Infrared saunas are growing in popularity, thanks to their safe, effective, and cost-efficient nature. Despite this, a lot of people are still unaware of infrared saunas, their benefits and why they are likely to be better off using one.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the health, fitness, and performance benefits of infrared saunas. We’ll finish off by making the case for why regular infrared sauna bathing will be a great addition to your wellness practice.
WHAT ARE INFRARED SAUNAS AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT TO TRADITIONAL SAUNAS?
An infrared sauna is warmed by an infrared element. They provide a gentle warmth rather than high heat, and the infrared rays they produce penetrate the tissues. As the infrared rays enter the body, they stimulate a series of beneficial physiological reactions.
These reactions include tissue healing, circulation improvements, energy improvements and lowering of blood pressure.
A traditional sauna works by convection. This is where the room is heated to a very high temperature (80+ degrees Celsius) and you sit in it for as long as you can cope with. The traditional sauna offers many similar benefits to the infrared, but it’s far less comfortable to sit in, and is significantly sweatier.
The risk of dehydration in the regular sauna is also much higher than in an infrared sauna.
BENEFITS OF INFRARED SAUNAS
These are some of the many benefits of the Sunlighten infrared sauna use…
1. IT HELPS WITH ARTHRITIS AND OTHER JOINT CONDITIONS.
This one shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, because anything that stimulates blood flow and circulation should help with stiff and painful joints. The largest benefit though is the removal of any adverse effects.
In a study where sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis were treated with infrared saunas, they reported clinically significant pain and symptom reduction, they tolerated the treatment well and they suffered zero adverse effects. For people who don’t respond well to medication, this is huge boost.
2. INFRARED SPEEDS POST EXERCISE RECOVERY.
Intense exercise needs intense recovery. One of the best ways to speed recovery is to use an infrared sauna. This will help return performance back to its best sooner than it would recover on its own.
In a 2015 study, infrared sauna bathing was tested to see if it helped recovery. The researchers found…
‘In conclusion, deep penetration of infrared heat with mild temperature (35-50°C), during infrared sauna bathing appears favourable for the neuromuscular system to recover from maximal endurance performance. FIRS bathing is a very light loading for the body and provides a comfortable and relaxing experience.’
3. IT HELPS WITH HEART HEALTH.
One of the less-known benefits of infrared sauna use is the impact it has on heart health. Recent studies have assessed its effectiveness as a treatment for patients with chronic heart failure, and the results have been very promising.
In a study published in 2009, researchers saw that infrared sauna use in the therapy reduced cardiac events in patients with chronic heart failure. This therapy is a promising non-pharmacological treatment for chronic heart failure.
4. INFRARED SAUNA USE CAN REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE.
One of the most common cardiovascular complaints amongst the general population is high blood pressure. There are a few reasons for it, and there are several possible treatment options. For those looking for a non-medical approach, infrared sauna could be helpful.
In a study from 2010, Richard Beever and his team reported…
Our results suggest that infrared sauna use may be beneficial for lowering blood pressure and waist circumference. Subject adherence to infrared sauna use is greater than adherence to other lifestyle interventions.
5. INFRARED SAUNA USE CAN HELP MENTAL HEALTH.
There are many ways infrared sauna use can improve mental health. The relaxing temperatures, the quiet, the lack of attention-grabbing things to do, the removal of phones and laptops etc all help. One of the more impressive findings is that it can help people suffering from mild depression and appetite loss.
In a study titled ‘Repeated thermal therapy diminishes appetite loss and subjective complaints in mildly depressed patients’ from 2005, researchers found that…
…’repeated thermal therapy may be useful for mildly depressed patients with appetite loss and subjective complaints.’
INFRARED SAUNAS - LEARN MORE!
RP-X are the leading providers of Sunlighten Infrared Saunas in the UK. We have nearly two decades in the space and offer a wide range of turnkey solutions for facilities looking to invest in this technology.
For more information on cryotherapy chambers, pricing, and the right model for you, contact us on info@rp-x.com or 01234 862762.
