It’s no secret; the number one cause of disability in the United States is arthritis. People who are suffering from it need to get relief with the least medications possible. This is where the use of a personal infrared sauna comes in…
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joints. Although there are more than a hundred kinds of arthritis, the most common of which are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).
It is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling of the affected joint(s). People who are suffering from it may also see the redness of the affected area, decreased mobility, or, worse, deformity of their joints if left untreated.
What causes arthritis?
When the amount of cartilage tissue is reduced, a person will suffer from some form of arthritis. Cartilage is a connective tissue in the joints and acts as a shock and pressure absorber when we move or put stress on our joints.
For Osteoarthritis, normal wear and tear of the joints, infection, or injury to the joints can trigger the attacks. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease, which means that our own immune system attacks the tissues of our body. These attacks specifically affect the synovium, which produces a special fluid that nourishes our cartilage and lubricates our joints.
Can personal sauna cure arthritis?
We’re not claiming that the use of a personal infrared sauna can cure arthritis, but the heat therapy from the in-house sauna can ease arthritis pain brought about by this chronic disease. And in addition to exercise and proper diet, it can increase the arthritic patient’s mobility and boost his/her well-being.
Studies support that sauna use can help Arthritis
Since the time of Hippocrates, people with arthritis and rheumatic disorders have been using heat treatment to find relief.
The so-called whole-body heating or hyperthermia, i.e., fever treatment, showed clinical evidence supporting that sauna use could relieve inflammatory activity in patients suffering from arthritis.
Another report submitted to the Annals of Clinical Research Volume 20 in 1988 showed that sauna bathing provided temporary pain relief and increased mobility to patients with arthritis.
According to Dr. H. Isomäki in the said report, sauna bathing caused the release of specific hormones: noradrenaline, adrenaline, cortisol, growth hormones, and endorphins. These hormones are our body’s natural painkillers due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
Heat therapy and increased temperatures from sauna use have also been shown to make tissues more flexible. These tissues comprise mostly collagen (such as the tendons, fasciae, and articular capsules). When these tissues are more flexible, mobility is increased.
Another aspect of the study also showed that because of “heat treatment,” blood circulation also increased. The increased blood flow loosened and removed the accumulated mineral deposits in the joints.
Bottom line? Using the personal infrared sauna regularly can create an upward spiral. It makes you feel well enough that you can actively enjoy the things you don’t normally enjoy when you are in pain. Once you’ve had an infrared sauna session, you can be comfortable enough to exercise, which can further mitigate or lessen your pain.
