If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best shoulder heating pad for muscle tension is, then I’d recommend the PROALLE Shoulder Heating Pad as the best one.
Working out and even going about your day to day life can lead to sore or tense muscles. Luckily, there are special heating pads that can help to reduce the pain, provide comfort and relaxation, and increase healing time.
If you are looking to buy one, here are a few things you should know about shoulder heating pads and five of the best ones you can get today.
Here are the top shoulder heating pads we’ll be reviewing:
- Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder Pain Relief
- Pure Enrichment PureRelief Neck and Shoulder Heating Pad
- Huggaroo Microwavable Neck Wrap
- PROALLE Shoulder Heating Pad
- Soothing Company Microwavable Heating Pad
Shoulder Heating Pad Buying Guide
How to choose the best shoulder heating pad?
The Shape And Design
There are some pads that are not uniquely shaped so that they can be used on other affected areas besides the shoulder.
These can be useful if you tend to get muscle tension or pain in other areas, but if you mainly get it in your shoulder and would like to use it for longer periods of time, then you may want to get a pad that is designed for shoulders.
Electric vs Microwave
The two main types of a shoulder heating pad are those that are electrically powered, which are better if you are planning to use it for longer periods of time, and those that are heated in a microwave, which generally heats up more and quicker than the electric ones.
Number of Settings
For electric models, you may want to get a heating pad that has several different heating levels. Some heating pads are extremely over or under-powered, and the extra settings or levels are convenient and sometimes necessary in order to not get too hot or cold.
Different Uses
Some heating pads, usually the ones that are not electric, can be left in the fridge or freezer so that it can be used to cool the affected area first before using heat. This can be helpful for those of you, like me, who like to switch from cold to hot or vice versa.
Extra Features
There are a few extra features that some heating pads have like timers, aromatherapy infused material, moist heating for deeper heating, and more. Possibly the best feature that some pads have is that they are machine washable.
What Are The Advantages/Benefits of a Shoulder Heating Pad?
Using a shoulder heating pad can help to relieve muscle tension by helping to reduce the pain and stiffness.
This is because heat therapy can help increase circulation in the blood which helps to purge and/or prevent pain-inducing lactic acid from accumulating throughout the affected area.
What’s The Best Way to Use a Shoulder Heating Pad?
It is important to not burn your skin no matter what kind of heat therapy you are using, electric, microwave or another type. In order to avoid this, stop using the pad or turn the temperature down if your skin starts to turn red.
You can start to use it again one the redness is gone, as long as there are no other symptoms like a rash.
Dry Heat vs Wet heat
You might have heard someone tell you to only use a wet heat source, like a wet pad, washcloth, or a hot bath versus a dry pad or vice versa, telling you it would feel better – but either will work.
Since each person has their own preferences, like with heat and cold therapy, it can be best to experiment with each type to see which method works better.
Precautions For Using Them
The two biggest things to watch out for are getting lightly burned from a heating pad and, if you are using an electric pad, there is always the risk of starting fires.
To avoid burns, most pads come with a material cover, but you could also wrap the pad up in a towel or a thin cloth.
To avoid fires with an electric heating pad, you should try to avoid falling asleep while using the pad, keeping it on for too long, and keeping liquids away from the pad and the outlet it is plugged into.
Who Can Use a Shoulder Heating Pad?
Nearly anyone can use a heating pad, but those who have health conditions and/or women who are pregnant should consult with a doctor before using one.
This is also the case for younger children and the elderly as they can be sensitive to heating pads. It is also a good idea to keep an eye on sensitive users while they are using the heating pad; better safe than sorry.
How Often Can a Shoulder Heating Pad be Used?
If it is kept on the lowest setting, if it is electric, and you are using a sleeve cover to avoid burns, then you can use a heating pad for many hours.
They can be used as often as possible to help reduce pain, just so long as you are not getting burned or show signs of health complications.
Top 5 Shoulder Heating Pads
Finding a shoulder heating bad that will work for you can be difficult. Here are the top shoulder heating pads we’ve identified to be of exceptional quality to save you some time.
Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder Pain Relief
The first on the list, this is one of the most popular pads, mostly for how soft the cover is and because it comes in a variety of colors including green, pink, and blue.
Another one of the best features is the extra-long power cord, yes this is an electric heating pad, which is 9 feet long.
It is lighter than other pads, making it more likely to not stay in place, but the magnetized ends help prevent this by clipping together and staying around your neck. The only other downside is the sides of the pad are not as large as others, covering less shoulder space for larger men and women.
Even so, the soft pad cover and lightweight helps make this possibly the best shoulder heating pad in terms of comfortability. The built-in timer and 3-setting heat control certainly were enough to make the list.
PROS
- Longer than average electrical cord
- Soft pad cover
- Has a magnetized collar
CONS
- Lightweight
- Does not stay hot for long
Pure Enrichment PureRelief Neck and Shoulder Heating Pad
Another pad that has one of the softest covers available, this is possibly the best shoulder heating pad if you are looking for one that works well with moist heating.
It also has three other heat settings, a 1-hour auto shut-off timer, a storage bag, and the cover is machine washable.
It does tend to smell like burning plastic if it has been on too long or is put on the hottest setting before it has had the chance to warm up slowly, but these can both be avoided if you do not do those things.
Unlike the last pad, this one has special beans on the inside that keep it lightly pressed against the shoulders while you are using it, making it less likely to fall off and stay warmer longer after the pad is turned off.
Like the last pad, it too has a magnetic neck closure to prevent it from falling and a 9-foot long cord.
PROS
- Soft pad cover
- Stays on shoulders well
- Moisture heat works well
CONS
- Not the best for large men/women
- Tends to smell
Huggaroo Microwavable Neck Wrap
The first microwavable model on this list, this is the best shoulder heating pad for its wide variety of uses since it can be used as a dry or moist heating pad, and it can also be left in the freezer and used as a cold compress.
It can be especially helpful if you also have a cold, flu, or some other condition where you are congested since it is filled with over a dozen herbs and seeds that can help with aromatherapy.
However, because of all of these plants and smells, it can become overpowering for some, even more so after the pad is microwaved which makes the smells come out more.
Also, for safety reasons, it cannot be heated up when/if the pad is already moist since it is a fire hazard when microwaved, making it impossible to reheat it if you are planning to use the moisture heating continuously.
Even so, it is still one of the larger pads available, and it has a neck fold in the back to chill/warm your neck, too.
PROS
- Stays hot for up to an hour
- Only takes minutes to heat up
- Ideal for larger men/women
CONS
- The smell can be overpowering
- Cannot heat up when it is wet
PROALLE Shoulder Heating Pad
Another electric model, this one could be the best shoulder heating pad for those of you who need hotter-than-average temperatures in order to relax.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the hottest out there; the hottest setting nearly burned me while it had the cover on.
This is also one of the more affordable pads, but the plug is located on one of the shoulder’s corners, making it awkward if you are resting on your side or when the neck clips are attached.
Yes, there are clips instead of magnets for this pad that snap together and stay together very well.
Unfortunately, it is on the smaller side, so it is more uncomfortable for larger men and women to use even when the neck clips are undone.
Despite these issues, the sheer power of this pad was enough to make the list, and I recommend that you start on the lowest of the three settings first before raising it to the highest.
The 2-hour automatic shut off timer helps to prevent burns if you want to fall asleep with it on, too.
PROS
- Has a very soft cover
- Has closing snaps
- Is hotter than most pads
CONS
- Not the best for larger men/women
- The cord can be awkward on the neck
Soothing Company Microwavable Heating Pad
The last on the list, this heating pad is reminiscent of some of the older designs since it is completely filled with beans/beads that get hot quickly in the microwave.
Because of this, it does heat up within a few short minutes and can stay hot for a little while. It also can sit across the shoulders more easily than other pads because of the weight.
However, as with the older models, the beans/beads occasionally fall out of the pad through tiny holes, and if it dropped or the material gets torn, more to all of the beans/beads fall out.
Unlike the older models, this pad does not have an overpowering smell and is more lightweight, making it possibly the best shoulder heating pad for pressure therapy.
Another thing that makes it more unique is the fact that it can be left in a fridge or freezer and used for cold therapy.
PROS
- Only takes minutes to heat up
- Stays on the shoulders well
- Very light smell
CONS
- Cannot stay hot more than 45 minutes
- Beads tend to fall out
And The Winner is…
Out of all of the choices on the list, the best shoulder heating pad is probably the PROALLE Shoulder Heating Pad.
It is one of the most comfortable between the soft pad cover and the neck clips which hold it in place.
It is also one of the most powerful choices, has multiple settings for your preferences, can be used for heat and cold therapy, and is one of the most affordable.
