ThermaCare, a new long-lasting heat wrap developed by Procter & Gamble, does a better job of relieving low back pain than acetaminophen or ibuprofen, according to a study published today in the medical journal Spine.

        The ThermaCare wrap is designed to provide 104-degree heat for at least eight hours and can be worn under clothing. After about seven years of development — much of which was done at P&G's Health Sciences Institute in Mason — the product hit grocery, drug store and discount retailer shelves in February.

        “I think this is a breakthrough. It will probably rewrite the way we treat back pain,” said Dr. Scott Nadler, director of sports medicine at the New Jersey Medical School in Newark and lead author of today's study.

        The study, sponsored by the P&G Health Sciences Institute, is the first peer-reviewed research about ThermaCare to be published, although other studies are near publication, company officials said. It compared the effects of the back wrap to common over-the-counter pain pills among 371 back pain patients

        Pain relief from ThermaCare, measured on a zero to five scale, was 52 percent higher after one day than acetaminophen and 33 percent higher than ibuprofen. Two days after stopping treatment, people who had used the back wrap still had less pain than those who had taken pain pills, the study reports.

        In addition, the back wrap provided muscle relaxation and improved flexibility, which pain pills often cannot provide, while avoiding the risks of side effects and dangerous drug interactions, Dr. Nadler said.

        ThermaCare is “on-track” to surpass $100 million in sales during its first year, said brand manager Brian Niccol.

        Low back pain is the leading cause of disability among people younger than 45 and costs society an estimated $20 billion to $50 billion a year in health expenses and lost productivity, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research.

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