RESEARCH - Infrared sauna in patients with RA and AS

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Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Jan;28(1):29-34. Epub 2008 Aug 7.

Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing

spondylitis. A pilot study showing good tolerance, short-term

improvement of pain and stiffness, and a trend towards long-term

beneficial effects.

Oosterveld FG, Rasker JJ, Floors M, Landkroon R, van Rennes B,

Zwijnenberg J, van de Laar MA, Koel GJ.

Expertise Center Health, Social Care and Technology, Saxion University

of Applied Sciences, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Abstract

To study the effects of infrared (IR) Sauna, a form of total-body

hyperthermia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing

spondylitis (AS) patients were treated for a 4-week period with a

series of eight IR treatments. Seventeen RA patients and 17 AS

patients were studied. IR was well tolerated, and no adverse effects

were reported, no exacerbation of disease. 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, but these did not

reach statistical significance. No relevant changes in disease

activity scores were found, indicating no exacerbation of disease

activity. 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.

PMID: 18685882

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18685882

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