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FAQs - General

What is ThermaCare?

ThermaCare is an air-activated heat wrap using real heat that penetrates deeply to soothe and relax tight muscles. It gives 8 hours of relief while you wear it. And the long-lasting relief continues even after you take it off. Apply it right where you hurt for temporary relief of minor muscular and joint aches and pains associated with overexertion, strains, sprains and arthritis; and for minor menstrual cramp pain and associated back aches.

How does ThermaCare relieve pain and relax muscles?

ThermaCare provides long-lasting pain relief of minor muscular or joint aches and pains and menstrual cramps by delivering deep penetrating heat directly to the site of pain. ThermaCare heat blocks the transmission of pain signals, and increases blood circulation to relax your sore muscles.

How does ThermaCare keep working even after taking the HeatWrap off?

Deep heat accelerates blood flow, which helps the natural process of removing toxins from the site of pain. This provides long-lasting pain relief, even after you take it off.

What types of pain does ThermaCare help?

ThermaCare Neck, Shoulder & Wrist, and Lower Back & Hip HeatWraps are designed for relief of minor muscular and joint aches and pains associated with overexertion, strains, sprains, and arthritis as well as muscle stiffness.

ThermaCare Menstrual patches are designed to provide relief of minor menstrual pain such as abdominal cramps and any associated back pain.

ThermaCare Joint & Arthritis Pain Hand & Wrist and Knee & Elbow HeatWraps are designed for the relief of minor muscular and joint aches and pains associated with arthritis.

What's the difference between using ThermaCare and other heat pads/hotwater bottles?

Hot water bottles, heating pads, and ThermaCare all provide heat that relieves your muscle pain. But ThermaCare provides low-level consistent heat that lasts 8 or more hours and because it’s a soft, wearable wrap, it conforms to your body and can be used anywhere, anytime. And you can expect long-lasting pain relief, even after you take it off.

What's the difference between using ThermaCare and taking Oral Pain Relievers?

Oral pain medications have to be ingested and provide relief by working through the bloodstream. ThermaCare provides pain relief by working directly at the site of the pain, allowing you to focus on things other than the pain and not to recognize pain sensation. ThermaCare also helps relieve muscular pain by relaxing the muscle and increasing local blood flow.

What’s the difference between using ThermaCare and using a topical pain reliever/cream, gel, rub or patch?

ThermaCare relieves pain without the mess or odour that can be associated with topical pain relievers such as creams, lotions, ointments, gels, or patches. Some topical pain relievers cause blood vessels to expand, which causes a heating sensation; others produce a cooling sensation that may eventually feel like heat. Drawbacks to using topical pain relievers can include stained clothing, stickiness, a burning sensation and unpleasant odours. Even medicated topicals such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gels, creams or ointments have drawbacks including allergic reactions to the medicinal or non-medicinal ingredients, blistering of the skin, skin sensitivity and/or gastro-intestinal discomfort.

While most topical pain relievers only create an alternate sensation at the skin level, the heat from ThermaCare penetrates deeply into your muscles helping muscles to relax, and increasing local blood flow to help push out the pain. ThermaCare is odourless and stays on comfortably while conforming to your body’s natural shape, to provide long-lasting pain relief and muscle relaxation.

Don’t use ThermaCare on an area of the skin where most topical medicines such as antibiotics, pain relieving creams, hydrocortisone creams, or poison ivy creams have been applied within the past 24 hours. Doing so may cause skin irritation or may alter the effect of the topical medication. Please consult your physician if you have any further questions.

How does increasing blood flow help muscles?

One of the functions of your blood is to deliver nutrients and oxygen to parts of your body while removing cellular wastes. By increasing circulatory blood flow, the nutrients required for muscle repair and relaxation are delivered to the affected tissue. This can help your muscles begin to return to their normal state of health.

Warm or cold: what should I use for my pain?

ThermaCare HeatWraps are used for the temporary relief of minor muscular and joint aches and pains associated with overexertion, strains, sprains, and arthritis. For injuries that cause bruising or swelling, physicians and pharmacists generally recommend you periodically apply ice during the first 24-48 hours. However, after the swelling and bruising has subsided (about 48 hours after the injury), heat has been found to effectively provide pain relief. If you’re still unsure, consult your physician or pharmacist – they’ll be able to give you further advice.

I don’t suffer from pain very often; will ThermaCare still be effective for me?

There is no data that shows less frequent pain sufferers have greater or lesser pain relief than more frequent pain sufferers when using ThermaCare. Most people who suffer from occasional muscular tension, muscular/joint aches and pains, or menstrual cramps and discomfort should experience relief when using ThermaCare.

How do I know if my skin is sensitive to heat?

There are many factors that determine a person's skin sensitivity to heat. Everyone's body responds differently to heat, and the best way to measure your sensitivity is to periodically check your skin under the heat discs for signs of skin irritation or burns, especially when trying the product for the first few times.

With age, the skin becomes thinner and your circulation changes. So your skin might develop a burn at a lower temperature than it would have when you were younger. If you feel your sensitivity to heat has changed over time, check your skin frequently when using heat. Please consult your physician if you have any further questions.

What about sweating? Will perspiration affect the heat?

Average body perspiration will not affect the wrap's performance.

What sizes of ThermaCare HeatWraps are available?

All ThermaCare HeatWraps and Menstrual Patches are available in one size.

How many wraps are in a carton?

The Lower Back & Hip, Knee & Elbow and Hand & Wrist versions contain two wraps per carton. The Neck, Shoulder & Wrist and Menstrual versions contain three wraps per carton. Certain retailers also offer bonus packs that contain additional heat wraps. Larger sizes of the Lower Back & Hip and Neck, Shoulder & Wrist versions are available at selected retailers.

What is the difference between regular ThermaCare and ThermaCare Joint & Arthritis Pain?

ThermaCare Joint & Arthritis Pain lasts 12 hours whereas regular ThermaCare lasts 8 hours. People who suffer from arthritis/joint pain, specifically Osteoarthritis, tend to experience pain longer, and ThermaCare Joint & Arthritis Pain was designed specifically to treat this type of pain, so the heat lasts 4 hours longer than regular ThermaCare for longer-lasting relief.





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