New Hope for Osteoarthritis Sufferers: ThermaCare® Launches New HeatWrap for the Knee
Cincinnati (September 27, 2004)-Procter & Gamble announced a new addition to its expanding line of ThermaCare® products with the introduction of the new ThermaCare® Knee HeatWrap, the first product of its kind designed specifically for the knee. The air-activated heat wrap is designed to deliver at least eight hours of continuous, low-level heat directly to the knee or other joints to relieve pain and reduce stiffness.
"More than 40 million Americans are affected by some form of arthritis1 and many suffer from debilitating knee pain that limits daily activity," said Wayne Riskin, MD, Clinical Voluntary Professor, University of Miami School of Medicine. The Wrap is an effective option as it provides long-lasting pain relief without the risk of drug interactions or upset stomach, which can occur with the use of oral analgesics."
For the 18.3 million patients who visited the doctor's office this year with knee pain, this news comes as a relief (2). A clinical study among those suffering from knee pain associated with osteoarthritis revealed that the Knee Wrap provided not only significant pain relief, but also increased flexibility and range of motion (3).
The Knee Wrap has a unique and patented one-piece design that requires no assembly and features adjustable straps to ensure a comfortable fit for a variety of joints including the knee, elbow and wrist. Its custom fit allows free movement of the joint being treated, so the product can be worn comfortably while performing everyday activities or for overnight relief while sleeping. In addition, the wrap is made of the same wearable, cloth-like material as the original ThermaCare HeatWraps, so its ultra-thin design goes virtually unnoticeable when worn under clothes.
Once exposed to oxygen in the air, ThermaCare HeatWraps reach a therapeutic temperature of 104° F within 30 minutes. Studies have shown that heat disrupts the body's pain cycle by stimulating one's heat sensors to help stop pain from reaching the brain and by providing deep muscle relaxation to reduce sore muscles (4).
ThermaCare earned the Good Housekeeping Seal from the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI). The Seal is an American icon representing Good Housekeeping's limited two-year satisfaction warranty.
ThermaCare® Knee Wraps are available in the pain relief aisle of grocery stores, supermarkets, drug stores, club stores or mass merchandisers by October 2004. For more information about knee pain and how ThermaCare® Knee Wraps can help, visit www.thermacare.com.
(1) Medline Plus. National Institutes of Health.2003. http://nihseniorhealth.gov/arthritis/faq/faq2a.html
(2) "The Knee" 2002. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons http://orthinfo.aaos.org
(3) Clinical Study 2003042 (data on file)
(4) Melzack R, Wall PD., "Pain Mechanisms-a new theory." Science, 1965: 150: 971-979.