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Table 3 Measured variables in ETS and FIRS bathing 30 min or in ETS and sitting in a normal room (NO SAUNA) 30 min and in both cases during recovery sitting another 30 min (mean ± SD)

From: Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men

Variable

Before ETS

After ETS

Recovery 30 min

Recovery 60 min

VO2 (ml/kg/min)

 FIRS

5.7 ± 0.9

62.7 ± 4.2a

5.3 ± 0.8

4.9 ± 0.6

 NO SAUNA

5.7 ± 0.7

62.9 ± 3.5a

5.4 ± 0.9

5.0 ± 0.6

Heart rate (beats/min)

 FIRS

75 ± 9

201 ± 11a

99 ± 9

80 ± 11

 NO SAUNA

75 ± 10

200 ± 10a

93 ± 11

79 ± 14

Blood pressure (mm Hg)

 FIRS systolic

139 ± 12

168 ± 20b

114 ± 11

121 ± 8

 FIRS diastolic

80 ± 10

80 ± 12

73 ± 10

72 ± 6

 NO SAUNA systolic

138 ± 12

182 ± 17b

125 ± 12

126 ± 8

 NO SAUNA diastolic

78 ± 10

86 ± 17

74 ± 10

75 ± 6

pH

 FIRS

7.40 ± 0.0

7.30 ± 0.04a

7.40 ± 0.02

7.40 ± 0.02

 NO SAUNA

7.41 ± 0.02

7.29 ± 0.04a

7.40 ± 0.03

7.41 ± 0.02

Lactate (mmol/l)

 FIRS

2.0 ± 1.0

12.0 ± 2.7a

4.4 ± 2.3

2.1 ± 0.4

 NO SAUNA

1.8 ± 0.6

12.9 ± 4.1a

4.4 ± 2.1

2.3 ± 0.8

Testosterone (nmol/l)

 FIRS

18.8 ± 3.9

23.6 ± 5.1

20.6 ± 5.1

20.4 ± 5.5

 NO SAUNA

18.5 ± 4.4

23.5 ± 6.4

19.5 ± 6.7

18.0 ± 4.7

Cortisol (nmol/l)

 FIRS

531 ± 151

640 ± 132

601 ± 121

491 ± 132

 NO SAUNA

519 ± 117

639 ± 112

616 ± 196

609 ± 211

Growth hormone (µg/l)

 FIRS

2.2 ± .0.9

65.5 ± 41.6a

26.6 ± 11.2b

7.5 ± 8.0

 NO SAUNA

1.5 ± 3.8

57.5 ± 39.9a

23.5 ± 16.3b

7.6 ± 8.8

Body mass (kg)

 FIRS

79.8 ± 7.6

79.4 ± 7.4

78.9 ± 7.4c

78.9 ± 7.4c

 NO SAUNA

79.6 ± 7.6

79.1 ± 7.5

78.9 ± 7.5

78.9 ± 7.4

CMJ (m)

 FIRS

0.37 ± 0.08

0.32 ± 0.10

0.34 ± 0.09d

 NO SAUNA

0.37 ± 0.08

0.32 ± 0.09

0.32 ± 0.08

  1. aSignificantly (p < 0.001) different from before value.
  2. bSignificantly (p < 0.05) different from before value.
  3. cSubjects drank 0.5 dl water in sauna which is included in body mass.
  4. dSignificantly (p < 0.05) different from NO SAUNA value.