Best Large Electric Heating Pads of 2018 Reviewed

Do you feel muscle pain or discomfort?

As a result of either active or relatively sedentary living conditions, we will often experience muscle fatigue and strain that can result in pain or discomfort.

As a person who spends most of her time either behind a laptop or desktop screen, I completely understand the lower back pain that can occur for many professionals of my type.

Also, as a 35-year-old woman, I find myself sometimes needing relief from painful cramps and pain in my lower abdomen.

In both of these situations, I use heating pads.

Heat therapy is a well-known and effective way to help alleviate many types of bodily pain.

These heating products provide this type of therapy and provide relief for both the soft tissues and painfully overworked muscles.

It’s becoming a more common occurrence that people are leading more sedentary lives as a result of office jobs, long hours spent web surfing and socializing, and copious television watching.

As a result, many are suffering from lower back and lumbar injuries that occur over time.

In fact, according to a 2010 report by the Global Burden of Disease, these deep muscle and spinal pain conditions are the leading cause of disability worldwide.

In my opinion, I think that most people will find that larger pads that heat up can be very helpful in their day-to-day lives as they help reverse the damage of lower back pain.

Also, women who experience painful menstrual cycles may even consider these to be a type of miracle invention because they really provide some excellent relief from the painful cramps and lower abdomen pain that has become synonymous with our periods.

What are Large Heating Pads

A large variation of one of these products is a device that has internal coils that heat the pad to a preset and desired therapeutic temperature.

The pad is designed to be flexible so that it can be used effectively on the often curvaceous parts of the human body.

The larger variations of these pads are also designed to provide a high level of coverage so that they can provide a high level of relief from conditions like sciatica and buttocks muscle pain.

While other heat pads may actually be cut and scaled to work on a certain part of your body, larger pads are designed to have a much more versatile usage.

For example, a large product of this type can be used as a menstrual cramp heating pad and a pad for relieving back pain as well.

Despite their larger dimensions, a larger version of this device is still very flexible, which means that you can store them fairly easily in a closet or under a bed when not in use.

Just about all of these types of pads are wired to an outlet.

The wire leads from the pad itself to a control unit that you utilize to adjust the temperature of the pad’s operation.

This control is then plugged into a wall for power.

The materials of the pad itself can vary greatly by design, so finding the one for you may take a little due diligence.

Benefits of Large Heating Pads

As mentioned, these larger pads have the ability to cover a wider area of your body, which can ensure that you won’t have to place one in different areas over a longer period.

Many people in the world suffer from conditions like sciatica, leg muscle fatigue, and lower and upper back pain.

These conditions can occur over larger areas of the body, which is why a large electric heating pad is so advantageous.

Warm compresses are a therapy that has been used for generations to treat various pains and bodily discomforts, and large heating products like these have this same type of functionality.

These types of devices, in my opinion, work much better because warm compresses from towels and clothes will gradually lose their warmth, which means that you have to repeatedly heat these objects.

Heated pads, on the other hand, stay warm for the duration of your heat therapy session.

An electric heating pad is definitely a helpful invention for persistent pain sufferers.

Additionally, if you prefer a softer feel, there are many of these types of products that are designed out of materials like micro-plush, which feels great on the skin.

So, what should you do if you prefer either moist or dry heat?

Heating pads have fortunately been designed to address both of these needs.

For a moist heating pad, you simply moisten a sponge-like material and insert it into the body of the pad.

This type of warm, moist therapy feels better for some people, but it comes down to personal preference.

How Heating Pads Work

For the most part, most pads have an internal coil system that heats to the desired temperature.

The coils are usually designed to have a flexible structure that allows you to bend and flex the pad as needed.

Typically, the heating elements or coils have a fabric cover that you can replace when needed for cleaning and upkeep.

Once plugged in, you simply use the cable-attached control to adjust the heat to the desired level.

The control systems of most of these products can vary greatly.

Some manufacturers make pads with a dial control for more of a fine-tuned temperature adjustment and some manufacturers allow for a set of up and down switches so that you can adjust the temperature by degrees.

For the most part, you can expect your pad to have a high, medium, or low-temperature setting.

Since these are, by their very nature, comfort items, it’s imperative that a certain degree of safety be used when utilizing one of these pads.

The last thing you want is to fall asleep while using a pad and have it raise your temperature dangerously.

This is why many modern pad models have an auto-turnoff function that will cut the heating output after a certain amount of time has elapsed.

How to Use Heating Pads

Using these products is very simple.

Since most of these products range in temperature from around 110 to about 176 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to choose the most appropriate temperature for your relief.

It’s important to understand that the heating time will vary from pad to pad, so you’ll have to take this into consideration during your therapy sessions.

This is especially true for pads that have self-limiting wiring technologies for safety; these will take a bit longer to reach the desired heating level.

I find that a larger pad is a great option when I need a heating pad for cramps that can occur as a result of a good run as well.

Simply wrap the pad around the leg muscles that are experiencing the discomfort for about ten or 20 minutes, and typically, you’ll feel relief.

The best heating pad will have a fairly simple control scheme; high, medium and low are typically all you’ll need for most muscle pain.

If the pain is on your back, you can simply put the pad at a medium to high setting, place it on the affected area, and lay down on your stomach so that the heat can work deeply into your muscles for relief.

For the most part, you should start feeling much better in about ten minutes or so.

What to Look for in Large Heating Pads

There are several key features that you should consider when buying one of these products.

These include:

• An Auto-Shutoff Feature: this allows for a degree of safety. It’s not the best idea to consistently heat any part of your body for too long because these products can cause burns. Additionally, as with any electrically produced heat, prolonged heating can cause damage to your furniture or bedding. An auto-shutoff feature will turn the pad off after a preset amount of time.

• Moist and Dry Heat Features: while the type of heating preferred will vary from person to person, it’s to your advantage to get a pad that can provide both types of heat. For a dry experience, simply heat the pad to the preferred temperature. For a more moist heat, dampen the sponge-like pad and place it inside of the device.

• LCD or LED Display: just like some mattresses come with a “comfort number”, these pads can come with a display that will show you your heating number. This is pretty useful and will provide for you a preset preferred heating level that you can always fall back on. On my device, I prefer a level seven heating experience.

• A Micro-Plush Cover: not all pads are designed to be soft on the skin. Despite this, many people love the feel of a softer pad, which is why many have a micro-plush cover. The material feels like ultra-soft wool and will put you in your comfort zone easily.

What to Avoid in Large Heating Pads

Not all features in these products are equal.

When searching for a good heating pad, I would avoid:

• Pads without Removable Covers: if you’re planning on using these frequently, it’s important to understand that they may need a wash from time to time. Cleaning a pad with a removable cover is infinitely easier than cleaning one with a fixed cover.

• Pads with Timers that are too Short: while it’s great to be safe, it can get annoying to have a pad that insists on turning off after just 20 minutes. An hour is perfectly fine when you want some nice therapeutic heat, so try not to purchase a pad that you’ll have to constantly reset; it’ll make your relaxation session tenser.

• Pads that Make Your Feel Clammy: I don’t know why, but there are actually pads out there that feel like clammy plastic. These can get relatively uncomfortable when used for a longer period of time and should be avoided.

Precautions

One of the most common questions asked by people who are curious about these types of pads is, “Are heating pads bad for you?”

For the most part, these pads are safe, but it definitely will fall to you, as the user, to adhere to any precautions set by the manufacturer for safe usage.

Always inspect your pad before usage.

You don’t want any exposed components that can cause danger, especially for those pads that employ a moist warmth setting.

Also, never place a device that comes with a cover directly onto your skin; these devices are designed to be used with a cover so that you can experience comfort, not burns.

Also, always monitor the temperature that you intend to use and try not to accidentally jostle the control unit.

These things can get hot and inadvertently turn up the heat when you’re not looking can cause them to emit too much heat.

Finally, if you’re feeling drowsy, set the auto-shutoff feature so that you aren’t heating your body and your furniture while you doze.

If your pad doesn’t have an auto-shutoff feature, it’s best not to chance to take a nap while using it; simply avoid using it if you feel sleepy.

Conclusion

I’ve found that there are huge benefits to using a pad that heats in my daily life.

They can help reduce the symptoms experience during your menstrual cycle.

They are a great way to reduce the pain and discomfort of lower lumbar and back pain and are also a great way to decompress at the end of your day.

There’s a lot of benefit in heat therapy, so I suggest you take a look at a pad that can heat your muscles; they are definitely worth the expense.

It’s especially useful that there are so many products on the market today that can provide both moist and dry heat.

These allow you to have the best of both worlds when it comes to overall comfort.

Of course, the best heating pad for your comfort will vary based on your preferences, but hopefully, this guide has answered some of your questions about the type of product.