Whether you’re recovering from an injury, living a sedentary lifestyle, or simply looking ahead to prevent future risks that come passengers to old age, preventing muscle atrophy can become a pressing concern, especially if you want to retain good mobility and strength. If you’re unable to maintain regular physical activity due to health conditions or lifestyle constraints, this can be even more unsettling – The good news, though, is that hope is certainly not lost, especially if you’re able to adopt healthier lifestyle practices earlier in life.
While physiotherapy and light exercise are still the best courses of action, these treatments can be complemented by infrared saunas. Not only are infrared sauna sessions good for muscle recovery, but they can also be relaxing and help you recover your spirit after a good day’s work.
Discovery how infrared sauna sessions help combat muscle atrophy with our team at Sun Stream Saunas NZ below.
How Does Muscle Atrophy Happen in Sedentary or Injured Individuals?
When muscles are not used, the body reduces protein synthesis, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. This process also simultaneously increases protein breakdown, shrinking muscle fibres, and reducing muscle strength and endurance over time. This can significantly impact mobility, quality of life, and overall health.
More often than not, muscle atrophy arises from prolonged periods of inactivity, whether that’s a sedentary lifestyle or recovery from injury or surgery.
For sedentary individuals, such as those with desk jobs or otherwise, muscle atrophy happens slowly but can become severe over time or with age. It can also lead to metabolic issues such as insulin resistance and reduced energy expenditure, increasing the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How Infrared Saunas Can Help Prevent Muscle Atrophy
Beyond its impact on physical strength, muscle atrophy also disrupts metabolic functions, immune response, and overall health. Infrared saunas help counteract this through the following mechanisms.
Stimulating Cardiovascular and Muscular Activity
The effects of infrared saunas mimic those of moderate cardio sessions, raising the heart rate and boosting blood circulation. This stimulates blood vessel dilation, promoting better blood flow and, in turn, better oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscle tissues.
Improved circulation prevents the stagnation of metabolic waste in the muscles, helping to maintain muscle health even despite prolonged periods of inactivity.
Hormonal Regulation and Protein Synthesis
Consistent infrared sauna sessions support the release of anabolic hormones such as growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Both of these are important for muscle repair and protein synthesis. This process slows down the muscle-wasting effects of immobility or inactivity and counters their catabolic effects.
Reduction of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, particularly in injured individuals, can make it more challenging for the body to recover, inducing muscle atrophy as a result. On the cellular level, however, the deep penetrating heat of infrared saunas enhances the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs) which protect cells from oxidative damage. Aside from decreasing inflammation, this process also accelerates cellular recovery which allows muscle repair and preservation.
Mitochondrial Health and Energy Restoration
Infrared sauna therapy enhances mitochondrial function by increasing the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy source of cells. This increased energy supply combats the deficit often seen in sedentary or immobilised individuals. More than that, it also mitigates the cellular energy decline that accelerates muscle atrophy. So, even under conditions of reduced physical activity, the body’s cells remain nourished and capable of regeneration and repair.
Key Takeaways
While infrared saunas aren’t the sole solution to muscle atrophy, they can be a great contributor to other treatments such as physical therapy or light exercise. They also provide many other benefits to your overall health that will improve recovery and rejuvenation in the long term.
Are you ready to prioritise your muscle recovery and long-term health? At SunStream Infrared Saunas, we offer top-of-the-line home infrared sauna muscle recovery units that provide maximum health care benefits. Explore our range or contact us today for more questions or inquiries.