Once plugged in, a typical heating pad generates heat using a mechanism inside the pad. This is usually an electric coil of some sort. The coil heats up and gives the user warmth. Infrared energy is used to generate heat in an infrared heating pad. Unlike the heat from a regular heating pad, which is only felt at the skin's surface, this heat can permeate tissue up to six inches deep.
As a result, infrared heating pads can help relieve muscle tension and discomfort considerably more effectively. An infrared heating pad does not need to get as hot as its traditional counterparts, since infrared light penetrates deep into bodily tissue. They are ideal for anyone sensitive to high temperatures or who just wishes to use their heating pad for a long time.