A Key Tool For Athletes: Portable Infrared Sauna

Recently the trend of athletes using portable infrared saunas has taken root all across the nation. Their portability and ease of use have made them ideal for warm ups, after workout conditioning, and as a fast injury recovery method of therapy.

An infrared sauna is perfect as a “heat therapy room” for athletes looking for a pre-workout activity to warm up muscles and increase flexibility. A quick session in a portable infrared sauna before a competition will give an edge to the physical abilities of an athlete while also helping to prevent injury.

Tissues heated to 112 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) and then stretched exhibit a non-elastic residual elongation of about 0.5-.9% that persists after the stretch is removed. Thus 20 stretching sessions can produce a 10-18% increase in the length of tissues that are stretched in conjunction with infrared heat. (Justus F Lehmann M.D., Williams and Wilkins, Therapeutic Heat and Cold, 4th edition.)

After a hard workout or competition, 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.

When it comes to more serious injuries such as sprains, athletes should follow the normal protocol of icing and compressing the area immediately after injury. Following these actions the deep penetrating infrared rays will ease the pain and speed the process of recovery.

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.

Many athletes suffer set-backs to their workout schedules because of time constraints or injury. Regularly using an infrared ray sauna is a highly effective method of staying in shape. Infrared heat from the sauna elevates the heart rate, which offers a low impact (for the injured) and quick (for the busy) cardiovascular workout. The AMA put it this way, “many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system…. 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 detailed report in JAMA explains that infrared saunas burn around 500 calories per sauna session on average, making an infrared sauna a great method to born calories, get rid of fat cells and stimulate the metabolism. Although extremely effective, infrared saunas should not be considered a 100% replacement for standard cardiovascular workouts. They are extremely useful as a warm-up, post work out therapy and method to stay fit while your body heals from injury.

It would seem that infrared saunas will only get more popular among athletes. The long term viability of these saunas is a direct result of their ability to well prepare athletes’ bodies, condition them after a workout, and then speed their recoveries.

In order to find out more information about how athletes everywhere are benefiting from portable infrared saunas, visit HEALTHandMED.com