In this Sunbeam Body-Shaped Heating Pad review, I will take a look at this popular model and see if it will help with an ailing lower back.
I have been dealing with lower back problems most of my adult life and am always on the lookout for products that can help to relieve pain.
So many people today suffer from back pain, and there are a lot of different reasons as to why people have back pain.
One of the more common reasons is tension in the muscles and soft tissue around the spine.
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If you are a physically active person, you may strain muscles playing sports or lifting heavy weights.
You can also strain muscles by doing everyday activities, like picking up a child, moving a bucket of laundry, or just a simple twist the wrong way.
Maybe you have a long commute to and from work, and then while at work, you sit for hours behind a computer. All that sitting can wreak havoc on your muscles, causing them to tighten up.
Unfortunately, I do a lot of sitting, and my hip flexors and glutes get tight during the day.
One way to help alleviate back pain caused by tight or sore muscles is to use heat therapy.
This brings me to the Body Shaped Heating Pad from Sunbeam.
Product Name: Sunbeam Body-Shaped Heating Pad
Rating: 92 out of 100
Recommended: Yes
Product URL: Available at Amazon.com
Heat or cold, it’s up to you
One thing I wanted to point out right away is that this pad comes with a multi-use gel pack that can be used for heat or cold, making it a complete solution.
The gel pack allows you to wear the pad without restriction by a cord that plugs into an outlet. The power cord is nine feet long, but you can’t go very far in nine feet.
You can freeze the gel pack and have it ready when you need it. The pad itself has a sleeve where the gel pack fits nice and secure. So you can freeze the gel pack and have a cold pack ready.
To heat the gel pack, it goes in the microwave. Using the gel pack as a heat source is a separate feature, aside from the electric plugin that provides the best source of heat.
The gel pack fits into a pouch sewn into the heating pad.
Who is this heating pad right for?
If you suffer from tight muscles in your lower back, this may be just the heating pad for you. The pad has an adjustable elastic fastening system that will extend up to seventy inches to secure the pad where you need it most.
This pad is contoured for the lower back area to provide targeted relief to that area, but you don’t just to use it on your lower back.
Some people use this pad on shoulders, legs, upset tummies, so it really is very versatile.
How to use
The first step is to unwrap the product from the packaging.
You can detach the controller from the heating pad itself. The main reason for this is so the entire pad can be machine washed.
When you receive the pad, you will need to make sure to connect the power cord to the pad securely.
The connectors are keyed to fit only one way so you will want to make sure the ends are connected properly before you plug it into the outlet.
The controller itself is intuitive and easy to use. Use the up and down arrows to adjust the heat setting to your liking.
Sunbeam Body Shaped Heating Pad features
- Velcro strap that will extend up to 70 inches
- Hot/cold gel pack
- Fully machine washable. The pad is easy to clean and will stay fresh
- Soft and very comfortable fabric
- Five heat settings
- Nine-foot power cord
- Heats up quickly for faster pain relief
- Two-hour auto shut off
What I like about this heating pad
Targeted heating
One of the reasons this pad caught my attention is the design, which is contoured to fit the lower back. I suffer from low back problems, and I know how it can be a challenge to wrap a heating pad around your waist.
This pad is designed to fit the lower back and target that area. That doesn’t mean you can’t use it elsewhere. Many customers have used this for sore shoulders, upset tummy, legs and other areas. I am just noting that has been designed to target the lower back.
Portable and versatile
One of the big selling points with this pad is the fact that you can unplug the power cord from the heating pad and it becomes a portable device by using the included gel pack.
The portability factor is excellent, meaning you can use this heating pad on the way to work, while you are making dinner, or just lounging around the house. The heating pad will go with you.
Moist heating ability
Per Sunbeam, you can sprinkle water on this pad and use it as a moist heating pad. Moist heat offers some benefits over dry heat, notably that it is less likely to dry out your skin. Moist heat also penetrates deeper and gives your muscles a chance to stretch.
What is lacking
The most significant issues with this heating pad and the customer reviews prove this point is that it does not get hot enough.
I would tend to think this is very subjective and depends on the individual. Some like more heat than others. This has been a common complaint amongst the customer reviews
There is no digital display like some other models, but rather indicator lights to tell you which heat mode you are using. Heat settings range from “warm” to “high.” Use the “up” and “down” arrows to select heat settings.
I also think adding some customizable time settings would be fantastic.
Pros:
- Contoured heating pad for the low back
- Portability options with a hot and cold gel pack
- Soft, comfortable fabric
- Machine washable for easy cleaning
- Two-hour auto shutoff
- Heats up quickly
Cons:
- Customers complain this pad doesn’t get hot enough
- Not great for shoulders since it is contoured for low back
For warranty information, please contact Sunbeam
Wrapping up: Sunbeam Body-Shaped Heating Pad review
I really want to like this heating pad, especially given that my problem area is my lower back. It is a really great idea, and I think this pad would serve a lot of people well if it were a bit improved.
I like the idea of the heat/cold gel pack and the portability the pad offers.
The customer reviews are overall very positive but are somewhat scattered about the items mentioned above. I am kind of disappointed that it doesn’t have better reviews. I know a lot of this depends upon the individual, and everyone has different pain levels, etc., so that is definitely something to keep in mind.
That said, I think this pad is worth a shot, but you may need to do a little more research depending on how hot you like it.
I hope this review has answered many if not all of your questions.
If you would like to purchase this heating pad, you can click here or on any of the images above. By clicking on one of these links, you will be directed to amazon.com where you can make your purchase safe and secure.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below, and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as I can.
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