FAQs

The Battle Creek® Ice It!® pack is designed for both cold and hot therapy treatments. Heating instructions are printed right on the product to make hot therapy use as simple as possible. Treat gel packs that have been heated in the microwave with caution to avoid injury. Excessive heating can cause expansion of the filling, and could rupture the enclosing bag. It is best to heat the packs in short cycles of approximately 15 seconds and checking frequently to make sure they are not overheating.

Older Ice It!® gel packs marked with “ColdCOMFORT™” were made with a patented, non-toxic gel comprised of a mixture of recycled plant cellulose and salt water. It freezes quickly but remains pliable, and retains its low temperature longer than typical cold packs because of the salt content.

Newer gel packs labeled “MaxCOMFORT™” are made with sheet gel that is non-toxic, holds its form better, and is basically “leakproof.”

The filling inside your Ice It!® pack is completely non-toxic and primarily made of salt water. We certainly don’t suggest that you put it in your mouth or eyes, but it won’t harm you if there’s accidental contact. It should clean right off your clothing, carpet, bedding, or furniture.

Unfortunately, we are not able to re-seal the Ice It!® packs if they do begin to leak, but they are so durable that leaking is an unusual occurrence.

Cold therapy penetrates into tissues to slow circulation, decrease pain and relax muscle spasms. Athletes have long known the benefits of cold therapy, and even “weekend warriors” will find Ice It!® wraps beneficial in preventing or reducing swelling after exercise. In addition, using cold to slow circulation is helpful in reducing inflammation, swelling and/or bruising after any type of trauma, dental procedure, or insect bite. Cold therapy is also used on burns to prevent further tissue damage.

Cold therapy helps almost any pain that is caused by or includes swelling. Headaches, including sinus pain or migraines, can be relieved or minimized with the application of cold to the face, head, or back of the neck. The lingering after-effects of sports injuries or surgery can also be reduced by the immediate application of cold to the affected area to reduce bruising, swelling, muscle spasms, and inflammation. Tendon and/or joint problems such as TMJ, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff (shoulder) pain, or most types of knee pain (whether from torn cartilage, hyperextension, arthritis, or surgery) respond well to cold therapy. Even toothaches respond well to cold therapy!

After placing the hot pack unit inside the cover, plug the unit in and lay it out flat on a glass or Formica table or countertop. Simply turn it on and let the unit warm for about 5 minutes.. Then lift the edge of the Thermophore® pad and you should see tiny moisture drops on the glass or Formica surface. If you run your hand over the surface, you can feel the moisture and see streaks of water. If you live in an area with a dry climate, or frequent use of the furnace or air conditioner makes the indoor air too dry, you may need to use our Moisture-Plus™ cover. It will utilize atmospheric moisture, but also has a separate nylon pocket that allows you to add a damp cloth for added moisture.

We recommend using the Thermophore® directly on the skin if possible, so that the moist heat can penetrate most effectively and deeply into the tissue. Always use it with the removable cover in place to make sure you get moist heat. Using it over pajamas or a shirt will also work if that is more convenient for you. Metal buttons, clips or buckles on clothing under the pad may become quite hot, and should not be allowed to contact skin directly until they have had a chance to cool. Never lay on top of a Thermophore® pad, because this inhibits the natural dissipation of the heat. This in turn will reduce the effectiveness of your moist heat therapy, and may damage the components inside your Thermophore® pad, shortening the life of the pad.

Only Thermophore® brand heat packs provide true Deep-Heat™Therapy, by combining three key components:

• A quick rush of intense heat, to relax muscle spasms, relieve pain and increase circulation to speed your body’s natural healing action.
• Moisture, to significantly enhance the penetrating power of heat and your body’s reaction to heat therapy.
• Self-contouring materials that shape to your body’s curves, for maximum contact with painful areas.

Heat therapy is often overlooked in the desperate search for pain relief, but research proves this simple, natural method can alleviate pain as well as many of the more complex, invasive strategies. Heat therapy enhances your body’s inherent healing power by stimulating circulation to remove toxins and increase the supply of rich, oxygenated nutrients available to damaged tissues. Meanwhile, comforting heat works to soothe painful joints, reduce inflammation, relax knotted muscles and calm pain receptors.

Moist heat therapy has long been the preferred treatment for many types of acute (short-term) or long-lasting, chronic pain. Headache, including sinus pain or migraine can be relieved or minimized with the application of heat to the face or back of the neck. The lingering after-effects of injuries, surgeries, or auto accidents can often be reduced by using penetrating moist heat (after the first 24-hours) to increase circulation to the area, which will help reduce bruising, swelling, muscle spasm, inflammation, stiffness and pain. Tendon and/or joint problems such as TMJ, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff (shoulder) pain or any type of knee pain (whether from torn cartilage, hyperextension, arthritis or surgery) often respond well to moist heat therapy after the acute stage.

Family members who suffer from chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, even those coping with the pain of cancer, will often find the soothing pain relief of a Thermophore® pad to be a dependable pain management tool.

Each Thermophore® unit has a specifically-woven Moist-Sure™ fleece cover. Between uses, this cover absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and traps the moisture in the air spaces between the textile strands. Although the fabric does not feel wet, the application of quick, intense heat will generate this moisture into water vapor to increase the benefit of heat therapy. The moisture leads to more effective transfer of heat into painful areas. Thermophore Classic™ Plus and MaxHEAT™ Plus systems include a Moisture-Plus™ cover that utilizes additional moisture. If you live in a dry climate or frequently use heating/cooling systems in your home, it dries out the indoor air. Using the Moisture-Plus™ cover will ensure the moist-heat therapy. This three-layer cover comes standard in units with “Plus” in the name.

No, the correct way to use your Bed Warmer is to place it under the bottom sheet on your bed. This keeps it flat which is how it is designed to be used. Using it in a chair or on a couch can lead to unsafe situations.

You must hold the timer switch down for 5 seconds for it to turn on, from there you are able to choose your preferred setting.

It is designed to be used underneath the bed sheet, if used on top of a sheet make sure the warmer is laid flat and does not scrunch up.

No, the BedWarmer is meant to cover one side of the bed or across a couples feet.

The cord is 10.5 feet long.