If you’ve ever heard of infrared technology, you may be aware of some of its benefits and applications in the health industry. Reducing inflammation, improving circulation and speeding up the healing process are prime examples. German company Beurer sent us one of their IL50, infrared heat lamps to test. Coming from a company with over 100 years of experience in the health and wellness sector, we had reasonable to good expectations for this one. So, how did it fare in a real-life, 8-week test? Read on and find out in our review of the Beurer IL50 Infrared Heat Lamp.
Design
First impressions count a fair bit and we were pleased to see the device was well protected in its smartly designed box when we received it. The box lists some of the main features of the heat lamp. These include a high quality ceramic glass plate, a timer display, and an automatic switch-off function. (IMPORTANT NOTE: The Beurer IL50 is a Class II Medical Device and the ceramic glass plate does get VERY HOT very quickly, so please use responsibly. It’s absolutely not to be operated by children or inadvertently by pets!!!)
Instructions for using the device can be found in the box as well as on Beurer’s website and it is recommended you read the leaflet to ensure that you use the device safely.
Build
The dimensions of the heat lamp are 27cm x 28.5cm x 19.5cm. It is lightweight at just 1.5kg. The lamp can be adjusted from 0-50 degrees and the radiation area is 30 x 40cm. Its power cord measures 2 metres which can be wound around moulded spindles located on the underside of the unit to be neatly tucked away when not in use.
Performance
Getting started with the IL50 heat lamp couldn’t be easier. Place it on an even surface, switch on, position yourself at least 30cm away, then enjoy the treatment. Pressing the small grey timer button lets you select how long you want to use it, counting down in one minute increments from 15 minutes to 1 minute. Simple!
With a few decades of lifting weights under my belt, you can be sure that I’ve also got my fair share of minor aches and pains throughout my body.
Putting it to the Test: on Lower Back Ache, Shoulders & Hands
Presently suffering with a slightly aching lower back, I thought I’d test the IL50 on it first. The result was pleasing; it brought a welcoming warmth to my lumbar muscles and a lovely relaxing sensation. I was impressed at how fast the lamp heated up, it only took a second or two to go from cold to hot. My shoulders and hands were the next areas to be treated. Again, the lamp eased the tension and tightness in these areas.
Effect on the Pain of Raynaud’s Syndrome (very cold hands)
Happy with the first few treatments on myself, I encouraged my parents to give it a try. As many of us know, the winter weather can more readily trigger certain aches and pains, especially as you get a bit older. My parents found the heat lamp useful for warming their muscles and joints, and taking the edge off some of their deep aches and pains. My mother has Raynaud’s Syndrome, a disease which affects her fingers causing discomfort; treatment with the IL50 successfully reduced the pain.
Assessing its Practicality
You can adjust the angle of the heat lamp which is helpful in making it easier to target the muscles and joints you want to treat. It took a little bit of trial and error to set up the lamp to get just the right positioning to treat various bodyparts, but that didn’t take long to master.
I found reading a book or browsing online while using the heat lamp made good use of time; I could learn new stuff while simultaneously healing my body. Thankfully, the automatic switch-off shuts the unit down at the assigned time so there’s nothing extra you need to think about.
Value
As with anything, it pays to shop around for the best price. The Beurer IL50 can currently be purchased around the £70 mark which is an unarguably fair price for this sturdy, reliable, quick-acting piece of equipment. The product comes with a three-year guarantee as standard lending a further vote of confidence.
Summary
If you haven’t guessed already, I’m very impressed with the IL50. Two things stand out for me: how simple it is to use and how good it feels on the body, and on my lower back in this case. If staying healthy and encouraging a speedier healing of injuries is important to you, the IL50 will be prove a solid investment. Top marks to Beurer.
Find out more about the Beurer IL50 as well as other Beurer healing/medical products via their website, and social media pages; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also order it via Amazon.
Try the healing, Beurer IL50 -Infrared Heat Lamp
