Effects of Postexercise Sauna Bathing on Recovery of Swim Performance

Skorski, Sabrina; Schimpchen, Jan; Pfeiffer, Mark; Ferrauti, Alexander; Kellmann, Michael; Meyer, Tim

doi:10.1123/ijspp.2019-0333

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…On the other hand, Skorski et al showed that three 8-min sessions of post-exercise sauna bathing at 80–85 °C had a detrimental effect on the swimmers’ times. The authors concluded that coaches should be mindful when choosing sauna bathing for post-exercise recovery [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Prevalence of Use of Various Post-Exercise Recovery Methods after Training among Elite Endurance Athletes

Bezuglov

Lazarev

Khaitin

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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There is now compelling evidence of the effectiveness of a range of post-exercise recovery techniques, including extended nights of sleep, cold water immersion, massage, and compression garments. Currently, limited information is available on post-exercise recovery methods used by elite endurance athletes. Therefore, this study investigated the actual methods of recovery used in this group of athletes. Google Forms were used to collect information on the recovery methods used by elite endurance track and field athletes (n = 153, 61.4% men, 38.6% women; average age: 22.7 ± 4.6 years). The most used methods of recovery were sauna bathing (96.7%), massage (86.9%), daytime nap (81.0%), and long night sleep (at least 9h) (61.4%). Recovery methods with proven effectiveness such as cold water immersion and compression garments were rarely used (15.0% and 7.8%, respectively). Overall, recovery methods were used more often when the tiers of the track and field athletes were higher. Massage and sauna bathing were the most used methods of post-exercise recovery among Russian endurance track and field athletes. In most cases, they were used in conjunction with short daytime nap and long night sleep. Higher tier athletes were more likely to use sauna bathing, massage, long night sleep, and daytime nap but not cold water immersion and compression garments as recovery methods; however, all these methods except for cold water immersion were widely used among elite-tier athletes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Prevalence of Use of Various Post-Exercise Recovery Methods after Training among Elite Endurance Athletes

Bezuglov

Lazarev

Khaitin

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies have found positive acute cardiovascular responses from the use of passive heat ( 50 ), sauna exposure ( 27 , 51 ), and sauna exposure with exercise ( 52 , 53 ). A recent study also showed that postexercise sauna exposure had an augmentative effect, thereby increasing the overall training stress ( 54 ). However, to our best knowledge, this is the first multi-arm RCT investigating the cardiovascular and health effects of long-term sauna exposure in the general population with CVD risk factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of regular sauna bathing in conjunction with exercise on cardiovascular function: a multi-arm, randomized controlled trial

Lee

Kostensalo

Ahtiainen

et al. 2022

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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Regular exercise and sauna bathing have each been shown to improve cardiovascular function in clinical populations. However, experimental data on the cardiovascular adaptations to regular exercise in conjunction with sauna bathing in the general population is lacking. Therefore, we compared the effects of exercise and sauna bathing, to regular exercise using a multi-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants (n = 47) aged 49 ± 9 years with low physical activity levels, and at least one traditional CVD risk factor were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to guideline-based regular exercise and 15-minute post-exercise sauna (EXS), guideline-based regular exercise (EXE), or control (CON), for eight weeks. The primary outcomes were blood pressure (BP) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Secondary outcomes included fat mass, total cholesterol levels, and arterial stiffness. EXE had a greater change in CRF (+6.2 ml/kg/min; 95% CI, +4.2. to +8.3 ml/kg/min) and fat mass, but no differences in BP when compared to CON. EXS displayed greater change in CRF (+2.7 ml/kg/min; 95% CI, +0.2. to +5.3 ml/kg/min), lower systolic BP (-8.0 mmHg; 95% CI, -14.6 to -1.4 mmHg) and lower total cholesterol levels compared to EXE. Regular exercise improved CRF and body composition in sedentary adults with CVD risk factors. However, when combined with exercise, sauna bathing demonstrated a substantially supplementary effect on CRF, systolic BP, and total cholesterol levels. Sauna bathing is a valuable lifestyle tool that complements exercise for improving CRF, and decreasing systolic BP. Future research should focus on the duration, and frequency of exposure to ascertain the dose-response relationship.

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“… 38 This is comparable to how exercise increases dilation of arteries supplying skeletal muscle, which has been documented to lead to reduced wave reflection. 39 The efficacy of heat stress from the sauna was inadvertently shown in a more recent study, 40 which sought to utilize the sauna as a post‐training recovery tool. Instead of providing a recuperative effect, performance measures were decreased.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standalone sauna vs exercise followed by sauna on cardiovascular function in non‐naïve sauna users: A comparison of acute effects

Lee

Kostensalo

Willeit

et al. 2021

Health Science Reports

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Background and aims Sauna bathing and aerobic exercise have each been shown to affect cardiovascular function. However, direct comparisons between standalone sauna bathing and a combination of exercise and sauna on vascular indices remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a cross‐over study using matched durations to explore the hemodynamic changes of sauna exposure when compared to a combination of aerobic exercise and sauna exposure. Methods Participants (N = 72) with at least one cardiovascular risk factor underwent, on two separate occasions: (a) a 30‐minute sauna at 75°C (SAUNA) and (b) the combination of a 15‐minute cycling exercise at 75% maximum heart rate followed by 15‐minute sauna exposure (EX+SAUNA). Relative changes to arterial stiffness (PWV), augmentation index (Alx), brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), central SBP (cSBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were compared PRE‐POST and pre‐ to 30‐minutes post‐intervention (PRE‐POST30). Results Baseline SBP and DBP were 143 (SD 18) mmHg and 86 (SD 10) mmHg, respectively. From PRE‐POST, SAUNA had lower DBP (mean difference [95% CI] 2.5 [1.0, 4.1], P = .002) and MAP (2.5 [0.6, 4.3], P = .01). However, EX+SAUNA had lower SBP (−2.7 [−4.8, −0.5], P = .02), DBP (−1.8 [−3.3, −0.4], P = .01), and MAP (−2.0 [−3.5, −0.5], P = .009) PRE‐POST30. There were no statistically significant differences between SAUNA and EX+SAUNA for other measured parameters. Conclusion This study demonstrated that when matched for duration, EX+SAUNA and SAUNA elicit comparable acute hemodynamic alterations in middle‐aged participants with cardiovascular risk factors. The sauna is a suitable option for acute blood pressure reductions in those who are unable to perform aerobic exercise, and may be a viable lifestyle treatment option to improve blood pressure control.

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Effects of Postexercise Sauna Bathing on Recovery of Swim Performance

Cited by 13 publications

References 28 publications

The Prevalence of Use of Various Post-Exercise Recovery Methods after Training among Elite Endurance Athletes

The Prevalence of Use of Various Post-Exercise Recovery Methods after Training among Elite Endurance Athletes

Effects of regular sauna bathing in conjunction with exercise on cardiovascular function: a multi-arm, randomized controlled trial

Standalone sauna vs exercise followed by sauna on cardiovascular function in non‐naïve sauna users: A comparison of acute effects

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