Saunas and Hot Tubs for RA Relief: Benefits, Risks, and Safety Tips

Saunas and Hot Tubs for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Saunas and Hot Tubs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adobe Stock (2)
By
Published on October 7, 2025
by
For some people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), using a sauna or hot tub regularly — applying heat to large areas of the body — may help improve RA symptoms and overall well-being.

The benefits of saunas and hot tubs for people with RA can include improved joint mobility and stress reduction. But sauna and hot tub use also carries certain risks that you should be aware of, including worsening certain heart-related issues and the possibility of developing an infection.

Here’s what to know if you’re considering adding one of these types of heat therapy to your self-care routine.

Benefits of Saunas and Hot Tubs for RA

Using a sauna or hot tub is a way to apply heat to large areas of your body, including your skin and underlying tissues, such as your muscles. Saunas are heated chambers that typically have built-in wooden seating, while hot tubs contain warm water and usually have jets that shoot streams of water underneath the surface.

“Warmth can cause muscle relaxation, which can be beneficial [for people with rheumatoid arthritis],” says Kevin Deane, MD, a rheumatologist at University of Colorado Health in Aurora.

While it’s not entirely clear why some people with RA experience improved joint mobility from using a sauna or hot tub, some or most of this effect may be explained by improved muscle function, Dr. Deane says.

“Typically, we don’t think the muscles are a major target of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, but muscles are in and around joints,” says Deane. “If a joint is inflamed and not working very well, then the muscles around that joint can also get irritated.”

Finnish and Infrared Saunas

One research review found that sauna therapy — particularly two varieties, known as Finnish and infrared — has been shown to reduce pain and stiffness and improve mobility in people with RA.

Traditional Finnish sauna therapy involves several sessions in the sauna, each lasting around 10 minutes, broken up by periods of cooling off. Inside the sauna, water may be poured on the stove or heating element to create steam and increase humidity, and people may pat their skin with a bundle of small leafy birch tree branches (known as a whisk, or a vasta or vihta in Finland). This is supposed to help with relaxation and blood circulation, similar to a massage.

An infrared sauna, on the other hand, uses a special wavelength of light to heat your body directly, rather than heating the air around you. This lets you experience the effects of sauna therapy — including an increased heart rate and circulation — without high air temperatures, which may be a safer or more comfortable option for some people.

A small study found that in participants with rheumatoid arthritis who received eight sessions of infrared sauna therapy over four weeks, there were improvements in pain, stiffness, and fatigue — but these improvements were not clinically significant, meaning they didn’t have a meaningful impact on the study subjects’ health and well-being. There were also no changes in disease activity scores, indicating limited benefits but also no major risks.

 More studies are needed to determine the significance of infrared sauna therapy.

Hot Tubs

While hot tubs haven’t been studied as much in the context of rheumatoid arthritis, they may have similar benefits to sauna therapy.

“Hot tubs can help ease pain and stiffness of the joints,” says Talia Torkian, PA, a rheumatology physician assistant at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Hot tubs may also lead to relaxation and a sense of well-being, which can be especially helpful for people with pain and stiffness.

“It’s an overall body warmth, the jets, and the weightlessness [from floating in water],” says Deane. “All of those things might be beneficial.”

Risks of Saunas and Hot Tubs for RA

While saunas and hot tubs can be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis and overall well-being, each type of therapy carries potential health risks. Always review the use of saunas or hot tubs with your healthcare team if you have any chronic medical illness.

Cardiac Risks

“There are cardiac risks to being in heated water for more than 10 to 15 minutes,” says Torkian. “Since RA affects all organs, especially the heart, they have to be more cautious.”

Dehydration

Similarly, it’s a good idea to limit sauna sessions to about 10 minutes, taking breaks to cool off outside the sauna before going back inside. If you feel dizzy from the heat or temperature change, you may need to cut your sauna time short or spend more time cooling off. And make sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Infections

Since hot tubs involve being submerged in water, they carry a potential infection risk if the water isn’t properly treated (usually with chlorine or salt). This may be especially true if your immune system is compromised by a medication you take for RA or another health condition.

In addition to skin infections like folliculitis, hot tubs can lead to respiratory infections from inhaling steam that contains bacteria or viruses.

“That’s something we think about if people with rheumatoid arthritis develop lung issues — are they in a hot tub a lot?” says Deane. In theory, he says, saunas with steamy air and multiple people inside could also carry a risk of respiratory infection.

Difficulty Getting Out

People with mobility challenges should be especially cautious about using hot tubs, since you may not realize ahead of time that you’ll have difficulty getting out — possibly due in part to the muscle relaxation that can occur.

“They can use a hot tub, but with help and assistance from someone else there,” says Torkian.

Safer Alternatives

For some people with an increased heart or infection risk, taking a warm bath or shower at home may be a better alternative to using a hot tub. Try soaking in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes, or using a specialized showerhead that’s designed to channel water in a way that massages your body.

How to Use a Sauna Safely When You Have RA

Here are some tips for using a sauna safely and effectively:

  • Shower beforehand, and sit on a towel in the sauna.
  • Limit sauna sessions to about 10 minutes.
  • Take adequate time to cool off between sauna sessions.
  • Don’t use a sauna after a heavy meal or drinking alcohol.
  • Drink plenty of fluids before and after using a sauna.
  • Have a light snack afterward, especially if you feel tired or lightheaded.
  • Remove any small bandages before using a sauna (since they can fall off from sweating), and replace them afterward.
  • Talk to your doctor before trying sauna therapy, especially if you have heart disease or take any medications for high blood pressure.

How to Use a Hot Tub Safely When You Have RA

It’s a good idea to follow these safety tips when using a hot tub:

  • Shower before and after using a hot tub, to reduce your infection risk.
  • Limit your time in the hot tub to about 10 or 15 minutes.
  • Make sure someone nearby can assist you if you have mobility challenges.
  • Don’t drink alcohol before or during your time in a hot tub.
  • Talk to your doctor before using a hot tub regularly, especially if you have any cardiovascular, respiratory, or gastrointestinal health problems.

The Takeaway

  • Both saunas and hot tubs may improve joint pain and stiffness associated with RA. They can also promote overall relaxation and well-being.
  • Saunas and hot tubs do carry some risks for people with heart disease or high blood pressure, and hot tubs especially may raise the risk of skin and respiratory infections.
  • Check with your doctor before adding regular hot tub or sauna use to your routine.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Davidson E. Sweat It Out: How the Sauna Has Helped Me Cope With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology. November 16, 2024.
  2. Fedorchenko Y et al. Sauna Therapy in Rheumatic Diseases: Mechanisms, Potential Benefits, and Cautions. Rheumatology International. April 9, 2025.
  3. The Sauna – A Sacred Finnish Tradition. Topture.
  4. What Is an Infrared Sauna? Does It Have Health Benefits? Mayo Clinic. September 13, 2024.
  5. Oosterveld FG et al. Infrared Sauna in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. A Pilot Study Showing Good Tolerance, Short-Term Improvement of Pain and Stiffness, and a Trend Towards Long-Term Beneficial Effects. Clinical Rheumatology. January 2009.
  6. Heat Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Harvard Health Publishing.
  7. Sauna and Health Effects. Finnish Sauna Society.
  8. Is a Hot Tub Good for Rheumatoid Arthritis? Southwest Florida Rheumatology.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
beth-biggee-bio

Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.

Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. Teamed with Synergy, she provides in-person lifestyle medicine and holistic consults, and contributes to employee workplace wellness programs. She has over 20 years of experience in rheumatology and holds board certifications in rheumatology and integrative and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Dr. Biggee graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated magna cum laude and as valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Dr. Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University). She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "introduction to clinical medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for the Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

See full bio

Quinn Phillips

Author

A freelance health writer and editor based in Wisconsin, Quinn Phillips has a degree in government from Harvard University. He writes on a variety of topics, but is especially interested in the intersection of health and public policy. Phillips has written for various publications and websites, such as Diabetes Self-Management, Practical Diabetology, and Gluten-Free Living, among others.

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network