Does A Wheat Bag (Heat Pad) Help With Muscle Pain?

Yes, microwave wheat bags and heat pads are great for muscle pain and aiding recovery. Using heat therapy for pain is a tried and tested way to help reduce pain, sooth aching muscles and relive muscle spasms & cramping.

Heat from wheat bags works best for injuries that are at least few days old. Heat dilates blood vessels, which can assist the healing process and alleviate some of your pain.

Heat should not be used for the first 48 hours after an injury.

Read - Using heat therapy for pain

Do heating pads relax muscles?

Yes, heat helps relieve pain by relaxing tensed or spasming muscles and by disrupting the transmission of painful impulses from your brain. Heat pads can be really effective for period cramps and lower back pain.

Are heating pads good for tight muscles, muscle strain & muscle spasms?

Yes, heat boosts blood flow to the area where it is applied, which can then help reduce muscle tightness, joint stiffness and improve joint flexibility. Massage and stretching will further help improve circulation and tight muscles.

Can a heat pack help loosen muscles & knots?

Yes, heat from a wheat bag facilitates the stretching and loosening of tight muscles, alleviating stiffness around joints. Imagine your muscles as mozzarella stick being warmed up in the oven. They are much more pliable when heated. Heat packs help with knots that you've had for a while by increasing blood flow to the area that then aids the healing process. Heat can also help loosen muscles when tension headaches strike.

Does a heating pad work for pulled muscle?

A pulled muscle should first be treated using the R.I.C.E. method. Avoid using heat for the first 72 hours, as this can increase swelling and inflammation. After 72 hours, heat can then be used to increase blood flow and aid the overall healing process.

Instead, first freeze your wheat bag to help reduce initial tenderness, swelling and inflammation.