Dr. Craig Perlman is a HOTWORX franchisee and a Board Certified Endocrinologist who has a practice in the same clinic with his brother, Daryl, who is a Board Certified Internist and specializing in obesity. Craig received his medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology - College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism from NYU Langone - Winthrop University Hospital. He is also the co-chairman of the Department of Endocrinology at Northwell University Hospital of Plainview & Syosset. Over a year ago I had the opportunity to interview them both. This week I had a great discussion with Craig as a follow on update since he recently opened a HOTWORX franchise.
As an endocrinologist, Dr. Craig Perlman specializes in treating disorders of the endocrine system which is the network of glands that produce hormones in your body. Specialists in this field treat conditions including diabetes, thyroid issues, osteoporosis, cancers, and metabolic disorders to name a few.
Fitness plays a big role in his practice. Increasingly, doctors are recommending fitness programs including infrared as a part of disease prevention protocol. Craig recently opened the first HOTWORX in the state of New York in Bethpage, a city on Long Island.
When I spoke with him this week he told me that at least 25% of his studio members are patients referred to HOTWORX to address their need for lifestyle change. Below you can read his very informative answers to a few HOTWORX related questions.
What was it that first attracted you to the HOTWORX business concept?
As a practicing Endocrinologist, I mainly treat patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity and thyroid disease. In addition to pharmacologic therapy, I attempt to incorporate lifestyle interventions including an exercise regimen as well as dietary modifications. With a busy practice, we knew that it would be too laborious to start a fitness studio without the guidance and knowledge of a fitness franchise. After researching over ten different fitness franchises and speaking with representatives from them, it was ultimately the 'Hot Exercise' book that piqued my interest in HOTWORX. The book does a fantastic job explaining why HOTWORX is the most effective fitness brand for weight loss and it's overall health benefits.
What area of medicine do you specialize?
Endocrinology, a subspecialty of Internal Medicine
Do you refer patients to HOTWORX as a part of their recovery/preventive regime?
Yes. I refer my patients to our HOTWORX fitness studio as part of a holistic approach to manage their health and wellness.
What do you think about the use of hot infrared exercise as a way to strengthen the cardiovascular system?
Prior studies have shown benefits of far infrared therapy as treatment for congestive heart failure. The Nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation that occurs as a result of FIR causes reduction in blood pressure and symptoms of angina that would be analogous to sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. By modifying coronary risk factors (reducing weight, blood pressure, and preventing diabetes mellitus) through hot infrared exercise, there is prevention of cardiovascular disease.
What are your thoughts on infrared light as a form of therapy?
As an Endocrinologist, I treat many patients that suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an illness that has many contributing factors including exposure to environmental toxins. The infrared therapy that HOTWORX incorporates allows for detoxification through sweat to reduce the toxin burden that contributes to the disease severity of hashimoto's. It also reduces the inflammatory markers associated with this disease. Commonly associated with hashimoto's thyroiditis, is the co-existence of other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other forms of autoimmune arthritis. There are studies that entail the use of FIR as treatment of autoimmune arthritis to reduce symptoms/ pain scores that have yielded great results. Typically, these diseases are treated with immunosuppressants such as Humira, which can increase your risk of infections and cause cancer. Far infrared therapy can be considered as a potential alternative to immunosuppressants without the concern for harmful and even fatal side effects. The studies that show a prevention of onset of diabetes mellitus type 2 is very appealing and pertains directly to a large proportion of my patients.
What are your thoughts on heat as a form of therapy?
The first thought of heat as a form of therapy that comes to mind is the improvement in muscle mass through the expression of heat shock proteins and elevated GH levels. The higher level of muscle mass, in turn, results in a higher basal metabolic rate which results in a more effective weight loss/ muscle toning effect. Second, the musculoskeletal recovery due to an increase in blood flow to tendons & ligaments as a result of heat exposure. Third, heat as a form of therapy to increase muscle and ligament flexibility to help reduce injury.
What are your thoughts on the importance of exercise as it relates to health?
During my Fellowship, I recall presenting a meta-analysis on the comparison between aerobic and resistance exercise training on cardiovascular risk factors, ie. systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin resistance, hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile and body composition. Aerobic activity yielded greater blood pressure lowering effects, while resistance training lowered HbA1c more than aerobic training in patients with type 2 diabetes. The general consensus is that both aerobic and resistance training combined will provide the most optimal reduction in all cardiovascular risk factors, as opposed to utilizing only one form of training.
What are your thoughts on the combination of heat, infrared energy and exercise, otherwise known as 3D Training?
I feel that 3-Dimensional training is the essence of the HOTWORX fitness brand. It truly allows more workout in less time. There are studies that show the benefit of exercise followed by heat and infrared energy. However, it will be exciting to see new research in the future that study the outcomes for simultaneous 3-Dimensional training.
Maybe it’s time to consider 3D Training as an upgrade to your fitness lifestyle. 👊🔥
