Introduction
ThermaCare® heat patches are freely available drugs that can be used for the external treatment of pain, for example in the back. There are heat wraps and heat pads available in stores, which are usually stuck directly onto the skin and can be worn under clothing. Through a chemical reaction of the various ingredients with the oxygen in the air, a continuous release of heat is produced. This is intended to release muscular tension and thus relieve pain.
When should I use ThermaCare® thermal patches?
The main indications for ThermaCare® heat pads are muscle and joint pain, for example as a result of muscle tension or joint degeneration (arthrosis). The product is suitable, among other things, for pain in the lower back area (sciatica or “lumbago“) and painful tension in the neck or shoulders. However, if the use of Therma Care heat plasters does not bring about any improvement, if the pain is very severe or if there is additional discomfort or even paralyzed muscles in the arms or legs, it is strongly recommended that you consult your family doctor as soon as possible.
Even though they can cause great suffering, pain in the musculoskeletal system (muscles and joints) has a harmless cause in most cases. In rare cases, however, it can also be a serious injury such as a herniated disc. Further indications for the application can be chronic joint inflammations for example from the circle of rheumatic diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis). Here the treating physician should be asked if he considers the application of the ThermaCare® heat plasters appropriate.
How does the heat plaster work?
ThermaCare® heat patches contain a mixture of different ingredients that react with the oxygen in the air. This chemical reaction releases heat. The ingredients are primarily iron powder as well as activated carbon, salt and some water.
When ThermaCare patches are removed from their airtight packaging, the ingredients react with the oxygen in the air. This is a type of controlled combustion or oxidation. The resulting heat of reaction is then continuously released to the body.
This should lead to a relaxation of the muscles and thus to an alleviation of pain. The principle of these heat plasters based on iron powder differs from many other products, in which no heat is generated at all, but instead a reaction in the skin is produced by special active ingredients, which merely gives the feeling of warmth. The effect of ThermaCare® and comparable products from other manufacturers, on the other hand, is not mediated by active ingredients directly influencing the skin, but purely physically by the heat actually generated (comparable to a hot-water bottle or a grain cushion).
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