The knowledge about using Finnish sauna in post-event recovery among judokas

Abstract

Finnish (dry) sauna is one of the most popular methods of biological regeneration. This is a physical procedure used also for hygienic purposes, such as body care and for medical purposes, e.g. body strengthening. A regular use of sauna affects the body in many ways. Thermal treatment in sauna is one of the so called biomedical approaches of biological regeneration, broadly applied, both in motor recreation and competitive sports [1-4]. The idea of sauna, originating from Finland has been used in many parts of the world. Apart from Scandinavian saunas, the first saunas were built in Pensylvania in 1638. In Europe, the first saunas were built as late as in 1936 on occasion of the Olympic Games in Berlin. Finnish saunas have became popular thanks to the popularization of the social movement which contributed to their development, initially for recreation and next, they became the components of Finnish houses. For Finnish people, sauna is still the basic hygienic and relaxing procedure, affecting the entire human organism [5]. The thermoregulatory mechanism, activated during the “sweat bath” generates a series of responses in the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory systems and causes hormonal, metabolic and electrolyte changes [6]. “Sweat bath” quickly eliminates mental and physical fatigue as it favorably affects the entire body. During a series of procedures, the body is detoxified , because toxins are removed with sweat. After being intensely heated, the body is cooled and during this process blood oxygen level increases and the mind is relaxed. For this reason, sauna is recommended not only for relaxation and rest after physical work, but also in cases of post-injury conditions of the musculoskeletal system; therefore it is often recommended to athletes as a form of biological regeneration [7]. Unfortunately, there are more and more cases of improper use of the sauna, both among athletes and in non-training