Achy or sore muscles are often a result of over exercise and are common with athletes. Non-athletes also may develop achy muscles if they strain their muscles when lifting heavy objects or doing physically demanding work they are not used to. The medical name for this painful condition is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). It is believed to be caused by the inflammation of the muscle when micro-tears appear in the muscle fibers due to strain. There are several cures for this condition including the application of heat therapy through electric heating pads.
Treatment of sore muscles focuses on reducing the inflammation first and then allowing the achy muscle to heal on its own. An electric heat pad is a popular option for soothing achy muscles. Localized application of the heating pad causes the following:
- The pores of the skin become dilated which results in increased perspiration.
- The blood capillaries expand allowing blood to flow more easily.
- The channels of the lymphatic system expand improving the flow of body fluids.
- The cells become dilated allowing them to inhale oxygen and exhale toxins at a better rate.
As a result, the tense and stiff muscle relaxes and inflammation is gradually reduced. Once the inflammation is gone, the healing process automatically begins if given enough "down time". When using an electric heat pad to treat achy muscles, one must be careful not to apply heat continuously to the same area of the skin for too long as overheating can cause problems like burning and edema. Edema is a condition in which an excessive amount of watery fluid accumulates in the tissues and cavities of the body, which can lead to complications.
An electric heating pad is a simple device that runs on household electricity. Most modern electric heat pads have inbuilt protection against overheating and you should avoid ones that do not have this feature. These heating pads are made of a tough and electrically non-conductive material that encloses an electric coil which becomes hot when plugged to into an electric socket. They usually come with a fabric cover that is removable and washable.
The heat produced by the coil is distributed uniformly throughout the pad, which means that each fiber of your muscle gets the same amount of heat. As a result, all micro-tears in the muscle begin the healing simultaneously. Some electric heating pads also allow you to adjust the temperature level so that you can apply just the right amount of heat. This flexibility makes it a popular option for both athletes and non-athletes. Even when using other methods, such as exercise, to cure achy muscles, using a heat pad before exercising can warm up and loosen the muscles, which is conducive to the healing process.
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