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BioPerformace Institute
North Idaho Physical Therapy

Sauna Therapy

Simplest, yet most effective biohack there is

Exposing your body to heat is one of the simplest, yet most effective biohacks there is. Heat causes a release of heat shock proteins that are critical to helping damaged cells be removed and new healthy cells to grow. Heat also has a similar effect as exercise on your cardiovascular system and studies have shown it can drastically increase longevity.

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Saunas have been used for thousands of years and are still popular today. Sauna benefits may include easing pain, reducing stress, and improving cardiovascular health.

Sweating has long been used as a therapy. The Mayans used sweat houses 3,000 years ago, according to Harvard Health Publications. In Finland, saunas have been used for thousands of years, and 1 in 3 Finns still use them. In the United States (U.S.), there are thought to be over a million saunas.

The main benefits proposed for saunas are for relaxation and cardiovascular health. However, a sauna may not be suitable for everyone.

Benefits

  • Lowers risk of neurodegenerative disease

  • Facilitates anti-aging properties

  • Improves cardiovascular health

  • Amplifies detoxification

  • Enhances skin health

  • Reduces stress

Conditions that benefit

  • DEPRESSION AND MOOD ENHACEMENT

    • Repeated sauna use diminishes complaints in depressive patients

    • Sauna for the treatment of major depressive disorder

    • Rise in endorphins in response to sauna

    • How the sauna effects the endocrine system

    • Hormone optimization with sauna therapy

  • CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

    • Cardiac responses to thermal, physical, and emotional stress

    • Blood pressure and heart rate during sauna session

    • Sauna therapy for chronic heart failure

    • Effects of repeated sauna treatment on ventricular arrhythmias

  • DETOXIFICATION

    • Sauna therapy induced sweating in men and women

    • Sauna therapy increases elimination of BPA plastics and perfluorinated compounds through sweat

    • Sauna therapy improves elimination of phthalate

questions on Sauna Therapy

  • Can I take my electronic devices into a sauna?

    It’s generally not recommended to bring electronic devices into a sauna, as the high heat and humidity can damage them. The sauna is a place for relaxation and disconnection from technology.

  • What are the different types of sauna?

    Traditional saunas use either dry heat or steam to heat the air around your body while infrared uses light waves to penetrate the body for heating and other physiological benefits. Your Recovery Specialist will explain the unique benefit of each.

  • How long should I stay in a sauna session?

    Sauna sessions usually last between 15 to 30 minutes, but individual tolerance can vary. Listen to your body, and if you are new to saunas, start with shorter sessions and gradually increase the duration. Your Recovery Specialist will help guide you to the appropriate intensity, duration and frequency of sauna therapy.

  • Is sauna therapy safe for everyone?

    No, sauna therapy is not safe for everyone. There are specific contraindications, and individuals with health conditions such as certain cardiovascular issues, pregnancy, or severe dehydration, should avoid saunas or use them with caution. Always consult with a healthcare professional if you have concerns.

  • What should I wear in a sauna?

    Men can wear shorts with no T-Shirt. Women can wear a bathing suit, shorts, and sports bra. We suggest wearing whatever you are comfortable in. Clients are not allowed to use the sauna without adequate clothing. Changing rooms are available.

TESTIMONIALS

Our Happy Clients

400+ reviews

  • Our son, Chase, was in a dirt bike accident in May 2022. After his surgery, we started with Bradley. At Chase's 2yr check-up his surgeons were speechless with his progress. He had more movement back than they expected and attributed it to his amazing therapist and his hard work. We love Bradley and North Idaho Physical Therapy!

    Amanda B.
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    Amanda B.
  • google

    I came to NIPT for help to relieve pain in my hip and knee. Shawna has done great just manipulating my muscles and I am doing much better!

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    Beverly Y.
  • yelp

    I had cancer/treatments and came very debilitated from the chemo and radiation. Alex helped me recondition me, so I am now back to my pre cancer abilities + stamina. He was very encouraging the entire time. As a retired nurse I quickly recognized the skill and expertise he provides during the rehab process. He also made a big difference in my shoulder pain to the point it is now healed. Thank you, Alex. I will forever be grateful for all you have done for me.

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    Carolyn K.
  • email

    In the last four years, I have had four different injuries which Jared has treated me for he has fantastic. I must confess he is the best physical therapist I have ever had. He is a great listener and highly skilled at what he does. With many different injuries I’ve sustained he listens and tests carefully and comes up with a plan. He is incredibly observant, with my foot injury he noted my walking gate was off and helped me correct it so I can avoid future injury. Everything he has done has helped me recovery 100% and more.

    Colleen F.
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    Colleen F.
  • yelp

    Love working with Adam!! Extremely knowledgeable and super helpful with my therapy! The entire staff are all very personable and super nice to work with!!! I continue to improve and will always return for any future needs I may have as well as highly recommend anyone else who needs help!Great People and Great place!!

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    Deb B.
  • I came to NIPT for shoulder pain. Shawna and Amanda worked with me for my physical therapy and taught me exercises. Today I am grateful, free of pain and have a set of exercises to help me stay pain free in the future!

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    Ellinor H.
  • google

    I was referred to physical therapy due to instability and muscle spasms. Physical therapy has helped me so much from Dec 2023- Aug 2024, I went from using a walker to being able to walking for hours before issues arise. I started PT in the pool then graduated to regular PT. We are now working on using the stairs. NIPT staff is amazing and will go at my pace. If I have set back, they adjust the plan to fit my needs.

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    Emilie B.
  • facebook

    Dave Andrews is Mr. Magic! He knows more than my orthopedist, I swear. This is the 3rd time I have needed him and the 3rd time he performed his magic to make things better. And I trusted my athletes to him and they loved his work to get them back on the court/mat! Thanks for being there, Dave.

    Greg C.
    Greg C.
  • facebook

    NIPT is a very friendly team and my physical therapist there, Sky Pruitt, helped me get back to normal after both a bad shoulder with torn labral cartilage and then later a bad knee. He was encouraging knowledgeable and very competent and I never could have come through those episodes without his help. I highly recommend NIPT and Sky Pruitt to anyone in need of help with physical recovery of any kind.

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    J. McCormack
  • I became ill with sever CHF in January 2022 and also suffer with arthritis pain, instability, compromised mobility and other age-related problems. After continuous vigorous diuretic therapy, Dr Linford referred me to NIPT. My wife had received PT from Alex with excellent results. Alex's compassionate way had expedited my recovery and has helped me stay committed to the exercise regime over the past two years he has helped me with flare ups with neck arthritis with great results to aquatic therapy for imbalance and falling issues. under the guidance to help from Tim, I have been improving steadily and am so thankful for all the help both Alex and Tim gave me. I am getting stronger and am able to enjoy living more fully in these later stages of my life. The entire program runs smoothly because of the friendly competent and expedient skills of the supportive staff, i.e. Kim, Bridgette, Joan. They are the best! Thank you to the whole team!

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    Jack A.
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    I’ve been seeing Matt Bray for 6 weeks now and couldn’t be happier with my PT, he is extremely knowledgeable and professional and will return in the future any time I need PT. I would recommend this PT office to anyone.

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    Jay
  • yelp

    Great staff and treatment is excellent. Always kind and friendly. I highly recommend Dave Andrews and his Co-workers

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    Jeri L.
  • email

    Kristoff is a great physical therapist. He takes time to listen and is very responsive to my therapy needs.

    Johnathan W.
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    Johnathan W.
  • google

    I am over "50" and needed guidance on how to adapt to my changing body. I went and saw Krista at BioPerformance Insitute about nutrition to see what I could do to lose weight and feel good, little did I know what all a Registered Dietitian does for you…She worked within my lifestyle choices and helped me come up with some great plans to help me lose weight. I have never felt like I am on a diet, and I am losing weight. I am now down 25lbs in 4 months! I was super thrilled when I found out my insurance covers it…Thank you Krista for showing me how to live my best life!

    Kelly H.
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    Kelly H.
  • facebook

    Krista at BPi is an amazing dietitian. She is very knowledgeable and answered all my questions at every appointment. She is not only about your food, but your stress and lifestyle. She helped me get into clinical remission with my Crohn’s Disease and changed my lifestyle for the better. I would recommend her to anyone who is ready to improve their life and change for the better.

    Kristlyn H.
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    Kristlyn H.
  • email

    Due to an automobile accident many years ago, I have regularly used the services of chiropractors and massage therapists, some good and some not so good, so I speak from experience. I have just started using the services of Suzette Barr, LMT, and I must say she is up there with the best! I highly recommend her to anyone in need of a massage. I will continue to be her client as long as she is available.

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    Nancy B.
  • google

    I love coming to my physical therapy appointments. I arrive excited to see Alex and the gals. I always feel heard, well cared for and safe. Safe to tell the trust, safe to cry, safe to say no. I always leave feeling better than I arrived, not always physically but emotionally and spiritually. I had two surgeries this year and experienced a lot of traumas. Being able to go to a place to heal has saved my life and improved every part of me! Thank you!

    Natalie W.
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    Natalie W.
  • google

    Travis is great and super informative. And seems that he cares about all of his patients. All ages and injuries.

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    R. Dolan
  • google

    I came to Krista so wrapped up in diet culture. I didn’t know what to eat any more… Krista has completely changed the way I look at food…While working with Krista I learned about intuitive eating… She helped reshape my mindset on how to listen to my body when it comes to eating…. While seeing Krista she recommended supplements that were right for me and performed tests to learn more about how my body works. She didn’t only focus on what food I was putting into my body, but she addressed sleep, exercise, stress, and my overall health…Overall, it was a great experience, and I now have the confidence to live my daily life feeling great about my lifestyle and not feeling guilty all thanks to the help from Krista!

    Savannah O.
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    Savannah O.
  • yelp

    I would highly recommend Greg for your Pt. This is my second with him. 1st my total knee and now my shoulder. He is very patient and listens.

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    Sheri M.
  • google

    Before reaching out to Krista at BPI, I tried everything to feel and look better. I knew nutrition was a critical component of my goals, yet I didn’t seek help…I hit a low point in my life once I crossed the scale at 236. I was exercising, I was eating well (so I thought) but I couldn’t get the weight to come down… I work out at BPI and knew Krista worked there…. I knew she was a dietitian, but I just couldn’t bring myself to ask for help…I have dropped over 25 pounds since seeking her professional guidance. I only have six more pounds to go to my goal, and glad that I made the leap… Krista can help motivate, provide guidance, or even be a good person to listen when you need to vent…We celebrated each win, we developed the strategy that works well for me… I wish I didn’t wait so long to make an appointment.

    Steve P.
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    Steve P.
  • email

    I discovered Daryl close to a year ago and have definitely been a repeat customer ever since. His extensive knowledge of how the body works is apparent in his ability to quickly understand my bumbling description of ‘where it hurts’. He listens to exactly what I feel I need and makes additional suggestions for improvement. He may be soft spoken but he certainly delivers an incredibly effective massage!

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    Susan K.
  • email

    My son, Ryan, sought therapy for overall weakness, abdominal and shoulder pain and the inability to walk. Since starting with NIPT, he has experienced a noticeable increase in strength. He loves working in the pool. Progress has been slow and Ryan is not fully walking yet, but Bradley, Justin, Stephanie and Mishelle have all been so unfailingly kind and patient through the process.

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    T. Mosher
  • email

    How fortunate it was for me that I was afraid to Kristoff at NIPT I’ve had chronic low back pain for decades and after a recent failed surgery that made it worse and hurt my mobility quite a lot. Kristoff helped me in 15 sessions more than I ever thought possible. I’ve been other physical therapist over the years, but Kristoffs knowledge and understanding of my muscular skills situation was impressive. Now I’m stronger and more mobile, I’m in far less pain and have a realistic exercise path laid out for me that will bring me even better results. Without that providential referral to Kristoff, there is no way I would be where I am. He is a solid professional pleasure to work with, and I recommend him with high praise.

    Thomas H.
    Thomas H.
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