Exposure to infrared heat speeds up the healing process of chronic wounds by improving blood flow and oxygenation to the wound. For weight trainers desiring more muscle definition, size and/or strength, spending time in an infrared sauna can ensure complete and early recovery time so the trainer can get back in the gym sooner, thus increasing time required for the muscle adaptation that results in bigger, stronger muscles.
How a Muscle Grows
When muscles are submitted to bouts of intense resistance training, blood is actually pushed into new areas of the muscle, creating trauma and tiny tears. As these tears are repaired new muscle fibers are activated often leading to hypertrophy, the scientific term for muscle growth. If a trainer returns to work on the same muscle too soon the opposite effect can take place: atrophy, where the muscle actually shrinks.
Recuperation time is at its optimum when a person is in their 20s. After age 30 it slows, and by age 40 has markedly slowed, thus slowing the time it takes an older person to build new muscle. Infrared saunas are becoming the rage not for weight loss benefits as much as for muscle building.
What is Infrared Heat?
Infrared heat is a naturally occurring energy that uses a frequency that is invisible to the human eye. It carries no risk of UVA or UVB burning rays, or of radiation. Saunas and wraps can be used for up 50 minutes and the heat penetrates deeper than traditional dry or wet saunas. The heat can travel two- to three-inches into the body. That's where nearly all the muscle damage from weight training exists.
How Infrared Heat Heals
The value of sunlight in healing has been noted for centuries. The Greek god Apollo was the god of healing and of the sun. People denied sunlight for long periods of time become sickly and depressed.
Infrared healing has been used in European and Asian countries, but infrared didn't really catch on in the US. until the start of this century. According to statistics from IHRSA (the International Health and Racquetball Association, the world's largest trade organization for the health club industry) the relatively inexpensive units began showing up in 2004 as portable wooden saunas, tents, sleeping bags and body wraps. They were most popular with practitioners of naturopathy and alternative medicine.
When the process of hyperbole begins, many cells and chemicals are recruited. Infrared heat stimulates the metabolism to move oxygen and blood carrying these essential components to the muscle faster. The deep penetration, improved blood flow and oxygenation of the wound is what increases its healing.
Safety in the Sauna
Always drink water before, during and after any sauna. There are no real benefits staying in a sauna longer than 60 minutes. Make sure the temperature is not too hot causing you to feel short of breath, dizzy or lightheaded. If these symptoms occur exit the sauna and cool down under towels with your head down. Do not get in a cold shower.
Do not use saunas if you have a flu or fever. Do not exercise while in a sauna. Sit back and enjoy, and let the heat, especially if it's infrared heat, do its magic.
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