Heating pads are widely used to help to relieve aches and pains, but it isn’t always clear as to how they work on the body. Applying heat to the body can have more benefits than the ones you immediately think about.
However, heating pads are not meant to be used for any type of injury either. In some situations, the use of a heating pad can make an injury even worse. Here, we will discuss how to know when to use a heating pad, how a heating pad can provide multiple benefits when used, and which heating pad to use!
What Do Heating Pads Do?
Heating pads are a way to deliver heat therapy, otherwise known as thermotherapy, to specific parts of the body. Thermotherapy can be used to help alleviate pain and discomfort from multiple injuries including back and neck pain, cramps, arthritis, and more.
Heating pads can also come in many different forms, including typical electronic versions, warm bottles or bags of water, or heated wet towels. Thermotherapy can also be applied through other applications, like with a hot shower, a hot bath, or some time spent in the sauna.
What are the Benefits of Using Heating Pads?
There are many benefits of using heating pads to deal with pain. Thermotherapy allows for greater circulation in the affected areas, bringing more oxygen and blood to injuries in order to speed up the recovery process.
The warmth can also help to soothe sore or aching muscles as well as joints within the body. This can help to increase the range of motion in your arms, legs, and back.
Different types of heat need to be monitored in different ways. While a hot bath can be a soothing experience, bath water will gradually cool down and eventually will no longer provide the thermotherapy you originally received.
While a standing shower can easily control the temperature of the water, some injuries might not allow for full motion in the shower (even with the thermotherapy as a constant). For those who are fortunate enough to have a hot tub, this would be the ideal way to keep the temperature of your water consistent while being completely submerged.
The other option is to use a traditional heating pad, which can be used in a number of different positions and have its temperature regulated. Direct heat can help the afflicted area, but in many instances electric heating pads will shut down after a while.
An added benefit of using heating pads comes with the addition of gemstones. When certain gemstones are exposed to heat, new benefits can be observed within the body. Gemstones like amethysts, jade, and tourmaline have enhanced properties under the right conditions. These gemstones emit negative ions that counteract harmful positive ions in the environment, protecting you from potentially getting sick.
Negative ions can also help to alleviate headaches and can help you to relax easier and get to sleep with a higher rate of success. But gemstone heating pads also have one other big benefit; they release far infrared heat.
Far infrared heat is the same kind of heat you feel from the sun. The main benefit of far infrared heating pads is that they travel deeper into the body, while normal heating pads just heat the skin. This heat is able to relieve pain at your core to provide better results, so always go with a far infrared heating pad!
Are There Any Detriments of Using a Heating Pad?
Any problems with using a heating pad (or thermotherapy) come from not knowing when to use it. Heat therapy won’t be effective against fresh injuries, which can be made worse if exposed to heat. If you suffer a new injury, adding heat will make inflammation that much more problematic. Instead, use a cold compress to dull pain and slow down swelling and inflammation early on.
As mentioned earlier, having heat therapy through a bath can only last for so long. Thermotherapy needs to have a maintained temperature to be effective. If the temperature dips too far then there will be no more heat benefit.
However, if the temperature gets too high you could run the risk of burning your skin and causing further injury to yourself. This is doubly true for people who have compromised nerves and may not pick up on feelings through the skin. High temperatures can cause burns without the user ever noticing.
How to Receive Heating Pad Benefits at Home
Should you have lingering aches and pains, having a heating pad available to you at home can help to alleviate symptoms of long term injuries. HealthyLine understands the need for thermotherapy when it matters to you. The TAO-Mat® Full Short 6024 Firm - PEMF InfraMat Pro® is a great way to receive exceptional thermotherapy in addition to other natural therapies included in the mat.
The TAO-Mat Full Short offers heated stone therapy that can help to relax muscles and soothe pain in your joints. For further pain relief natural far infrared therapy provides temporary relief and can also deal with inflammation and stiffness.
You also receive pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) that can help to directly influence damaged cells and improve your overall wellness. Finally, negative ion therapy helps to improve your mood, clear your mind, and counteract positive ion imbalances.
In Conclusion
There are many benefits in using heating pads on your body. You might find that using heating pads grant you relaxation coupled with pain relief. However, you must make sure that you use thermotherapy in order to deal with lingering aches and pains.
Heat therapy will only make fresh injuries much worse by exasperating the swelling and inflammation process. With a far infrared mat from HealthyLine, you can experience pain relief you’ve never experienced before!
