A Guide To Using Heating Pads

First off, let's take a look at what exactly heating pads are and why we would need to use one. Heating pads, to put things simply, are small to medium sized pads that heat up, either through the use of electricity or a chemical reaction, and are put on sore parts of the body to help them feel better and heal.

Most people are going to use heating pads in their home, and will use an electric version, as the chemical heating pads are generally not reusable. Electric heating pads come in a variety of sizes, from 1 foot square, to up to 3 feet on a side. They can be used to target sore muscles (after a hard workout), joints (such as elbows, knees, and ankles) and various other aches and pains that you may have.

Heating pads work in a number of ways. When muscles become overworked, they can constrict and become tight, sending pain signals to the brain. Applying heat to the affected area increases blood flow to the muscle, thereby allowing the muscle to relax. The increased blood flow also delivers additional oxygen and nutrients to the area, further helping the healing process.

If your problem area is a joint, rather than a sore muscle, heating pads can help there too. An old injury to your ankle or knee, or even just simple overuse, can cause pain to flare up unexpectedly. Applying heat to the joint can relax the skin and connective tissue in the joint, allowing it to relax and helping to work the kinks out. And again, as with sore muscles, increasing the blood flow to the area will help speed up the healing process.

If your problem area is proving to be too tough for just heat to take care of, then you can always try alternating the heating pad with an ice pack. Applying ice to a sore spot restricts the flow of fluid and blood to the area, which is helpful in reducing inflammation and swelling. The cold from the ice pack also works as a natural anesthetic, gently numbing the area and reducing the pain.

When you are applying either heat or cold to an injured area, there are several things you'll want to watch out for. Firstly, don't use extreme temperatures on either end. Your heating pad does not have to be hot enough to boil water, and your ice pack does not have to have frost on it. Putting too hot of a heating pad on can cause burns, and too cold of an ice pack can cause frostbite. Use more gentle temperatures and you'll see better results.

Also, don't apply heat or cold for more than 20 minutes at a time. Doing so can cause your body to try and counteract the heat/cold, and can even reverse the benefits your body is receiving. A good method is to apply heat for 15 minutes, let the area rest for 10 minutes, and then apply cold. You can then repeat this for several hours, or until the sore area is feeling better.

One last thing to remember is not to apply heat or cold directly to the skin. Always put a towel or some other similar item in between the heating pad and your skin. Don't worry - more than enough heat will still get through to help your sore spot, and this will help protect against burning.

If you don't have an electric heating pad handy, or want to try making your own, there are a couple of methods you can try. First, grab a big, fluffy towel, soak it in hot (but not scalding) water, and apply it to your sore spot. If you want to try it without the dripping, simply put a dry towel in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds. (Please be careful using these methods. It is possible to burn yourself if you don't keep a close eye on the towel or water. But if you're careful, you should have no trouble.)

Another method, which is great if you enjoy crafts and are good at sewing, is to sew together a cloth bag and fill it with uncooked rice grains. You can then heat the rice bag in the microwave and it will hold the heat very well. The pliable rice also allows you to mold the bag to the problem area (which is great if it's your back or knee that is hurting).

The last thing to keep in mind are the smaller, chemical heating pads. These are generally only good for one use, but are smaller and more lightweight than electric heating pads. They're great to take on trips and can be especially useful when you're camping or hiking, and don't have any access to electricity. If you know that you're going to be sore from a full day outdoors, throw a few of these in your pack and you'll be set.

For information on more home and garden topics,  check out the links to my other Hubs below.

• Baby crib guide
• Choosing a good baby stroller
• Glass baby bottles
• Decorating with bamboo blinds