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Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue Activity
Published on: September 28, 2022
Infrared sauna as exercise-mimetic? Physiological responses to infrared sauna vs exercise in healthy women: A
Joy N Hussain1, Marc M Cohen2, Nitin Mantri3
1School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University - Bundoora Campus, Melbourne 3083, Australia.
Background:
Passive heat therapies have been reported to have similar effects on the cardiovascular system as exercise. Studies supporting these findings in healthy populations have predominantly been done with men using warm water immersions or traditional saunas, rather than newer infrared-based saunas.
Objective:
To explore short-term thermal and cardiovascular responses in women using an infrared sauna as compared to moderate-intensity exercise.
Study Design:
Randomized controlled crossover trial with balanced allocations.
Setting:
Brisbane, Australia (August 2019 - March 2020) PARTICIPANTS: Ten healthy women (36 ± 9 years) INTERVENTIONS: 45 min of resting, infrared sauna or indoor bicycling PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: tympanic/skin temperatures; respiratory rate; blood pressure; arterial stiffness; heart rate variability RESULTS: Tympanic temperatures were elevated during infrared sauna as compared to both control (mean diff = +1.05 oC ± SEM 0.12 oC, 95% C.I.: 0.73 - 1.36, p < 0.0005) and exercise (mean diff = +0.79 oC ± SEM 0.12 oC, 95% C.I.: 0.49 - 1.08, p < 0.0005). Respiratory rates were higher during exercise as compared to both control (mean diff = +7.66 ± SEM 1.37, 95% C.I.: 4.09 - 11.23, p < 0.0005) and infrared sauna (mean diff = +6.66 ± SEM 1.33, 95% C.I.: 3.20 - 10.11, p < 0.0005). No significant differences in non-invasive measures of blood pressure, arterial stiffness or heart rate variability were detected between any of the interventions.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest the physiological effects of infrared sauna bathing are underpinned by thermoregulatory-induced responses, more so than exercise-mimetic cardiorespiratory or cardiovascular activations.
