Heat Therapy Comparison Chart
|
Ceramic |
Thermotex Infrared Heat Pads |
Wheat bags |
Microbead Moist Heat pads |
Microwaveable Scottie Heat Pad |
Grain filled heat packs |
Heat in a Click |
Battery operated |
Cherry stone Pillow |
Price Range | £5.99 up | £105-£165 | From £8.99 | From £17.99 | £14.99 | Under £10 | From £5-£25 | From £19.99 | Under £20 |
Scent | None | None | Scented | No scent | No scent | No scent | No scent | No scent | Natural fragrance/can be scented |
Energy source
|
Self |
Electric socket |
Microwave |
Microwave |
Microwave |
Microwave | Boiling in a Pan | Rechargeable lithium battery |
Microwave |
Washability | Machine | Wipe outer cover | Wipe outer cover | Washable outer cover | Washable outer cover | Washable outer cover | Boiled in water each time used | Wipe outer cover | Fully washable |
Portability |
Easy |
Easy for travel with car adaptor |
Easy to transport |
Easy to transport |
Easy to transport |
Easy to transport | Easy to transport | Easy to transport |
Portable |
Type of Heat |
Radiant |
Radiant 100% infrared |
Conductive |
Conductive |
Conductive |
Conductive | Conductive | Conductive |
Conductive |
Risk of burns
|
N/A |
Very low |
Low |
Low |
Low |
Low | Low | Low |
Low |
Convenience of Use |
N/A |
Plugs into standard socket anywhere for immediate use. |
Easy to use where there is a microwave |
Easy to use where there is a microwave |
Easy to use where there is a microwave |
Easy to use where there is a microwave | Where there is a cooker | Battery operated easy to travel with |
Easy to use where there is a microwave |
Ease of application |
Easy |
Designed to fit the body part, easy to use, can be used whilst seated or lying down |
Can be held in place or use joint packs, belt packs with velcro fastening. |
Designed to fit the body part, easy to use by placing on area requiring heat |
A solid disc can be held in place. Difficult to use on certain body parts as it is not flexible. |
Must be held in place, will mould to body and is flexible | Is flexible to the body and stays quite hot for up to a couple of hours. | Is flexible to the body and stays quite hot for up to a couple of hours. |
Can be held in place, filled with cherry stones for a massage effect |
In car use |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No | Yes | Yes |
No |
Duration of use |
all day |
Used for 30-45 minutes, can be safely used for over 1 hour |
40 minutes use then requires re-heating |
30 minutes use then requires re-heating |
8 hours, must be completely cool before reheating. |
30-40 mins then gradually cools down | 1-2 hours then gradually cools down. | 3 hours then gradually cools down |
up to an hour |
Heat Penetration |
own body heat |
Up to 6cm (2.5”) |
Not measured |
Deep as water is a better conductor than air |
Not measured |
Not measured | Not measured | Not measured |
Not measured |
Temperature fluctuation |
Constant |
Constant |
High temperature then cooling |
High temperature then cooling |
Medium temperature 55 degrees then gradually cooling |
High temperature then cooling | High temperature then cooling | Medium temperature then cooling |
Constant
|
Cost of Use (based on 9.8p/KWh)
|
N/A |
0.26p ie per 45 minutes based on 36 Watt Platinum |
0.39p based on 800W microwave on high for 3 minutes |
0.39p based on 800W microwave on high for 3 minutes |
0.51p based on 800W microwave on high for 5 minutes |
Boiling kettle (unknown) | Boiling water in a pan (unknown) | 0.26p ie per 45 minutes based on 36 Watt Platinum |
0.39p based on 800W microwave on high for 3 minutes |