How can an infrared sauna help with rheumatic diseases?
How can an infrared sauna help with rheumatic diseases?
Infrared radiations are increasingly being used by rheumatologists and physiotherapists to treat rheumatic diseases. Most cases of treatment involve the use of an infrared sauna. The infrared radiation in an infrared sauna, which many patients experience as beneficial and relieving muscle and joint pain, is the same radiation as that from the sun but many times more concentrated on the body. You can compare this to going on holiday to a warm country (e.g. Spain or Turkey), if you are a rheumatoid arthritis patient you will experience this heat and effect of the sun as pleasant and mainly have more supple muscles and joints during the day. The warmth and smoothing of muscle and joint pains is the effect an infrared sauna also gives off on the body. It is not just the ambient heat in the cabin that gives the effect, otherwise one could have chosen a hot bath or traditional sauna. But it is precisely the infrared radiation that gives the deeper effect on skin, muscles and joints that gives the pleasant feeling of relieving muscle and joint pains after an infrared session. Customers with rheumatic diseases are increasingly using the infrared sauna in a home setting to experience this relieving effect. Some use the infrared sauna in the morning to experience a smoother start to the day. Another uses the ir cabin just after a day of exertion to give the muscles and joints rest and the beneficial effects. In both cases, the infrared sauna gives a short-term effect.
What is a rheumatic condition and how can an infrared sauna help with it?
The term rheumatism is generally used for the following syndromes: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Bechterew's disease and gout. For doctors, ‘rheumatism’ is usually used specifically for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in the joints. Regularly, it also involves the tendon sheaths and bursas. Most people can lead a reasonably normal life with the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. But especially during the cold/moist period of the year, people experience a lot of pain. Particularly during this period, the infrared sauna can help.
Are there research infrared sauna in patients with rheumatic diseases?
A study with 40 patients dealing with rheumatoid arthritis and Bechterew's disease showed that regular use of the infrared sauna saw a marked reduction in muscle and joint pain. Mainly, stiffness was less and the physical functioning of the entire body was better than when the infrared sauna was not used.
Neither negative effects nor inflammation were observed in any of the patients. The research shows that when the body is regularly (2 - 3 times a week) exposed to the action of infrared radiations, there is a reduction in muscle and joint pains on a short-term basis.
So it is not the case when you use an infrared sauna that your muscle and joint pains disappear for a few weeks. It is precisely with regular use and a 30-minute session that the effect is demonstrable in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Effect of different wavelengths in infrared sauna An infrared sauna can give different types of infrared radiation, thus also the effect on the skin, muscles and joints. When a patient with a rheumatic condition uses an infrared sauna, it is precisely the combination of long-wave, medium-wave and short-wave radiation that promotes the process.
Emitters
Long wave is mainly a surface radiation and treats mainly the epidermis and tackles a larger part of the back surface and then also mainly the neck and shoulders. Medium wave is specially designed for muscle and joint pains and concentrates more on the vertebra and what surrounds it. The back is the best place to receive the infrared radiation and thus passes through the body via the blood circulation. Short wave gives a good depth effect and is mostly used to treat deeper pain points. But it is outdated to state that only short wave works for rheumatic conditions. In fact, very good results are also achieved with long and medium wave. However, for certain deep pains, the short wave may be better.
Are there special infrared saunas made for rheumatic conditions?
For years, Infraplus Sauna has specialised in selling therapeutic infrared saunas specially designed for muscle and joint pains. This makes it possible to combine different infrared heaters in one infrared sauna. Experience teaches us that shoulder pain should be treated with a different type of infrared heater than back pain, for example. This also applies to neck pain. Infraplus Sauna uses not one or two, but three different types of infrared heaters. This is unique in Europe, which is why we use Infraplus Sauna's infrared cabins at SuperSauna.
In conclusion
With regular use of an infrared sauna with different wavelength radiation, clients with rheumatic diseases have a reduction in muscle and joint pains. Using an infrared sauna to reduce muscle and joint pains gives a short-term effect, so it is used a few times a week. With regular use, pain reductions of up to 70% can be achieved, according to a clinical study by Prof. Rasker!