At this year’s American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence, Eileen Davidson shared her inspiring patient perspective on how sauna therapy has become a cornerstone of her self-management strategy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
When Eileen Davidson was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2015, she began a journey to find ways to manage her symptoms and improve her quality of life. Over the years, she’s explored various treatments, therapies, and lifestyle adjustments. One of her most impactful discoveries? The soothing power of the sauna.
The Sauna’s Role in RA Management
Over the years, Eileen has found that time in the sauna not only eases her RA symptoms but also boosts her overall well-being.
“The sauna has been one of the biggest interventions in my rheumatoid arthritis self-care management plan,” she explains. This non-pharmacological approach has become especially helpful in managing the muscle pain, stiffness, and chronic fatigue that often accompany RA flares.
The sauna has also helped motivate Eileen to be more active. After periods of reduced activity due to RA flares, returning to exercise can be a daunting challenge. Regular sauna sessions make this transition smoother by alleviating her pain and improving joint mobility.
Beyond Symptom Management
For Eileen, the sauna offers benefits beyond physical symptom relief. It has had a positive effect on her mental health, offering a much-needed escape during challenging times and even helping to alleviate symptoms of depression.
Sauna therapy has also played a role in managing the chronic fatigue and poor sleep that are often part of living with RA. Living in Canada, where harsh winters can intensify joint pain and fatigue, the sauna provides a welcome respite from the cold. Eileen also credits it with helping her ward off infections, which is especially important since she is immunocompromised.
The sauna has provided Eileen with numerous benefits, including:
- Relieving muscle pain
- Making regular exercise more manageable
- Improving sleep quality
- Managing chronic fatigue
- Providing mental and emotional benefits
A Call for Integrative Approaches
Eileen’s experience with the sauna has shown her that effective RA management can include complementary approaches alongside medication. “It’s important for clinicians and patients to think outside of the medication box,” she says. “What can patients do every day that will benefit them? For me, it’s the sauna.”
Eileen hopes that others will find similar benefits from incorporating sauna therapy into their routines, and she advocates for greater support, including insurance coverage, for non-pharmacological treatments.
“The sauna is a healthy and relaxing daily activity for those living with rheumatoid arthritis,” adds Eileen, underscoring her belief that integrative care approaches can be life-changing for people with chronic conditions like RA.
A Holistic Approach to RA Management
Eileen’s poster shares a fresh, patient-centered approach to managing RA: sauna therapy. She highlights how it helps relieve muscle pain, makes exercise easier, improves sleep, and eases chronic fatigue. Beyond the physical benefits, sauna therapy has become a key part of her self-care, offering mental, emotional, and social support.
At ACR 2024, Eileen hopes her story inspires others with RA to explore creative ways to enhance their quality of life while managing their condition.
Be a More Proactive Patient with PatientSpot
PatientSpot (formerly ArthritisPower) is a patient-led, patient-centered research registry for people living with chronic conditions. By joining, you can participate in voluntary research studies about your health conditions and use the app to track your symptoms, disease activity, and medications — and you can share this information with your doctor. Learn more and sign up here.
Davidson E. Sweat It Out: How the Sauna Has Helped Me Cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis [abstract]. Arthritis & Rheumatolgy. November 2024. https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/sweat-it-out-how-the-sauna-has-helped-me-cope-with-rheumatoid-arthritis/.
