Infrared knee heating pads, braces, and wraps are specifically designed for the curvy shape of your knee while emitting deep-penetrating infrared heat – all the way to your muscles, bones, and nerves.
When you combine the benefit of wrap-around design with infrared heat therapy – you’ve got the best natural method to relieve knee arthritis, knee injuries, and knee inflammation – at home.
In this post, you’ll find the 6 best knee heating pads on the market, with our reviews and ratings, plus a full comparison and best prices, to help you make the best choice for you.
Plus, you’ll find the best heated knee massager!
Overview
Top Pick
Our top pick for 2024 infrared knee therapy is the Comfier Heated Knee Massager, which offers 2 levels of heat and 5 vibrating massage modes, that enhance blood circulation and promote healing. Here’s why:
- Heat and massage can be used together or separately
- Flexible material that wraps comfortably on the knee
- Cost-effective – 2 braces in the package to treat both knees at the same time
For people who do not want a massaging knee wrap, our top pick is the Arris Heated Knee Wrap, which is flexible, fully portable (battery operated), and works for a full hour on the highest heat, or 2 hours on medium heat.
How Does a Knee Heating Pad Work?
Knee heating pads are designed as a sleeve for the knee and emit infrared heat all over the knee and surrounding tissues and muscles.
Infrared knee therapy stimulates local blood circulation, encourages healing, relaxes muscles supporting your knee, increases your range of motion, and relieves muscle spasms and pain associated with any condition you may have.
Knee heat therapy was proven very effective in clinical, double-blind human studies.
For example, this study has resulted in a 50% pain reduction for people with degenerative osteoarthritis of both knees – after only 10 days of self-treatment (15 minutes, twice a day).
And, the results lasted for 4-6 months!
Knee infrared heating pads can be very helpful for:
- Knee Arthritis
- Knee injury
- Knee fracture
- Torn Meniscus
- Knee Bursitis
- Patellar tendonitis
- Gout
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Osteoarthritis
- Knee surgery recovery
The 6 Best Knee Heating Wraps
See our top 4 picks below, followed by our knee heating pad reviews.
Through our research, here are the best infrared knee heating pads/wraps, plus our reviews, pros, and cons:
1. Comfier Heated Knee Massager Best Heated Knee Massager
- Size – 15.5″ x 9.5″ x 4″
- Weight – 2.54 Pounds
- Heat Settings – 2
- Vibration Modes – 5
✅ $52 (for 2 braces) on Amazon (with code under the price)
The Comfier is the best massaging knee brace on this list and includes 2 built-in heat pads (with 2 heat settings) for promoting blood circulation and soothing aching knees, and 2 vibrating massage motors to enhance the blood flow healing effect.
The material really feels soft and comfortable on the skin, and the heat & massage combo can be very helpful for knee arthritis, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, and muscle and ligament pain.
👉 The package comes with 2 braces, so you can use it on both knees at the same time!
You can choose from 5 massage modes, and the adjustable velcro straps keep it in place for the entire soothing, relaxing, and pain-relieving experience.
With the UL-approved safety thermostat and the auto shut-off, this knee wrap is very safe to use, even if you fall asleep with it.
- Comes with an adapter
- Highly adjustable (variable heat and massage modes)
- Can be used on both knees at the same time
- Massage and heat can be used separately
- Soft on the skin and snuggles comfortably
- High user ratings on Amazon, users reporting reduced swelling, and increased mobility – in the first week!
- 30-minute auto shut-off
- Safe – overheating protection system
Cons
- Not portable and rechargeable
- Can’t be washed
✅ Available on Amazon ($52 – for 2 braces!)
2. Sunbeam FlexTemp Joint Wrap Best Gel Pack
- Size – 9.5″ x 3″ x 5″
- Heat Settings – 3
- Weight – 0.05 ounces
✅ $34 on Amazon
The Sunbeam electric hot/cold joint wrap (for knees/elbows) delivers soothing heat or anti-inflammatory cold therapy via a removable gel pack.
We recommend using cold therapy only with new, acute injuries, but if you need to ice your knees several times a day – this one is very easy to carry with you, strap on, and continue with your activities.
If you spray the pad with water you can enjoy a moist heat experience as well.
The Sunbeam heated knee pad wraps around your knee easily and stays in place, but it plugs into an outlet so you can move around within the limits of the 9-foot cord.
You can choose from 3 heat settings (via the compact controller), and it automatically shuts off after 2 hours.
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- versatile heat settings, the higher setting gets very hot
- Both hot and cold therapies to choose from, and a moist heat option
- Can be used for both knees simultaneously, reducing treatment time
- Easy to strap on and use
Cons
- For small to medium knees only, may be too tight for some people
- Some complaints about the heat weakening after a few months of usage
✅ Available on Amazon ($34) and at Walmart ($34)
3. LifePro BioRecover – Best LED Wrap with Vibration Massage
- Size – 30″ x 10″ x 10″
- Weight – 1.1 lbs.
- Vibration levels – 5
- Wavelengths – red (660 nm) and near-infrared (850 nm)
✅ $119 at LifePro (with a free ball massager!)
The Life Pro Bio Recover is quite unique – it combines low-level LED light therapy with a gentle vibrating massage (10 Hz) so you can double your blood circulating in the knee area and speed up healing while relieving your pain naturally.
The dual-frequency LEDs that cover the knee all around it, emit the 2 best wavelengths for injury recovery, pain relief, inflammation reduction, and tissue regeneration – red light therapy (660 nm) and near-infrared (850 nm).
Using the controller, you can easily choose the best mode of treatment for you – 5 vibration levels, 2 wavelengths (near infrared is felt as gentle heat, while red light is cooler), and a pulsing mode (more intense light – great for wound healing).
Consumers are very satisfied with the BioRecover, and report great results with knee arthritis, knee injury from a car accident (reduced use of medication), and swelling on the back of the knee.
Pros
- The meniscus opening makes it very comfortable to use
- Comfortable warmth – up to 104 F
- Can also be used as an elbow wrap!
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Vibration helps tremendously and feels good
- Versatile modes to choose from and experiment with
- High consumer ratings
- 5-30 minute timer (I recommend at least 15 minutes every other day)
Cons
- Not rechargeable, must be plugged in to use
- Can’t be used with both wavelengths simultaneously
✅ Available at LifePro ($119 with a free ball massager) and on Amazon ($119)
4. dpl FlexPad Best LED Wrap
- Treatment area size: 10″ x 5″
- Weight: – 14.1 ounces
✅ $179 at Revive Light Therapy
The dpl Flex Pad is a highly flexible and comfortable near-infrared (880 nm infrared & 660 red) LED pad, which is easy to use and heats up fast.
👉 It is included in our Top 4 most recommended red light therapy wraps of 2024!
It has 40 infrared (880 nm) LEDs and 20 red (660nm) LEDs.
Using 2 different wavelengths is a more holistic approach to light therapy and can be more effective.
You can wrap it around your aching knee and secure it with adjustable Velcro straps.
It comes with a USB power cord, AC adapter, and full (simple) instructions.
dpl FlexPad Pros:
- Treats the entire knee in one treatment
- Treatment time: 20 relaxing minutes
- Requires no setup once out of the box
- Pleasant warmth, not too hot
- The USB charger cord is 34 inches
- Good customer service
Cons
- Most expensive wrap on this list
- No timer or auto shut off, you’ll have to watch the time to avoid overdoing it.
✅ Available at Revive Light Therapy ($179, FSA & HSA approved, free shipping)
5. Sharper Image Knee Massager With Magnets
- Heat Settings – 104°F to 149°F
- Vibration – 7000 rpm
- Weight – 1.1 Lbs
✅ $115 with code BFPREVIEW at Sharper Image
This is no regular heated knee pad.
The Sharper Image Physiotherapy Massager combines infrared heat, powerful magnets (2 magnets, 1,000 gauss each), and vibration massage (7000 rpm) to quickly relieve and heal knee pain (or elbow/shoulder).
It fits knees up to 20” in circumference, and the adjustable heat goes up to 149 F.
The vibration massage (very helpful and blood circulation-boosting) can be used or turned off according to your preferences.
The Sharper Image Knee Massager can be a life-changing treatment for people suffering from any knee condition, including permanent joint dysfunction, muscle atrophy, movement disorders, and knee arthritis.
The device comes with 3 adjustable straps and a protective pad. Plus, it remembers your last temperature settings so you don’t have to repeat the settings every time you use it.
Why magnets?
Research has shown that by exposing the body to a mild magnetic field, the tiniest blood vessels can be encouraged to expand or contract, leading to improved blood circulation and reduced inflammation – a crucial element for faster healing.
Though the price is higher than most knee heating pads, it’s well worth it.
Pros
- Combined infrared heat and vibration massage is very soothing
- Users report significant relief from arthritis, meniscus, and other knee injuries
- Can also be used on the shoulder
- Shuts off automatically
- Has magnets for inflammation reduction
Cons
- Sometimes you’ll need to move it around a bit to further pinpoint the best spot for relief
- May take a few uses to feel lasting relief
- May be too painful for some people
✅ Available at Sharper Image ($115 with coupon code BFPREVIEW)
6. TherMedic Heated Knee Brace – Most Comfortable
- Size – 12.5″ x 8.5″ x 1″
- Weight – 15.5 ounces
- Heat Settings – 45~50ºC/50~55ºC/55~60ºC
✅ $60 on Amazon
The Thermedic multi-function far infrared heating pad (made in Taiwan) is a breathable and ergonomic brace you can use on your knee or any other curvy part of your body – including your ankle.
It emits infrared heat via a carbon fabric element and has 3 temperature settings and a 30-minute auto shut-off for safety (CE and FDA certification).
It provides consistent heat without being too hot.
Without a rechargeable battery, the Thermedic needs to be plugged in to work and you can’t move around.
On the other hand, it is not as bulky and heavy as the battery-operated ones, and more ergonomic, breathable, and comfortable.
Pros
- Low EMF (electromagnetic radiation)
- Breathable and ergonomic design
- Stays in place and warms up quickly
- Comes with a handy travel bag
- Has Velcro straps
Cons
- Some users feel that it doesn’t get hot enough
- Needs to be plugged in to use
✅ Available on Amazon ($60)
See my top recommendations for far infrared heating pads
How Much Do Heated Knee Wraps Cost?
Heated knee wraps prices range from $35 to $140. To get the full price you’ll need to add shipping.
The price of heated knee pads depends on a few factors, including brand reputation, functionality (heated knee massagers are more costly, and so are LED devices), and quality of materials.
On Amazon, knee heating pads cost between $16 to $140.
The lowest-priced one is the Aroma Season portable knee brace, and the highest is the Real Relax Knee massager – with 3 heat settings and 3 vibration levels.
The best-selling one on Amazon is the Comfier heated knee massager, which was reviewed in this post.
At Walmart, you’ll find a wide range of heated braces costing $12 to $29.
Looking at the number of ratings for these products, they do not seem to be selling well.
What’s Better for Knee Pain – Hot or Cold?
Knee cold packs are best to use on acute injuries when your knee is highly inflamed, swollen, and painful.
When the pain and swelling ease up a bit, it’s best to use heat (thermal knee therapy) to relax the muscles supporting the joints, reduce stiffness, and increase blood flow to speed up healing.
Are Knee Heating Pads Safe?
If used properly, by following instructions, heated knee wraps and braces are safe to use.
If they are used improperly or overused, they can cause burns or skin irritation.
Also, they should not be used on open wounds or broken skin.
It is important to choose a high-quality product, from a reputable brand, and opt for wraps with various heat settings, to control the heat level and avoid burns.
How Long Should You Use a Heated Knee Brace?
You can use a heated knee brace every day, for as long as it feels comfortable – without extending the time recommended in the instructions. Most experts recommend using it for 15-20 minutes – 3-4 times a day.
As long as the heated brace is placed on your knee, it will enhance blood circulation in the injured area and speed up recovery from injuries, while naturally relieving pain and stiffness.
To your health and happiness,
Meital
Studies
J Stelian 1, I Gil, B Habot, M Rosenthal, I Abramovici, N Kutok, A Khahil, Improvement of pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee treated with narrow-band light therapy, 1992 Jan;40(1):23-6.
Usman Z, Maharaj SS, Kaka B. Effects of combination therapy and infrared radiation on pain, physical function, and quality of life in subjects with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled study. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2019;39(2):133-142.
Hinman MR, Ford J, Heyl H. Effects of static magnets on chronic knee pain and physical function: a double-blind study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2002 Jul-Aug;8(4):50-5.