Moist heat pads provide effective short-term pain relief for chronic muscle and joint conditions. By stimulating circulation and promoting muscle relaxation, these pads can ease the discomfort of many recurrent conditions. Moreover, they can do so in a safe, non-invasive manner.

Why Treat with Heat?

In general, heat is the preferred treatment for chronic injuries. These kinds of injuries rarely display inflammation or swelling (symptoms for which ice is recommended). Heat promotes muscle elasticity and blood flow, but it must be applied in the right way at the right time in order to be truly effective. For example, sports medicine doctors advise using moist heat packs before exercise rather than after it because heat increases circulation. Similarly, heat should be applied in short 15-minute intervals using a hot washcloth or moist heat pad, as moist heat is preferable to dry heat.

Moist pads tend to be most effective because they retain their heat and distribute it evenly over the affected area. In many cases, they can also penetrate the affected area more deeply than dry heat. These pads can be purchased through orthopedic supply centers as well as rehabilitation goods distributors. They are relatively inexpensive and are a useful tool to keep handy for the treatment of any chronic condition.

For cutting edge pain relief, you may want to consider purchasing digital moist heating pads, which produce moist heat automatically. These pads are very convenient to use--there's no need to add water or boil water. These pads create moisture from the humidity in the air, and retain it in the pad's flannel cover. The rise in heat pushes the moisture out of the flannel and onto a patient's skin. These pads even come with digital controls, allowing you to set your patients up with exact times and temperatures for treatment.