As a young person it is devastating to realize that what feels like run of the mill back pain may actually be a lifelong debilitating and chronic disease. Ankylosing Spondylitis is a tragic diagnosis with no known cure. The hope is to find ways for these young individuals diagnosed and living with AS to live as high a quality of life as possible. Non-intrusive interventions that improve symptom expression are the best AS patients can hope for in addition to some pharmacological care. Reputable research examined the effects of infrared sauna use on AS patients, and the results from this study showed promising clinically and statistically significant results.
Infrared saunas are not the cure for AS, but the research does suggest that they may positively improve the overall quality of life for those living with this disease. Most AS patients will be diagnosed before the age of 30, which means that there is plenty of time to begin to make lifestyle changes to ameliorate inflammation and potentially prevent bone fusion in the spine. Furthermore, altering lifestyles is much easier for younger people with more neuroplasticity. While there is nothing fun about AS, at the very least it does afford its patients time to cultivate habits that foster the possibility for the highest quality of lifelong term.
The choice to use an infrared sauna if you are living with AS should be well informed and done in conjunction with other therapies. Infrared saunas are generally accessible and can even be brought into a person’s home at minimal cost. Using a sauna for half an hour, twice a week appears to be all that is required to significantly improve pain, stiffness, and fatigue in AS patients. All of this means that an infrared sauna as an adjunct therapy that requires little investment for a huge payback!
Find out the details of the trial research on AS patients who took infrared saunas, as well as the accompanying detailed report on the results. Additionally, if the research is compelling enough it may also be of interest to find out exactly how to use an infrared sauna for the treatment of AS. Below you will find a step-by-step guide on what type of sauna to use, how to set the sauna up, and use it to best support the needs of AS patients. While there may not be a cure for this challenging disease, at the least there are some positive, non-intrusive treatments to ameliorate symptom expression, and one of these happens to be infrared saunas!
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory disease that may present with very few symptoms early in life, however by the age of thirty 80% of patients will be diagnosed. AS primarily affects the spine, but can also cause stiffness and pain in other extremities. This disease is systemic and as such it can also negatively impact several internal organs as well. At this time there is no known cure, only treatments to improve the quality of life for its patients. (1)
AS is also sometimes called axial spondyloarthritis because it affects the midline of the spine in an arthritic pattern. As the axial spine is targeted with strong inflammation the body may eventually adapt to fuse vertebrae (individual bones of the spine) together which can alter the posture and mobility of AS patients.
AS is defined and explained in detail by the authors of the Mayo Clinic’s paper entitled ‘Ankylosing spondylitis’ (2) when they write this.
“Ankylosing spondylitis, also called axial spondyloarthritis, is a type of inflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine. Over time, the inflammation can cause some of the bones in the spine, called vertebrae, to fuse together. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can lead to a hunched posture. If the joints in the chest are affected, it may become harder to take deep breaths.” (2)
Maintaining a lifestyle that decreases inflammation, and improves mobility is crucial for patients of AS. It is recommended for these individuals to continue to exercise and move their bodies, receive physical therapy, and minimize harmful activities that may exacerbate episodic periods of inflammation. In addition to managing this disease with lifestyle adjustments, it can also be treated with pharmacological care as described by the authors of a paper published by the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Ankylosing spondylitis’ (1).
“First-line medication therapy involves using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a daily, long-term basis.” (1)
This disease progresses with age and becomes worsened during times of stress either environmental, physical, or emotional. There may be prolonged periods of symptom remission with appropriate care and life factors. Ideally, the goal is to improve the quality of life for individuals living with this painful and debilitating disease. As researchers look for ways to treat this disease, a study was created by several scientists to find out if the use of an infrared sauna could improve symptom expression.
The details of this study as well as the outcome are outlined below. While infrared saunas are not going to cure AS, the research is very promising in terms of improving the quality of life for patients living with this condition.
Infrared Sauna Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis: Promising Research and Results For Over All Quality of Life
Even if a cure for AS is not presently on the horizon there is ongoing research into ways to ameliorate pain, stiffness, and fatigue for those living with AS. A team of researchers set out to find out if the use of infrared sauna treatments could positively affect symptom expression for those living with this condition. The study was set up meticulously, the participants were screened for safety, and ultimately the study was performed and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Furthermore, the outcome of this study showed clinically and statistically significant results for patients of AS who used infrared saunas.
The scientists were interested in creating a robust study on the use of infrared saunas for both patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as well as for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). The process began due to personal observation of its potential benefits for this group of individuals in out-patients who were using infrared saunas. Here is what the researchers speculated about the use of infrared saunas as a potential treatment for RA and AS patients.
“Personal experiences of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients in our out-patients clinic appeared to be promising. They experienced less pain and improved physical functioning.” (3)
The study entitled ‘Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis’ (3) was published in the peer reviewed journal Springer Nature. The study was thorough in its selection process and the researchers decided to focus on patients of RA and AS. Here was the basis for their inclusion criteria for the study.
“People with RA according to the revised American Rheumatism Association or with AS according to the New York criteria between 18 and 70 years of age and only patients with chronic disease that had been stable for at least 3 months without change in medication were included.” (3)
The study used far infrared saunas only. Each sauna contained a total of 6 carbon heaters. A total of 3 carbon heat emitters along the back wall behind the bench, 1 on the bench riser and 2 on the front wall of the cabin structure were used. The temperature of the sauna was set to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Each sauna session lasted a total of 30 minutes, and each participant took 2 saunas per week for a total of 4 weeks. (3)
The participants had their blood measured, their pain level, fatigue and stiffness on several occasions: 4 weeks prior to the study, directly before the study, directly after the study, and 4 weeks after the study had been completed. Furthermore they were monitored throughout the study and especially on the day of the sauna treatment as well as 30 minutes after each sauna was taken. (3)
A total of 36 patients were enrolled in the study, 18 of which were RH patients and 18 of which were AS patients. The mean age of the study participants was 47 years and 44 years respectively.
During the sauna sessions the RA patients experienced a greater sense of comfort compared to the AS patients, however after a 30 minute period following the sauna the AS patients experienced significant improvements in comfort. These differences may be due to the inherent differences in the two diseases including spinal comfortability during a sauna session.
Overall, both groups experienced positive clinical improvements that were statistically significant from the 4 week trial period. The results from this study show great promise for the treatment of AS using infrared saunas.
Take a look at some of the results from the study in the words of the research authors.
“Pain and stiffness decreased clinically, and improvements were statistically significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 in RA and AS patients, respectively) during an IR session. Fatigue also decreased. Both RA and AS patients felt comfortable on average during and especially after treatment. In the RA and AS patients, pain, stiffness, and fatigue also showed clinical improvements during the 4-week treatment period.” (3)
In every measurement there was an improvement for AS patients after the use of an infrared sauna with no adverse effects according to the researchers.
“No relevant changes in disease activity scores were found, indicating no exacerbation of disease activity.” (3)
The researchers conclude their publication with this statement.
“In conclusion, infrared treatment has statistically significant short-term beneficial effects and clinically relevant period effects during treatment in RA and AS patients without enhancing disease activity. IR has good tolerability and no adverse effects.” (3)
It appears that the use of an infrared sauna with some regularity may greatly improve pain, stiffness, and fatigue for AS patients. These results herald excellent news for those living with this chronic condition.
It is well understood that exposure to both heat and infrared light positively affect inflammatory factors in the body. Given that AS is an inflammatory based disease it makes sense that the infrared sauna helped to relieve pain for these individuals. While the researchers did not elaborate on the potential reasons for why the infrared saunas had such a positive effect on the overall well being of AS patients, it can be surmised that the reduction in inflammation played a major role. (4)
If you are living with AS or know someone who is, the next section will elaborate on how to use an infrared sauna as an adjunct treatment, not as a replacement for medication or other prescribed treatments.
How To USe a Sauna From Home to Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis still does not have a known cure, however there have been advancements in the methodologies used to treat this chronic inflammatory condition. One of these newer treatments is the use of a far infrared sauna in addition to pharmacological care as well as other lifestyle modifications. It should be noted that during the study delineated in this article all of the patients remained on their medication and had been living in a stable way on their prescribed medication before participation in the research.
If you have AS and would like to try using an infrared sauna as a part of your treatment plan please do not stop taking your medication. Also please ensure that you are on your medication for a significant period of time without adverse effects before beginning a sauna treatment program. Additionally, consult your medical care provider before beginning an infrared sauna treatment.
To replicate the study’s use of far infrared saunas for the treatment of AS you will need to use a far infrared sauna. It appears that infrared saunas are better tolerated by rheumatoid patients as well as AS patients when compared to traditional Finnish saunas. While the internal body temperature will increase in an infrared sauna at a comparable level to that of a traditional sauna, the air itself does not heat up as much given the radiant heat of infrared light. It is believed that this is more tolerable for individuals living with specific conditions. So, if you are living with AS please use an infrared sauna as opposed to a high heat traditional sauna or steam room.
Set the temperature to no higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, stay in the sauna for 30 minutes, and repeat this twice per week. It may be worth creating a place where you can comfortably rest after your sauna session in a laying down position. Consider adopting some of the practices from the Waon Method and wrapping yourself in blankets after a short tepid temperatured shower following the sauna. Rest for 30 minutes before carrying on with your day.
Infrared Sauna Recipe for Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients
- Use an infrared sauna only ( Do not use high heat traditional Finnish sauna or steam room)
- Set the temperature to 130 degrees Fahrenheit 15 minutes before entering
- Remain in the sauna for 30 minutes
- If possible lay down during the sauna to release tension and pain along the spine
- Repeat 2 times per week
- Shower briefly with tepid water after the sauna
- Wrap yourself in warm blankets and rest for 30 minutes
- If needed use a sauna chaperone and be cautious when moving around the sauna.
- Drink plenty of water and electrolyte rich fluids before, during, and after your sauna
There is clinically significant data that demonstrates infrared saunas as a healthy and viable form of adjunct treatment for those living with AS. It may be possible with the help of an infrared sauna to improve the overall quality of life for those living with AS.
Before beginning an infrared sauna treatment protocol please consult with your medical care professional.
Citations
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470173/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354808
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10067-008-0977-y
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29209938/