material comes into the picture when you are looking for a microwavable heating pad. Since these devices acquire heat from other sources, the material should be heat-resistant and durable. Most microwaveable heating pads come with rice or gel filling with cotton and fleece covers.
4. Size
Usually, heating pads come in three sizes – large, regular, and compact. But there are other king-size heating pads meant for full-body purposes. Depending on the targeted area and comfort, choose the size that is perfect for you and serves your needs. Microwaveable heating pads are compact and portable, while others come in variable sizes.
5. Machine Washable
With so much going on, the last thing you want is a complicated washing routine. Pick a heating pad made of cotton or velvet or other wash-friendly material.
6. Heating Type
Some heating pads require charging or power supply or an artificial method of heating( microwave). Pick a product that suits your conditions.
Body pains or muscle pains drain out your energy. But with the right heating pad, you get relief from pains caused by injuries, period cramps, backache, and sprains. The heating pads work on electricity, and they loosen tight muscles and body soreness. Additionally, they give relief from chronic conditions like arthritis and joint pains. So invest in heating pads if you are dealing with body or muscle pains. In addition, the heating pads soothe sore muscles and keep you relaxed. But consider heating pads that are skin-friendly because if the material is aggressive, it might cause irritation and burns. And steer clear heating pads that trigger hot spots.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Aditi Naskar, the author of this article, has a diploma in health and wellness and loves to review health care products for her readers. After thorough research, she has listed the best heating pads available on the market. She went through numerous reviews and feedback on multiple forums and brand websites to help you pick the right product according to your preferences. The shortlisted pads help manage pain from injury, backache, period cramps, swelling, sprains, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are heating pads good for you?
Yes. Heating pads promote blood circulation, release muscle pains, relieve joint constriction, and reduce pains.
How long should you wear a heating pad?
Wear a heating pad for 15 to 30 minutes to relieve muscle aches and joint pains. Avoid using it for longer to prevent irritation and skin burns.
What is the difference between a heating pad and a moist heating pad?
Moist heating pads use warm water to relieve pain. The moist water heat penetrates deeper tissues and offers improved pain reduction. In contrast, heating pads use dry heat that penetrates surface tissues and offer mild pain relief.
Is it okay to use a heating pad every night?
Yes. Use a heating pad every night, but for a maximum of 30 minutes. Avoid using it for longer to prevent increasing muscle pains.
Is it okay to sleep with a heating pad?
No. Do not sleep with a heating pad to avoid developing accidental burns and causing skin inflammation.
Why can you not lay on a heating pad?
You can lay on a heating pad set at a low temperature for 30 minutes. Avoid laying on it for longer to prevent skin burns and aggravating muscle cramps.
How do heat pads work?
Heat pads dilate your blood vessels, boost the flow of more oxygen-rich blood to your cramped-up muscle areas, and reduce the pain. In addition, the pads promote consistent circulation throughout your body and keep your joints pain-free.
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