Neck pain and cramps are ailments that many people suffer from. In the workplace they can make your day almost unbearable, as you struggle to concentrate through the pain. But there is an easy solution that can relieve any cramp that may prevent itself during the course of your day. A heated neck wrap is the perfect solution to provide relief, and allow you to breathe easily, so that you can really focus on your day. There are even two types to choose from, standard wraps that warm your neck and surrounding back area, and even neck warming pillows to provide that extra level of comfort.
Heat is important for recurring pains like cramps, as it helps your muscles work through the pain and function like normal again quickly. A heated neck wrap will cause your blood vessels to expand, so that increased blood flow will help your muscles relax and work the knots out. This is a much better solution than the common practices of cracking your neck, which is actually harmful to your tendons and muscles. Although cracking your neck provides momentary relief, the pain and cramping can be worse when it returns. This is only a harmful stall, it doesn’t treat muscle pain the way that a heating pad will.
Typically there are two types of heated neck wraps that you can choose from, which are different because of their operation. There are electrically operated heating pads, and also microwaveable wraps. Both work differently with varying levels of effectiveness. A microwaveable wrap is convenient as they are heated incredibly quickly, and apply a good amount of heat to your neck to relieve pain. However the heat can dissipate before too long, and you’ll have to get up and microwave your wrap again before too long, if your cramps have not subsided.
An electric heated neck wrap works off of a battery that delivers electrical current to the device, causing a heating reaction. These don’t usually get quite as hot as your average microwaveable option, but they do circulate heat for a much longer period of time. That means you can remain seated until your cramp fully works itself out, instead of having to get up to heat your neck wrap repeatedly. Usually an electric version also operates off of a hand controlled remote that you can use to alter temperature, to really increase comfort level.
Both options have different costs, because of the varying technologies that they use. An electric heated neck wrap will typically retail for around $80 and up, and are ideal for long term heat therapy. These are only recommended if neck pain is a common occurrence, in which case you should take your doctor’s suggestions as to which remedies apply to you the most. A microwaveable heated neck wrap is best for occasional neck pain that doesn’t require a doctor’s intervention. These are much cheaper and can usually be found for $15 and up. Any department store in your area should have a few options for both types.