Comparison of thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and immune responses to different passive heat therapy modalities
Jessica K. Atencio, Emma L. Reed, Karen Wiedenfeld Needham, Kathryn M. Lucernoni, Lindan N. Comrada, John R. Halliwill, Christopher T. Minson
2025American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology11 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF
Abstract
Our goal was to compare three widely utilized modalities of passive heating in the manner that they are most commonly used for heat therapy. We have demonstrated that hot water immersion leads to the greatest thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and immune responses compared with both traditional and far infrared saunas in young, healthy adults. Far infrared sauna heating was the least impactful on raising body core temperature and the resulting cardiovascular and immune responses.
Topics & Concepts
ThermoregulationImmune systemMedicineCore temperatureSkin temperatureAnimal scienceInternal medicineGastroenterologyImmunologyBiologyBiomedical engineeringThermoregulation and physiological responsesExercise and Physiological ResponsesInfrared Thermography in Medicine