Physiological strain and thermal comfort during mist sauna bathing and half-body bathing with mist heating

Abstract

We aimed to address the differences in bathing associated with mist heating. Specifically, we compared physiological strain and thermal comfort for two general bathing categories: 1) mist sauna bathing and half-body bathing with mist heating, and 2) whole-body bathing or half-body bathing without mist heating. Eight healthy young males bathed for 10 min under four conditions (whole-body bathing: W, half-body bathing: H, half-body bathing with mist heating: MH, mist sauna bathing: M) on separate days. The water temperatures for whole-body and half-body bathing were 40°C and 38°C, respectively. The results were as follows: :(1) the mean skin temperature was significantly higher after MH compared with H (p<0.001). (2) The perception of comfort was significantly greater after MH compared with H (p<0.05). (3) The decrease in blood pressure was significantly smaller during M compared with W (p<0.05). (4) ‘Hotness’ perception with respect to the face was significantly greater during M compared with W. Conversely, perception of coolness with respect to the feet was significantly greater during and after M compared with W. These results suggest that half-body bathing with mist heating could sustain high skin temperature and thermal comfort after bathing. Additionally, the airflow direction and mist temperature may impact bathing comfort and warmth.