title: Physiological functions of the effects of the different bathing method on recovery from local muscle fatigue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, mist saunas have been used in the home as a new bathing style in Japan. However, there are still few reports on the effects of bathing methods on recovery from muscle fatigue. Furthermore, the effect of mist sauna bathing on human physiological function has not yet been revealed. Therefore, we measured the physiological effects of bathing methods including the mist sauna on recovery from muscle fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bathing methods studied included four conditions: full immersion bath, shower, mist sauna, and no bathing as a control. Ten men participated in this study. The participants completed four consecutive sessions: a 30-min rest period, a 10-min all out elbow flexion task period, a 10-min bathing period, and a 10-min recovery period. We evaluated the mean power frequency (MNF) of the electromyogram (EMG), rectal temperature (Tre), skin temperature (Tsk), skin blood flow (SBF), concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb), and subjective evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the MNF under the full immersion bath condition was significantly higher than those under the other conditions. Furthermore, Tre, SBF, and O2Hb under the full immersion bath condition were significantly higher than under the other conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following the results for the full immersion bath condition, the SBF and O2Hb of the mist sauna condition were significantly higher than those for the shower and no bathing conditions. These results suggest that full immersion bath and mist sauna are effective in facilitating recovery from muscle fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. yisoomin@chiba-u.jp
authors.forename: Soomin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimomura
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katsuura
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001494:Baths; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005221:Fatigue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D029002:Steam Bath; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010108:Oxyhemoglobins