You know the feeling. That stiff, sore, hurts-to-move-after-sitting-too-long feeling. Yes, we’ve all dealt with muscle soreness from time to time, whether from post-workout muscle strain or overexertion at a new activity. That’s why muscle recovery is important to incorporate into your workout routine and even daily life.
In order to recuperate, our muscles need time and space to recover. To help your sore muscles recover faster and more efficiently, you can enlist the help of a sauna. Let our team at Texas Hot Tub Company explain: What is muscle recovery and how does a sauna help?
The Science Behind Muscle Recovery
The muscles of the body are made up of thousands of fibers. When you exercise, your muscles are pushed to their limits, and the fibers are damaged with tiny, microscopic tears. In addition to soreness, the damaged fibers can cause inflammation, tenderness to the touch, and a decreased range of motion. But as those tiny tears recover and heal, your muscles grow back stronger than before. Giving your body adequate time and restraint to recover from muscle damage is an important part of muscle development and preventing injury.
The healing process takes time. It can often take days up to a week for certain muscle groups to recover, especially when starting a new regimen or new level of exertion. So, how can you speed up the recovery process? Some of the most common ways to aid muscle recovery, whether effective or not, include massage, extra sleep, additional protein, supplements, and compression clothing. At Texas Hot Tub Company, we know a proven and highly effective method to promote muscle recovery is regular time spent in a sauna.
How Does a Sauna Help with Muscle Recovery?
Imagine stepping into a Finnleo® Sauna. The heat is set to 160 degrees. For 15 to 20 minutes, your body goes through a number of changes that are highly beneficial to muscle recovery. For one, the heat can soothe sore muscles, reduce swelling, and allow tight muscles to relax.
In addition, the high temperatures cause your blood vessels to dilate and, as a result, increase circulation throughout your body. This allows an increase of oxygen-rich blood to travel throughout the body to promote and speed up muscle healing. The extra blood flow also helps flush out unwanted toxins built up in your muscles, such as lactic acid, which cause additional pain and soreness.
Time in a sauna can also release endorphins. Endorphins can help relieve pain in the body, reduce stress, and boost your mood similar to a “runner’s high”. Professional and amateur athletes alike can benefit from regular sauna use. Check out why Gold Medal Olympian Gwen Jorgensen uses her Finnleo Sauna every day to aid in muscle recovery.
At Texas Hot Tub Company, we are proud to carry both Traditional and Infrared Finnleo saunas. These saunas are high quality, easy to use, affordable, and use cutting-edge design and technology. A Finnleo Sauna can be added to the interior or exterior of your home and can be custom cut to fit your space. Our team of experts would love to help you find the right sauna for you. Stop by our Fort Worth, Lewisville, Austin, and Dallas locations to view a working Finnleo model. Contact us today to order yours!