Joint pains are often caused by inflammation of the joint. Applying heated cushions can, therefore, help the pain temporarily. The heat will reduce the inflammation for a short while. So, although using heat pads is not a permanent fix for chronic joint pains or arthritis pain, it can work great when you want quick pain relief. But if the pain is due to sore muscles, you should be using ice packs instead of heat pads. Sometimes, applying heat can exacerbate the soreness of the muscles.