Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

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

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.

Similar articles

Effects of dynamic exercise on circulating IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
Karatay S, Yildirim K, Melikoglu MA, Akcay F, Senel K.
Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Oct;26(10):1635-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-007-0559-4. Epub 2007 Feb 24.
PMID: 17322964
Efficacy of tofacitinib in reducing pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
Ogdie A, de Vlam K, McInnes IB, Mease PJ, Baer P, Lukic T, Gruben D, Kwok K, Wang C, Hsu MA, Maniccia A.
RMD Open. 2020 Feb;6(1):e001042. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2019-001042.
PMID: 32396519 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
Is magnetotherapy applied to bilateral hips effective in ankylosing spondylitis patients? A randomized, double-blind, controlled study.
Turan Y, Bayraktar K, Kahvecioglu F, Tastaban E, Aydin E, Kurt Omurlu I, Berkit IK.
Rheumatol Int. 2014 Mar;34(3):357-65. doi: 10.1007/s00296-013-2941-7. Epub 2014 Jan 8.
PMID: 24399455 Clinical Trial.
Adherence to treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Arturi P, Schneeberger EE, Sommerfleck F, Buschiazzo E, Ledesma C, Maldonado Cocco JA, Citera G.
Clin Rheumatol. 2013 Jul;32(7):1007-15. doi: 10.1007/s10067-013-2221-7. Epub 2013 Mar 21.
PMID: 23515597
[Physiotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis].
Mariacher-Gehler S, Wyss-Näther A, Aeschlimann AG.
Ther Umsch. 2001 Aug;58(8):503-8. doi: 10.1024/0040-5930.58.8.503.
PMID: 11552358 Review. German.

See all similar articles

Cited by 19 articles

Does Far-Infrared Therapy Improve Peritoneal Function and Reduce Recurrent Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients?
Chang Y, Chang JT, Lee MY, Huang MZ, Chao YCC, Shih YL, Hwang YR.
J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 15;11(6):1624. doi: 10.3390/jcm11061624.
PMID: 35329948 Free PMC article.
Sweating as a Preventive Care and Treatment Strategy in Traditional Persian Medicine.
Mahlouji M, Alizadeh Vaghasloo M, Dadmehr M, Rezaeizadeh H, Nazem E, Tajadini H.
Galen Med J. 2020 Dec 25;9:e2003. doi: 10.31661/gmj.v9i0.2003. eCollection 2020.
PMID: 34466623 Free PMC article. Review.
Dry sauna therapy is beneficial for patients with low back pain.
Cho EH, Kim NH, Kim HC, Yang YH, Kim J, Hwang B.
Anesth Pain Med (Seoul). 2019 Oct 31;14(4):474-479. doi: 10.17085/apm.2019.14.4.474.
PMID: 33329780 Free PMC article.
The effectiveness of far-infrared irradiation on foot skin surface temperature and heart rate variability in healthy adults over 50 years of age: A randomized study.
Peng TC, Chang SP, Chi LM, Lin LM.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Dec 11;99(50):e23366. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023366.
PMID: 33327260 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
[Long version on the S3 guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis including Bechterew's disease and early forms, Update 2019 : Evidence-based guidelines of the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) and participating medical scientific specialist societies and other organizations].
Kiltz U, Braun J; DGRh, Becker A; DEGAM, Chenot JF, Dreimann M; DWG, Hammel L; DVMB, Heiligenhaus A; DOG, Hermann KG; DRG, Klett R; DGMM, Krause D, Kreitner KF, Lange U; DGPMR/DGRW, Lauterbach A; Physio Deutschland, Mau W, Mössner R; DDG, Oberschelp U; DGOOC, Philipp S, Pleyer U, Rudwaleit M, Schneider E, Schulte TL, Sieper J, Stallmach A; DGIM, Swoboda B; DGOOC/DGORh, Winking M; DGNC.
Z Rheumatol. 2019 Dec;78(Suppl 1):3-64. doi: 10.1007/s00393-019-0670-3.
PMID: 31784900 German. No abstract available.