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.
FIR sauna’s provide the ideal way for an athlete to have a thorough warm-up to increase flexibility and prevent unnecessary injury. A simple short session in an infrared sauna will not only help to prevent injury, but will also give an athlete a physical edge over their competition.
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.
Athletes with serious injuries such as sprains should follow the normal process of cold/compression after immediate injury. After the normal treatments have been administered the deep penetrating infrared heat will speed and ease the pain 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.
As a result of injuries or a lack of time, many athletes struggle to stick to their workout schedules. Infrared saunas are a very effective tool to stay fit. The accelerated heart rate brought on by the infrared heat offers an fast, low impact cardiovascular workout for those time when you can’t get one the traditional way. According to the American Medical Association (AMA): “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 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 popularity of infrared saunas among athletes makes sense when we look at the enhances performances, post-workout relaxation, and improved injury recovery that comes from regular sessions. There is not likely to be a decline of these portable saunas in the nation’s locker rooms.
In order to find out even more information about how athletes everywhere are benefiting from portable infrared saunas, visit HEALTHandMED.com