I tell people it works like a muscle relaxer (pill). Supposedly the heat goes deeper than a standard heating pad. I’ve got a bad back (scoliosis included) and other things. It helps heal a blown back and is great pre-yoga or any kind of stretching or stress.
We’re talking barely able to move around to normal daily functioning after twenty minutes. (I’ve used it for 8 hours in the past during very stressful periods. At some point I felt my muscles release like a muscle relaxer.)
Hope that helps.