Can Sauna and Heat Therapy Help Chronic Pain?

In this episode of Chronic Pain Tips for Patients, Dr. Yuri Martins discusses whether sauna, hot baths, infrared heat, and other hyperthermia therapies can help chronic pain. He explains the difference between traditional sauna, infrared sauna, warm-water therapy, balneotherapy, whole-body hyperthermia, and localized heat treatments. The episode reviews where the evidence is strongest, including fibromyalgia and knee osteoarthritis, where the benefits are more modest, such as chronic low back pain, and why patients with neuropathy or reduced sensation should be cautious. Dr. Martins also discusses practical safety tips, realistic expectations, and why heat therapy should be viewed as an adjunct to a broader pain management plan rather than a stand-alone cure.For more chronic pain education and tips, visit www.ycmartins.com or contact my clinic to schedule an evaluation.