Infrared saunas are becoming increasingly beneficial for athletes to alleviate muscle soreness, enhance recovery, and improve range of motion. And while infrared has quickly been adopted by health and wellness enthusiasts, many athletes are missing out on the incredible benefits offered specifically for those who train as much as they do. This article explores the physical and mental benefits of infrared saunas for athletes, and provides tips on how to integrate them into your training routine.
Infrared Sauna for Athletes: Physical Benefits
Athletes must be in top physical condition to excel in their sport, and infrared therapy offers a wide range of benefits to support the sort of training required. Let’s delve deeper into the physical benefits:
Faster Muscle Recovery
By visiting an infrared sauna after a workout, you can speed up your muscle recovery time needed often required when you’re training hard. Increased blood flow through your muscles delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas, allowing you to perform at your best while reducing the risk of injury, sore muscles, and inflammation.
Better Circulation
Regular visits to an infrared sauna can improve your circulation. Your body becomes more efficient in delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, benefiting not only sore muscles but also your metabolism. This increase in circulation can also lead to a higher resting metabolic rate, burning more calories.
Better Detoxification
Increased detoxification will help you to sweat out the nasty toxins that can lead to fatigue and decreased performance. As an athlete, detoxification is vital to continue running, jumping, sprinting, or swimming at your best. Infrared saunas promote sweating, helping your body eliminate toxins more efficiently. Regular visits can aid in natural detoxification and provide relaxation.
Boost Immune System
Infrared saunas can help to boost your immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells. This will help you to stave off germs, bacteria, and other nasties from developing into colds or other illnesses – allowing you to continue training without interruption!
Infrared Sauna for Athletes: Mental Benefits
For elite athletes, mental wellbeing is just as important as physical health. Infrared saunas can benefit your mental health in several ways.
Reduced Stress
Athletes face mental and physical stress regularly, making an infrared sauna beneficial for decreasing stress through muscle relaxation. The release of hormones such as dopamine in response to muscle relaxation can provide a calm mind, allowing athletes to perform at their best.
Improved Quality of Sleep
Infrared therapy can help break the cycle of poor sleeping patterns by promoting relaxation and reducing stress, allowing athletes to sleep more soundly and get the required 8+ hours to continue performing.
Mental Clarity
Mental focus is crucial for athletes to perform at their best. Regular infrared sauna visits can help clear the mind by reducing stress and providing relaxation, leading to a clear and focused headspace.
Three Ways to Get the Most Out of Infrared Therapy for Athletes
It’s clear that infrared saunas offer multiple benefits for athletes and sports people – but how do you integrate an infrared sauna into your training routine?
Pre-Workout Preparation
Spending up to 20 minutes in an infrared sauna before a workout can benefit training. The heat helps to warm up muscles and increase circulation, providing a slow and relaxing way to start a warm-up.
Post-Workout Recovery
An infrared sauna is ideal for post-workout recovery, reducing soreness and inflammation in muscles and improving recovery time. The sauna’s heat also helps keep circulation and metabolism going.
Contrast Therapy
Contrast therapy takes post-workout heat therapy to the next level by alternating between hot and cold temperatures. Maintaining the benefits of a sauna, contrast therapy can further decrease recovery times and injury risk – while also just feeling lovely!
Wrapping Up
Infrared saunas can help ensure long-lasting, high-performance levels for athletes by reducing recovery time, boosting circulation, improving immune function, and aiding detoxification. They also benefit mental health by reducing stress and improving sleep and mental clarity. If you’re interested in implementing infrared sauna therapy into your training routine, our friendly team at our Neutral Bay and Manly studios can help in a private and relaxing atmosphere.