Sauna?

[tri.track]

I went into a sauna for the first time today. I dont know why, just out of curiousity for how hot it was. I thought it was just for overweight people looking to shed some lbs. I stayed in there for 10 mintues and the only people I saw were pretty athletic people. What is the benefit of them anyway?? Other than make you sweat that is... I'm sure there is a reason for it or else they wouldn't exist. Can they help runners?? If so, how?

[RHSRunner88]

I really don't know, but everytime I go in one for a period of time I feel light-headed. Same as when I go in the hot tubs. By the way, hot tubs are one of the nastiest places you could ever hang out in.

[oldstyle]

I went into a sauna for the first time today. I dont know why, just out of curiousity for how hot it was. I thought it was just for overweight people looking to shed some lbs. I stayed in there for 10 mintues and the only people I saw were pretty athletic people. What is the benefit of them anyway?? Other than make you sweat that is... I'm sure there is a reason for it or else they wouldn't exist. Can they help runners?? If so, how?
To clean out your pores. I prefer the steam room, same results but much faster.

[Cippy Cup]

I know that wrestlers do this because it helps them lost water weight. If you really wanted to lose weight, but not muscle, theoretically this would work. Makes you lighter without compromising lean fat or muscle.

and steam rooms ftw.

[oldstyle]

I really don't know, but everytime I go in one for a period of time I feel light-headed. Same as when I go in the hot tubs. By the way, hot tubs are one of the nastiest places you could ever hang out in.

An ice bath after a run workout is preferred over hot tub. Much better for muscle recovery. Hot tub does not help remove swelling or inflammation.

[oldstyle]

I know that wrestlers do this because it helps them lost water weight. If you really wanted to lose weight, but not muscle, theoretically this would work. Makes you lighter without compromising lean fat or muscle.

and steam rooms ftw.

Not a good idea for distance runners. Causes dehydration.

[Cippy Cup]

Yea, thats why it only works in theory. Because we need the water. You get dehydrated because of the amount of sweating.

[Steve201]

I just use it after runs during the winter to warm up. I cant really think of anything beneficial too it besides that.

[gcrunner]

The physiological adaptations to sauna bathing could enhance endurance performance. We have therefore performed a cross-over study in which six male distance runners completed 3 wk of post-training sauna bathing and 3 wk of control training, with a 3 wk washout. During the sauna period, subjects sat in a humid sauna at 89.9+/-2.0 degrees C (mean+/-standard deviation) immediately post-exercise for 31+/-5 min on 12.7+/-2.1 occasions. The performance test was a approximately 15 min treadmill run to exhaustion at the runner's current best speed over 5 km. The test was performed on the 1st and 2nd day following completion of the sauna and control periods, and the times were averaged. Plasma, red-cell and total blood volume were measured via Evans blue dye dilution immediately prior to the first run to exhaustion for each period. Relative to control, sauna bathing increased run time to exhaustion by 32% (90% confidence limits 21-43%), which is equivalent to an enhancement of approximately 1.9% (1.3-2.4%) in an endurance time trial. Plasma and red-cell volumes increased by 7.1% (5.6-8.7%) and 3.5% (-0.8% to 8.1%) respectively, after sauna relative to control. Change in performance had high correlations with change in plasma volume (0.96, 0.76-0.99) and total blood volume (0.94, 0.66-0.99), but the correlation with change in red cell volume was unclear (0.48, -0.40 to 0.90). We conclude that 3 wk of post-exercise sauna bathing produced a worthwhile enhancement of endurance running performance, probably by increasing blood volume.

[S.E.B.runner]

I went into a sauna for the first time today. I dont know why, just out of curiousity for how hot it was. I thought it was just for overweight people looking to shed some lbs. I stayed in there for 10 mintues and the only people I saw were pretty, athletic people. What is the benefit of them anyway?? Other than make you sweat that is... I'm sure there is a reason for it or else they wouldn't exist. Can they help runners?? If so, how?
How I read it the first time.

[oldstyle]

The physiological adaptations to sauna bathing could enhance endurance performance. We have therefore performed a cross-over study in which six male distance runners completed 3 wk of post-training sauna bathing and 3 wk of control training, with a 3 wk washout. During the sauna period, subjects sat in a humid sauna at 89.9+/-2.0 degrees C (mean+/-standard deviation) immediately post-exercise for 31+/-5 min on 12.7+/-2.1 occasions. The performance test was a approximately 15 min treadmill run to exhaustion at the runner's current best speed over 5 km. The test was performed on the 1st and 2nd day following completion of the sauna and control periods, and the times were averaged. Plasma, red-cell and total blood volume were measured via Evans blue dye dilution immediately prior to the first run to exhaustion for each period. Relative to control, sauna bathing increased run time to exhaustion by 32% (90% confidence limits 21-43%), which is equivalent to an enhancement of approximately 1.9% (1.3-2.4%) in an endurance time trial. Plasma and red-cell volumes increased by 7.1% (5.6-8.7%) and 3.5% (-0.8% to 8.1%) respectively, after sauna relative to control. Change in performance had high correlations with change in plasma volume (0.96, 0.76-0.99) and total blood volume (0.94, 0.66-0.99), but the correlation with change in red cell volume was unclear (0.48, -0.40 to 0.90). We conclude that 3 wk of post-exercise sauna bathing produced a worthwhile enhancement of endurance running performance, probably by increasing blood volume.

How humid % was the sauna? Could a steam room have the same effect?

[gcrunner]

How humid % was the sauna? Could a steam room have the same effect?

idk and no

[manni]

I like hot baths after hard workouts. When I was wrestling, taking a hot tub with salt vs just shower made huge difference next day. Hot tub helped with soreness.