Like us, Sparta Science believe in using technology, data and science to enhance performance. That's what makes our long standing partnership with them such a perfect fit.
Our Sweat Test is one of the physiological assessments in their suite of services and we share a number of professional sports clients in the NBA, MLB, NFL and beyond.
In a recent blog they looked at the efficacy of using sauna as part of your recovery process...
What is a sauna?
In a world full of stress in every corner of life, many continue to pile on added physical stress in a “go hard or go home” mentality. While we know that training, especially quality needs-based training, is particularly useful and needed, we also tend to underestimate the importance of proper recovery.
Simply said, the desired adaptations we all seek from the hours put in throwing iron and running like the wind won’t occur without rest and regeneration. This week we want to look at one of the many tools for recovery you might not have thought of - the sauna.
You may have grown up viewing the sauna as a destination for elderly folks at your local gym, at least this is how I grew up seeing it. Typically, saunas are used for relaxation and stress reduction where sweating occurs (associated with detoxification) due to the high heat, which pushes the body into a relaxed, parasympathetic (opposite of 'fight or flight') state.
The benefits of heat bathing have much to do with the self-induced fever that the sauna creates, which is why many try to get in the sauna when they start to feel ill.
Other than that, saunas have been shown to improve cellular health (due to increased blood flow), lower blood pressure, and promote muscle recovery and much more.
What types of saunas are there?
In this post, I am going to discuss the traditional sauna and the infrared sauna. While both types of sauna heat the body to induce sweating and relaxation, there are differences worth noting and may lead you to pick one over the other depending on the end goal. The main difference lies in how the body is heated.
What makes infrared different to traditional saunas?
While the traditional sauna tends to induce sweating from the extreme heat, the IR sauna emits light that penetrates the body to raise the temperature internally.
Both cause heavy sweating and detoxification, but the mode in which this is activated is different. Another big difference, is temperature.
Traditional saunas typically range from 150-190 degrees Fahrenheit (65-97 degrees Celsius), while IR saunas typically sit between 120-140 degrees (48-60 Celsius). Because infrared saunas use infrared light which can penetrate 1-2 inches beneath the skin it makes it easier to stay in for longer periods of time at a lower temperature, thus why many are choosing infrared over traditional.
It is also worth noting that light therapy (found in infrared saunas) has shown to have benefits that the traditional sauna (no light) does not. While we could write pages and pages on light therapy, the main benefits from the light in infrared saunas include reduced swelling and inflammation, pain relief, and accelerated healing due to the improved mitochondrial function from red light.
How long should you stay in a sauna for?
This is highly debated, but for healthy individuals without a history of heart disease, high or low blood pressure, or circulatory issues it is generally recommended to stay in the sauna is at least 10 minutes once you start to sweat.
To spend more time in the sauna and reap more benefits it is recommended to break up sessions into at least 15-minute bouts. One study showed improved lipid panels equal to that of exercise and they performed 15 minute bouts in the sauna, followed by 2 minutes break, and this was carried out 3 times (45 minutes total in the sauna). A proper introduction to a new stimulus, increased over time, would be recommended.
Protocols
15 mins in - 2 mins out. Repeat 2-5 times (improved lipids study)
15 mins in - 30 mins out. Repeat for two rounds total (improved Growth Hormone five-fold)
20 mins in - 30 mins out. Repeat for two rounds total (improved Growth Hormone two-fold)
30 mins straight. (endurance athlete study)
It is clear that there are multiple protocols you can follow, but in general longer and hotter environments yield more benefits.
How does a sauna impact performance and recovery?
Depending on the goal of the individual, there have been many sauna studies done in multiple facets of performance and recovery.
For endurance athletes, the use of infrared sauna post-training has resulted in lower heart rates and greater counter-movement jump measurements. What does that mean? For those that engage in endurance training, the use of infrared sauna afterwards appears favorable for the neuromuscular system to recover.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, who has done significant research on sauna use has also found that hyperthermic conditioning (use of sauna) independently aside of aerobic physical activity induces adaptations that reduce the later strain of your primary aerobic activity.
Notable physiological adaptations that occur subsequent to acclimation to heat are lower heart rate (also found in the study above), lower core body temperature during workload, increased blood flow to skeletal muscle and other tissues, reduced rate of glycogen depletion due to improved muscle perfusion (increased blood flow to muscles), increased red blood cell count and increased efficiency of oxygen transport to muscles.
Not Just for Endurance
Another way that the use of a sauna can improve hypertrophy (growth) in muscles, hormone function, and fat loss is the spike in growth hormone it elicits.
It has been shown that two, 20-minute sessions (at about 175 degrees (79 Celsius)) separated by a 30 minute cooling period elevated growth hormone two-fold over baseline.
At the same time, two 15-minute sessions (at about 212 degrees, 100 Celsius) separated by a 30 minute cooling period resulted in a five-fold increase in growth hormone.
While this growth hormone spike generally only persists for a couple of hours post-sauna, this is amazing information, especially for those trying to heal or return from injury!
Meanwhile, a Polish study found that use of saunas improved lipid panels in individuals just as much as a moderate-intensity exercise plan. Those who took part in the study showed lower total cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), increased HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and increases in blood plasma levels. Again, this was found using the 15 in, 2 out, for 3 rounds protocol daily.
Are there cognitive benefits?
Hyperthermia (full body heat stress) has been shown to increase the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (aka BDNF) more than exercise alone when used in conjunction with exercise.
BDNF is a protein which can be thought of as fertilizer, or the “miracle-gro” for our brain. BDNF helps the brain to develop new connections, repair failing brain cells, and protect healthy brain cells. Maintaining adequate levels of the power-packed protein can protect our brains from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.
In addition, it's worth noting that even if not using with the end goal of power, endurance or general health reasons, the sauna can assist in true detoxification. Directly or indirectly, toxic residues find their way into our air, food and water supplies. The net effect of this ecological overload inevitably shifts the body’s balance, or homeostasis, to interfere with our natural biological tendencies. That being said, consistent removal of these toxins via sauna use is highly recommended.
Do you recommend a specific sauna?
At Sparta Training Ground we use the Clearlight infrared sauna and it benefits our athletes post-workout by pushing them into a parasympathetic state, thus starting the regeneration quicker. The Clearlight also offers the ability to use the full infrared spectrum of light, or just a certain type of light depending on the state and background of the athlete.
Conclusion
It’s clear that there are an array of benefits from using the sauna (both traditional and infrared). The key to success is building up a thermal tolerance over time and not doing too much too soon. It is also worth noting that not everyone is ready for the sauna and you should consult with a doctor before using, especially if there are previous medical conditions.
Sparta Science offer the Sweat Test at their facility, as well as a host of other high-tech services to help improve performance as they continue to work towards their vision of 'eliminating limitations to physical activity by increasing human resilience against injuries'.
Thanks to the guys at Sparta Science for allowing us to use this article which originally appeared on their website. Keep up the good work!
