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Heating Pad Reviews and Buying Guide:Just last week my wife ended up pulling some muscle in her lower back and was literally bedridden for 4 days. She had back spasms to the point where walking or even standing up was painful. Her doctor said she should get a heating pad and see if that could help alleviate the back pain. It's been years since we had our last heating pad (that was when she was pregnant) so my job was to go out and find. Heating pads for back pain are easy to find in stores like Walmart, Target, or even your local drugstore. Most cost between $20 to $60 and the top brands are Sunbeam, SoftHeat, TheraTherm, Thermophore, and Conair. Neck and shoulder pain is another common symptom for those that want a good heating pad. The idea behind using the heat pack, or heat pad, is to keep the muscles loose so they don't spasm. My wife had trouble just turning over in bed without feeling some kind of discomfort. The electric heating pad we purchased definitely helped ease the situation and kept her comfortable.
 . Many older adults that suffer from arthritis are also searching for that magical solution in a heating pad. The best heating pad for arthritis is from Thermophore (see all Thermophore products here). Many of the units we saw are programmable and have digital readouts so you can easily adjust the heat temperature and relax in bed or in your favorite chair. The heating pads are usually shaped like a blanket, but some of the newer ones have superior shapes that wrap around your body (especially the lower back) and strap together so it's easy to keep close to your aching muscles or joints. There are a few designed specifically for the neck area and provide solid relief. Heating pad reviews - The best reviews are posted on websites like Walmart or Amazon where you can read hundreds of owner opinions and get feedback on the top rated brands and products. Epinions and Viewpoints also offer up consumer comments on heating pads. Unfortunately Consumer Reports hasn't done a survey or report on heating pads (we will update this article with CR ratings when and if they ever come out on heating pads). RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry all the leading brands and often have the lowest prices on the Internet. You can browse the best selling heating pads online here.
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is reasonably priced at $20 and the pad offers up consistent heat with their Ultraheat Technology. You get to choose from 3 heat settings and the king size heating pad measures 12" x 24". The absorbent sponge provides the moist, deep heat relief you deserve. The light blue color isn't the best (we wish they had more colors to choose from), but at least the cover is machine washable. For those with arthritic fingers or hand, the controller is designed to turn easily. There is no automatic shut-off on this unit and because of that there are mixed reviews from owners. Some say it's great since they want it on all night and don't like the brands that have automatic shut offs while others wished they didn't have to worry about turning it off when they fell asleep. There are other Sunbeam heating pads that offer automatic shut off - you can 
provided the best relief for my wife's back muscles. The TheraTherm features digital hand controls so that you can program and monitor both the time and temperature. The temperature range goes from 88 to 166 degree Fahrenheit with automatic time control of 1 to 60 minutes. This unit also features an auto shut-off so it's safe and effective to use. It's designed with a 100% cotton flannel cover and the heated blanket pad is offered in a variety of sizes - 7" x 15", 14" x 14", 14" x 27" (the best), or the neck cutout version that is 23" x 20". The muscle spasms for my wife were controlled very well with this heat therapy and we couldn't be happier. An alternative to the TheraTherm pads is the 
which is available in 4 different sizes. Per the Thermophore product description, this pad is "recommended for those with arthritis, rheumatism, TMJ, chronic back or neck pain, muscle spasms, sports injuries, strained muscles or ligaments, or Fibromyalgia". Reviews are consistently positive for this product as it provides almost instant relief. Massage therapists use these and they are great for home use as well. In 20 to 30 minute periods, the Thermophore heating pad will give you that deep, penetrating muscle relief that most other products fail at.