A few months ago, we got a "free sample" ThermaCare shoulder heat wrap with the Sunday paper. Yesterday, my shoulders were really sore (probably from sleeping on them funny), and I decided to try this out.
Man do these things work.
The shoulder pads are attached using an adhesive on the edges. The center has about 10 small ceramic disks that undergo an exothermic reaction when exposed to air. And they make heat for at least 8 hours! Two days ago, I couldn't turn my head to the right without a sharp pain in my shoulder. Today, I'm just fine.
The lower back pads are attached through a stretchy velcro system (so they feel a little like a Cap'n Kirk Girdle). But the heat on my lower back is nice. Maybe that'll help melt away a lot of the tension in my lower back. :-)
Be sure to put something between your skin and those things. My father-in-law actually got a blister from the heat after wearing one against his lower back during an 8-hour car trip.
--David
