Infrared heat therapy is not very common, although it is gaining popularity now. It can be classified as an alternative treatment for chronic back pain and can be used in combination with other therapies like acupuncture or yoga. It is as harmless as simple heat therapy and can provide immediate relief to patients suffering form back pain. The products using infrared heat are easily available and quite affordable. Realizing the potential of infrared heat therapy as tool for alleviating back pain, a lot of individuals are opting for this treatment.

Back pain is frequently caused by overuse, injury or strain, that causes stress in the muscles of the spine. The tightness results in a decrease in blood circulation which sends pain signals to the brain. The brain considers this to be an injury and tightens the muscle in an effort to control or heal it. The tensed up muscle in turn causes a decrease in blood circulation and thus begins the pain cycle. This type of chronic pain last on for years, and range from mild to debilitating. You must break the cycle for the pain to stop.

Heat therapy can help break the pain cycle that causes back pain by dilating the blood vessels in the injured area, allowing a greater flow of blood with oxygen and nutrients to the injured area, allowing it to heal. Warming the area also permits the muscle fibers to relax and stretch, lowering stiffness and contributing to flexibility. Heat therapy also stimulates the nerves in the skin which causes a reduction of the pain signals to the brain. Heat therapy when used regularly can help to eliminate the pain..

Moist heat is usually thought to be superior to dry, but in actuality the healing benefits are the same. However, water does transfer heat faster then air and so moist heat will be transferred to the injured area faster and can have a more comforting feeling then the slow application of dry heat. And when you’re in pain, faster is better!

Heat therapy is an inexpensive and simple technique that is frequently overlooked when looking for pain relief. Heat therapy can be applied in a number of ways. The most common methods are hot water baths, microwave moist heating pads, electric heating pads, or hydrocollator heat pads. They are all effective in eliminating chronic pain.

A pet heating pad is veterinarian recommended for therapeutic warmth for older, arthritic pets or for post-surgery convalescence. A pet heating pad can help your pets stay warm, happy and healthy. A pet heating pad is not like heating pads or electric blankets for humans. They produce a very low amount of heat, unless the animal is lying on the pad. The animal stays warm through radiant heat generated when your pet is on top of the pad. That means that the pad will not feel extremely warm when you touch it.

A pet heating pad can provide a warm and comfortable sleeping spot for your pet in for garages, porches, basements, kennels and doghouses. They are veterinarian recommended for therapeutic warmth for older, arthritic pets or for post-surgery convalescence A pet heating pad is also an ideal whelping pad.

Pet heating pads come from several manufacturers in a variety of shapes and sizes. See below for some ideas:

Petmate Indoor Pet Heating Pad Element 9-by-9-Inch: Low voltage heating element for use with pet beds. Heating element maintains ambient temperatue of 102 degrees for optimum comfort. The pad has a 120V UL-listed 3-prong grounded plug and 6′ PVC-coated chew resistant power cord for pet safety.

K&H Heated Resting Mat for Small Animals 9-by-12-Inch:The perfect heating pad for small animals. Constructed of rugged ABS plastic with a steel wrapped cord, the Small Animal Pad has an internal thermostat keeps the temperature at a desirable 100 degrees when in use. For indoor or outdoor use.

K&H Outdoor Heated Kitty Pad:an essential source of warmth for any cat that spends time out doors. Its internal thermostat keeps the surface nice and warm even in the coldest of temperatures. Place in a shed, garage, barn or anywhere your outdoor kitties spend time. It’s made of rugged ABS plastic and an optional fleece cover can be used for even more feline pleasing comfort. Free fleece cover included. Recommended for indoor and outdoor use.

Petmate Pet Heating Pad Indoor 10 X 20:For use with small oval loungers or pillow style beds Safe, low-voltage heating element maintains constant temperature. Circuit breaker integrated into plug for your pet’s safety. The temperature is regulated to provide your pet with a constant, soothing warmth. Power cord has a heavy-duty chew-resistant PVC covering.

Cozy Cushion® for Cats: Cozy Cushion® cat bed works like an electric blanket without the electricity! Patterned on the front, with coordinating solid fabric on the back, this pad features a core layer of thermo-reflective material that uses your cat’s own body heat to warm the entire cushion – no cords or electricity costs

A microwave heating pad is a heating pad that is warmed by placing it in a microwave oven before use. Microwave heating pads are usually made out of an insulated fabric such as flannel and filled with grains such as buckwheat or flax seed. Due to their relative simplicity to make, they are frequently sewn by hand, often with a custom shape to fit the intended area of use. Often, aromatic compounds are added to the filler material to create a pleasant smell when heated. The source of these can vary significantly, ranging from adding essential oils to ground up spices such as cloves and nutmeg, or even dried rose petals. They can also be filled with natural ingredients such as rice, corn, flax and an assortment of other organic ingredients. Many are hand made with a custom shape to fit a specific area of the body.

Heating your heat pad is simple. Just place it into your microwave, set the timer, press the button and in a few minutes the microwave heat pad is ready to use.

Microwaveable heating pads come from several manufacturers in a variety of shapes and sizes. See below for some ideas:

The Thermalon Microwave Activated Moist Heat Pad: microwave heating pad designed to deliver a moist heat treatment when it’s convenient to just lie back in bed or sit in a comfortable chair. This size works well for treating shoulders, lower back, and abdomen.

Thermalon Microwave Activated Moist Heat-Cold Compress: Thermalon compresses provide effective safe, clean, moist heat and cold therapy. No electric wires, or boiling water or leaky plastic gel packs.

Bruder MediBeads Microwave Activated Moist Heat Pad: This microwave heating pad is easy and quick to use. Microwave it for heat or freeze for a cold pack, it provides fast, natural pain relief. Simply microwave and apply. Naturally hydrating no need to add water.

Snuggley Heating Pads: These Natural Homemade Microwave Heating Pads are are microwaveable. Microwavable heating pad produces a moist heat for aches and pains.

Duro-Med Arthritis Natural Pain Relief Microwavable Therabead Moist Heat Standard Pack: Duro-Med Industries’ amazing Therabeads microwaveable heat products represent a major breakthrough in moist heat therapy. TheraBeads provide therapeutic moist heat at the correct temperature levels needed for effective therapy. Includes wrap cover.

Electric Heating Pads: Do You Know What’s Available?

This website shows you what’s available in electric heating pads

An electric heating pad is a device that is used to warm up parts of the body to help manage and reduce pain. Therapeutic heating pads bring comforting relief to sore/aching joints and muscles, and are excellent for sports-related injuries or strains resulting from over exertion. The application of an electric heating pad dilates the blood vessels and increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, stimulates pain receptors in order to reduce pain signals sent to the brain and helps stretch soft tissue, all of which serve to heal the sore area. In the past “hot water bottles” were used for this purpose. Now most heating pads are usually electrical or use chemicals or organic ingredients to provide heat.

Electric heating pads come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and are made by a number of different manufacturers.