If you think you may need a heat pad, but do not want to go to the expense of purchasing an expensive electric heat pad before you have had a chance to try out and see whether the treatment of your injured area responds well to the application of heat, then you may well need to try out a microwaveable heat pad as an alternative.

The microwaveable heat pad tends to made from tough fabric and although soft usually wear very well.  The cloth is formed into a bag which can be shaped to mould its way around various different parts of the body.  Inside the bag, or pad there is most commonly wheat grain, but can also include buchwheat or flax.  The characteristic of the grains are that when heated they retain heat very well and cool down slowly.  Because they are a natural product they are also capable of delivering moist heat, which is generally accepted as being better at penetrating soft tissue than dry heat.

This type of heat pad is portable, and relatively inexpensive and therefore great for trying out the treatment of heat on your affected areas.