Arthritis The heat itself may help control pain and increase joint mobility. However, sauna use alone is not going to affect the outcome of the disease. The joints are more supple through altered properties of joints and tendons. Elderly It is generally safe for the elderly to use a sauna but they should consult with a physician before doing so. Collagen Studies do show that heat does alter the behavior of collagen and therefore may be used prior to applying passive stretch or active exercise in order to facilitate the lengthening of scars or contractures.
Heat increases the elasticity and decreases the viscosity of connective tissue.
Muscle Spasms Muscle spasms are known to be reduced by heat, be they secondary to underlying skeletal, joint or neuro-pathological conditions. Newer studies show cold may be better in reducing muscle spasms. Information about the physiological basis for the clinical observation that heat relieves muscle spasm is limited. There has been documented pain relief with the application of heat. Studies do show that when IR was applied to a region of the body, there was an analgesic effect distal to that point.