Study Suggests This Heat Therapy Is the Next Best Thing .Hot tubs and saunas are both known for easing sore muscles and providing comforting warmth, but new research suggests that hot tubs may deliver even greater health rewards.
According to a recent study from scientists at the Bowerman Sports Science Center at the University of Oregon, soaking in a hot tub may have stronger physiological effects than sitting in either a traditional dry sauna or a newer far-infrared sauna.
The researchers found that immersing the body in hot water raises core temperature more effectively, which can help lower blood pressure, boost immune activity, and enhance how the body adapts to heat stress over time. These positive effects may also continue well after the heat session ends.
“We compared the most commonly utilized modalities of passive heating as they’re used in everyday life and studied in scientific research,” said study lead author Jessica Atencio, a doctoral student in the lab of Christopher Minson. “No studies have compared the acute responses between the three.
The research team measured several key health indicators, including body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output (the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute), and immune cell activity along with blood markers linked to inflammation. Measurements were taken before, during, and after participants experienced each heating method: soaking in a hot tub, sitting in a traditional dry sauna, and using a far-infrared sauna.
