Abstract
We have previously reported that thermal vasodilation following warm-water bathing and low-temperature sauna bathing (LTSB) at 60 °C for 15 min improves the cardiac function in patients with congestive heart failure. Through a comparative before-and-after study, we studied the hemodynamic and clinical effects of single exposure to LTSB in cerebral palsy (CP) patients who usually suffer from chilled extremities and low cardiac output. The study population comprised 16 patients ranging between 19 and 53 years with severe motor and intellectual disabilities. Noninvasive methods were used to estimate the systemic and peripheral circulatory changes before and after LTSB. Using blood flow velocity analysis, the pulsatile and resistive indexes of the peripheral arteries of the patients’ lower limbs were calculated. Following LTSB, the patients’ deep body temperature increased significantly by 1°C. Their heart rates increased and blood pressure decreased slightly. The total peripheral resistance decreased by 11%, and the cardiac output increased by 14%. There was significant improvement in the parameters that are indicative of the peripheral circulatory status, including the skin blood flow, blood flow velocity, pulsatile index, and resistive index. Numbness and chronic myalgia of the extremities decreased. There were no adverse side effects. Thus, it can be concluded that LTSB improves the peripheral circulation in CP patients.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cox NJ, Oostendorp GM, Folgering HT, van Herwaarden CL (1989) Sauna to transiently improve pulmonary function in patients with obstructive lung disease. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 70:911–913
Eisalo A, Luurila OJ (1988) The Finnish sauna and cardiovascular diseases. Ann Clin Res 20:267–270
Hannuksela ML, Ellahham S (2001) Benefits and risks of sauna bathing. Am J Med 110:118–126
Ikeda Y, Biro S, Kamogawa Y, Yoshifuku S, Eto H, Orihara K, Kihara T, Tei C (2001) Repeated thermal therapy upregulates arterial endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in syrian golden hamsters. Jpn Circ J 65:434–438
Ikeda Y, Biro S, Kamogawa Y, Yoshifuku S, Kihara T, Minagoe S, Tei C (2002) Effect of repeated sauna therapy on survival in TO-2 cardiomyopathic hamsters with heart failure. Am J Cardiol 90:343–345
Imamura M, Biro S, Kihara T, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Otsuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C (2001) Repeated thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors. J Am Coll Cardiol 38:1083–1088
Isomaki H (1988) The sauna and rheumatic diseases. Ann Clin Res 20:271–275
Jansen JR, Wesseling KH, Settels JJ, Schreuder JJ (1990) Continuous cardiac output monitoring by pulse contour during cardiac surgery. Eur Heart J 11(Suppl I):26–32
Johnson JM, Taylor WF, Shepherd AP, Park MK (1984) Laser-Doppler measurement of skin blood flow: comparison with plethysmography. J Appl Physiol 56:798–803
Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, Otuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C (2002) Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol 39:754–759
Kukkonen-Harjula K, Oja P, Laustiola K, Vuori I, Jolkkonen J, Siitonen S, Vapaatalo H (1989) Haemodynamic and hormonal responses to heat exposure in a Finnish sauna bath. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 58:543–50
Laitinen LA, Lindqvist A, Heino M (1988) Lungs and ventilation in sauna. Ann Clin Res 20:244–248
Luurila OJ (1992) The sauna and the heart. J Intern Med 231:319–320
Nurmikko T, Hietaharju A (1992) Effect of exposure to sauna heat on neuropathic and rheumatoid pain. Pain 49:43–51
Palisano R, Rosenbaum P, Walter S, Russell D, Wood E, Galuppi B (1995) Gross Motor Function Classification System. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Palisano R, Rosenbaum P, Walter S, Russell D, Wood E, Galuppi B (1997) Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 394:214–223
Park ES, Park CI, Cho SR, Lee JW, Kim EJ (2002) Assessment of autonomic nervous system with analysis of heart rate variability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Yonsei Med J 43:65–72
Peräsalo J (1988) Traditional use of the sauna for hygiene and health in Finland. Ann Clin Res 20:220–223
Tei C, Horikiri Y, Park JC, Jeong JW, Chang KS, Toyama Y, Tanaka N (1995) Acute hemodynamic improvement by thermal vasodilation in congestive heart failure. Circulation 91:2582–2590
Valtakari P (1988) The sauna and bathing in different countries. Ann Clin Res 20:230–235
Wolf KJ, Fobbe F (1995) Color duplex sonography: principles and clinical applications. Thieme, New York
Wong D, Baker C (1988) Pain in children: comparison of assessment scales. Pediatr Nurs 14:9–17
Yang TF, Chan RC, Liao SF, Chuang TY, Liu TJ (1997) Electrophysiologic evaluation of autonomic function in cerebral palsy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 76:458–461
Yang TF, Chan RC, Kao CL, Chiu JW, Liu TJ, Kao NT, Kuo TB (2002) Power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability for cerebral palsy patients. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 81:350–354
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Iiyama, J., Matsushita, K., Tanaka, N. et al. Effects of single low-temperature sauna bathing in patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities. Int J Biometeorol 52, 431–437 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-007-0137-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-007-0137-0