Infrared sauna as exercise-mimetic? Physiological responses to infrared sauna vs exercise in healthy women: A randomized controlled crossover trial. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hussain, Joy N.; Cohen, Marc M.; Mantri, Nitin; O'Malley, Cindy J.; Greaves, Ronda F.
• Is Part Of: Complementary therapies in medicine. Volume 64(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: AIx75 augmentation index - adjusted to HR 75 bpm, measure of arterial stiffness -- ANS autonomic nervous system -- AugPress, central augmented pressure, measure of arterial stiffness -- CHF congestive heart failure -- COVID-19, coronavirus disease of 2019 -- CVD cardiovascular disease -- HRV heart rate variability -- LF/HF ratio, low frequency-to-high frequency ratio, measure of HRV -- IR infrared sauna -- PWA, pulse wave analysis -- RRMSD, square root of mean squared differences in successive R wave-to-R wave intervals, measure of HRV -- Ttymp tympanic body temperature -- USG, urine specific gravity; Infrared sauna -- Exercise -- Pulse wave analysis -- Heart rate variability -- Thermal responses; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; Médecines parallèles -- Périodiques; Thérapeutique -- Périodiques; Alternative medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102798
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2299

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Passive heat therapies have been reported to have similar effects on the cardiovascular system as exercise. Studies supporting these findings in healthy populations have predominantly been done with men using warm water immersions or traditional saunas, rather than newer infrared-based saunas. Objective: To explore short-term thermal and cardiovascular responses in women using an infrared sauna as compared to moderate-intensity exercise. Study design: Randomized controlled crossover trial with balanced allocations. Setting: Brisbane, Australia (August 2019 - March 2020) Participants: Ten healthy women (36 ± 9 years) Interventions: 45 min of resting, infrared sauna or indoor bicycling Primary outcome measures: tympanic/skin temperatures; respiratory rate; blood pressure; arterial stiffness; heart rate variability Results: Tympanic temperatures were elevated during infrared sauna as compared to both control (mean diff = +1.05 o C ± SEM 0.12 o C, 95% C.I.: 0.73 – 1.36, p < 0.0005) and exercise (mean diff = +0.79 o C ± SEM 0.12 o C, 95% C.I.: 0.49 – 1.08, p < 0.0005). Respiratory rates were higher during exercise as compared to both control (mean diff = +7.66 ± SEM 1.37, 95% C.I.: 4.09 – 11.23, p < 0.0005) and infrared sauna (mean diff = +6.66 ± SEM 1.33, 95% C.I.: 3.20 – 10.11, p < 0.0005). No significant differences in non-invasive measures of blood pressure, arterial stiffness or heart rate variability were detected between any of the interventions. Conclusions: These findings suggest the physiological effects of infrared sauna bathing are underpinned by thermoregulatory-induced responses, more so than exercise-mimetic cardiorespiratory or cardiovascular activations. Highlights: Physiological responses to infrared sauna and exercise were compared in women. Tympanic temperatures with infrared sauna were higher compared to moderate exercise. Exercise reduced back skin-surface temperatures more than sauna. Unlike exercise, infrared sauna use did not increase breathing rates. Blood pressure, arterial stiffness and HRV responses were similar.