According to National Geographic, infrared heat is making waves as a popular heating method for saunas and exercise classes in the US, promising benefits from soothing chronic pain to reducing stress.

Unlike traditional heating systems that heat the air, infrared technology uses electromagnetic waves to directly heat objects such as the body and the floor, creating more “subtle” and diffuse warmth. .

Brooke Alexandra, Pilates instructor and owner of Reformed Foundations Pilates and Wellness in Michigan (USA), first tried infrared heating when she started using infrared saunas to help treat her symptoms. your Lyme disease.

“I started doing gentle Pilates in the sauna and found that it improved my mobility and joints,” she says.

She has since incorporated infrared heating into her Pilates classes and says her students have improved sleep, energy, alertness and focus, while also reducing joint pain.

Some studies show that infrared lights can provide real health benefits when used properly.

What is infrared heat?

Infrared light has three wavelengths: far, medium and near.

Near-infrared light is commonly used for medical purposes such as wound healing and skin treatment.

This deeper penetration suggests that far-infrared light not only heats the body but can also affect immune cells and other structures deep within the body.

Current science shows that low-level infrared heat therapy — like the kind you see in saunas or exercise classes — does not cause serious harm.

How is infrared light used in medicine and research?

Infrared light is not only a health care trend but is also used in many medical applications, with more and more evidence showing the health benefits of this therapy.

David Ozog, chairman of dermatology at Henry Ford Health, said several randomized controlled trials show that red and near-infrared light can help hair grow or wounds heal faster.

The science behind this lies in how the body reacts to heat.

“Thermodynamics research shows that if you heat the whole body by one or two degrees, you can boost immunity because it’s like causing a fever,” he said.

Infrared heat also shows promise in mental health treatment.

Ashley Mason, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco and an author of the study, said depression is linked to higher body temperatures and infrared saunas induce sweating to help cools the body better.

However, Tankha said it’s still too early to make firm claims about the benefits of infrared saunas when treating chronic pain.

Should you try infrared heat therapy?

Infrared saunas and exercise classes that use heat are generally safe for most people.

It is important to remember that results from scientific studies may not be of the same order of magnitude because factors such as temperature and time may vary.

“It’s not completely accurate,” Griffin says, “so even if you go to an infrared sauna, you don’t know how much heat you’re actually absorbing.”/.