Athletes And The Infrared Sauna
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Athletes have long known of the many benefits that come from using infrared saunas. Regular sauna use has been linked to increased endurance and greater physical performance, as well as improved levels of tolerance for more anaerobic exercises.
Heat from infrared saunas causes an elevated heart rate, which is a low impact way to obtain a great cardiovascular work out. The American Medical Association explains that “many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of indoor saunas may impact a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and its regular use may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories, as regular exercise.”
A great way to supplement an athletes fitness regime is to incorporate the calorie burning power of an infrared ray sauna. The Journal of American Medical Association reported that the average FIR sauna session burns around 500 calories. Regular sauna sessions boost the metabolism, eliminate fat cells, and burn lots of calories. Even though infrared sauna sessions are powerful and efficient calorie burners, do not consider them the absolute equivalent to a traditional cardiovascular work-out. Sauna sessions are great for warming up before, and relaxing after a workout, as well as keeping fit while injured and unable to be very mobile.
The actual amount of calories burned off in the sauna can be measured by measuring transpiration. Every gram of transpiration uses 0.586 Cal -Guyton’s Textbook of Medical Physiology. The average person will sweat off half a liter during a session in an infrared sauna. That is equivalent to 1,000 grams, or over 500 calories.
The relaxing effect that deep penetrating infrared heat has on tired, sore or damaged athlete muscles is manifold. The blood vessel dilation and increased circulation brought on by the heat will help tired muscles repair and strengthen themselves more efficiently. Also, the loosening of the muscles, reduction in lactic acids and decreased swelling that are induced by the heat will ease the pain of tight or worn muscles.
FIR sauna’s provide the ideal way for an athlete to have a thorough warm-up to increase flexibility and prevent unnecessary injury. When tissues are warmed to 112 degrees Fahrenheit and then stretched, they retain roughly 0.5-0.9% of their length indefinitely. Thus 20 stretching sessions can result in a 10-18% increase in the length of tissues that are stretched in conjunction with infrared heat. (Justus Lehmann M.D., Williams and Wilkins, Therapeutic Heat and Cold.)
Infrared heat also works in to the ailing joints of an athlete. By relaxing the muscles around the joints, less pressure and strain is put on the area. The joints are notoriously problematic for lacking circulation. The increased circulation coupled with the relaxed surrounding muscles improves the ability of blood flow in to joints which will greatly enhance the speed of healing and repair.
Infrared ray saunas are very useful for treating more serious injuries such as sprains. So long as the standard treatments of cold and compressions are first administered an athlete can then use the deep penetrating heat of the sauna to ease the pain and speed the recovery.
The tremendous value athletes find in utilizing far infrared ray saunas continues to contribute to their popularity. Whether we play ball with our pals once in a while or are professional athletes, we can be glad we have the option to relax in an infrared sauna.
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To find out more about the many wonderful benefits that come from a FIR sauna, visit HEALTHandMED.com
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