some studies that might be of interest... not like you'll sit in a sauna THEN workout, but interesting nonetheless:
The effects of acute heat exposure on muscular strength, muscular endurance, and muscular power in the euhydrated athlete.
Hedley AM, Climstein M, Hansen R.
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia 2059.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute heat exposure upon muscular strength, muscular endurance, and muscular power in euhydrated athletes. Ten healthy, weight-trained men (average age = 23.0 +/- 4.0 years) volunteered for this investigation. Subjects were randomized to normothermic (22.5 degrees C, 65% relative humidity [RH]) or hyperthermic (65-75 degrees C, 15% RH) condition for 30 minutes. Results indicated that all subjects experienced significant (p < 0.05) hemodynamic stress because of the 30 minutes of heat exposure (blood pressure [BP](rest) 124/78 mm Hg to BP(postsauna) 148/60 mm Hg, heart rate [HR](rest) 64 b.min(-1) to HR(postsauna) 122 b.min(-1)). Oral and tympanic temperature measurements correlated strongly (r(2) = 0.904) and increased by 2.48 and 2.71 degrees C, respectively, during sauna exposure. One repetition maximum (1RM) bench press strength did not differ between the 2 conditions, whereas 1RM leg press strength was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after the hyperthermic protocol. Subjects' muscular endurance decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in both the leg press (29.2%) and bench press (15.8%) after the sauna exposure. In contrast, muscular power (vertical jump) increased significantly (3.1%, p < 0.5) after acute heat exposure.In agreement with previous studies, we concluded that acute heat exposure is detrimental to muscular endurance; however, the areas of strength and power are far less unequivocal.
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chronic heart failure, yeah yeah... still another interesting outcome though I think
Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure.
Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, Otuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism by which 60 degrees C sauna treatment improves cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that repeated 60 degrees C sauna treatment improves hemodynamic data and clinical symptoms in patients with CHF. We hypothesized that the sauna restores endothelial function and then improves cardiac function. METHODS: Twenty patients (62 plus minus 15 years) in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III CHF were treated in a dry sauna at 60 degrees C for 15 min and then kept on bed rest with a blanket for 30 min, daily for two weeks. Ten patients with CHF, matched for age, gender and NYHA functional class, were placed on a bed in a temperature-controlled (24 degrees C) room for 45 min as the nontreated group. Using high-resolution ultrasound, we measured the diameter of the brachial artery at rest and during reactive hyperemia (percent flow-mediated dilation, %FMD: endothelium-dependent dilation), as well as after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin (%NTG: endothelium-independent dilation). Cardiac function was evaluated by measuring the concentrations of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). RESULTS: Clinical symptoms were improved in 17 of 20 patients after two weeks of sauna therapy. The %FMD after two-week sauna treatment significantly increased from the baseline value, whereas the %NTG-induced dilation did not. Concentrations of BNP after the two-week sauna treatment decreased significantly. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the change in %FMD and the percent improvement in BNP concentrations in the sauna-treated group. In contrast, none of the variables changed at the two-week interval in the nontreated group. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial function, resulting in an improvement in cardiac function and clinical symptoms.
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