“Heat therapy is optimal for muscle stiffness and improving blood flow, which we emphasize in our treatments,” says Bryan Wright, DPT, physical therapist and founder of Wright Physical Therapy. “In contrast, cold therapy might be better for recent injuries with swelling. Heating pads can contribute to recovery when used correctly, not just for temporary comfort, by improving circulation in specific cases like osteoarthritis.”
When choosing a heating pad, you’ll want to consider the number of heating levels it offers, how much padding you’d like, your budget, and which body part you intend on using it for (which can help you select a shape and size that suits your needs). “The heating pad should be contoured to fit the body part to be heated,” says Joe Krugh, PT, a physical therapist and assistant professor in the doctor of physical therapy program at the University of Toledo in Ohio. “For example, a large rectangular pad will not work well for heating a neck or shoulder but works well for the lower back.”
We evaluated seven popular heating pads. In addition to trying them out at home, CR’s José Amézquita tested them in our labs to determine how long it took each pad to reach its stable temperature at the lowest, medium, and highest temperature settings. Here are our top choices (and two we don’t recommend).
