Saunas and cold-water tanks are everywhere in their personal fitness and recover space. These modalities have also been linked to improving sleep parameters, but is there any science behind the claims? In this episode, we will:
- Examine the use of sauna therapy and cold-water immersion (CWI) in elite athletics, and the relative adoption rate for both
- Discuss the literature linking sauna/heat therapy with improved health and longevity, particularly in the cardiovascular space, but also emerging in the cognitive health space
- Define hormesis and link it to these therapies
- Explore the role of sauna therapy as an exercise mimetic, and how that can act to explain the health benefits as well as the sleep benefits of sauna therapy
- Link sauna therapy to inflammatory and immune modulation
- Touch upon other potential pathways that sauna therapy could benefit sleep
- Clarify the confusion about cold water therapy timing and sleep
- Review evidence from research showing CWI therapy earlier in the day improving slow wave sleep and reducing sleep latency
Produced by: Maeve Winter
More
Thanks for listening and sleep well!
