For all references to publications, please scroll down.
Muscle Recovery
Epsom salt baths have been used by athletes for centuries, but why?
- Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate, which means your muscles are soaking in a high concentration of magnesium in the float tank
- Magnesium is responsible for over 300 functions in the body, but the vital ones for muscle recovery are a measurable reduction in inflammation (1) and improved detoxification (2)
- Being completely weightless allows the blood vessels to widen (3), which means waste products like lactic acid can be removed, and nutrients and oxygen can be delivered to your muscles more efficiently
Stress & Anxiety
- Tens of studies show that cortisol levels (the stress hormone), heart rate and blood pressure drop, after just a short time in the float tank (6).
- Lower cortisol levels mean that the body will start producing happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin, and endorphins
- By blocking out all sensory input, the nervous system gets a true break, and the parasympathetic nervous system is activated (opposite of fight or flight) (7)
- This is such a big topic with a lot of published research, so we published a whole report where we summarize the important parts. Check it out here (8)
Neck & Back Pain
If you have a desk job where you have to sit for many hours each day, it’s likely that you will have experienced back pain or muscle tension at some point. 53% of Danes (9) suffer from some kind of back pain, and 56% with neck or shoulder pain (10).
- As you float in this unique gravity-free environment, your spine will begin to decompress, and deep muscle tension will be released
- The water is saturated with Magnesium Sulphate, which is effective in reducing inflammation (1) in the muscles and joints, and this in turn causes a reduction in pain
- Several studies showed patients with chronic pain, or stress-related muscle tension who reported a reduction of 70% improvement in their pain levels, some even reported that pain disappeared completely and they could stop taking pain medication (11)
Difficulty Sleeping
The national health profile from 2023 showed that 66% of people experience tiredness (12), with 49% experiencing sleeping difficulties or disorders (13). There are many causes including stress, a dysregulated nervous system, disrupted cortisol levels (this can cause you to wake up during the night) or substance use (caffeine, alcohol, drugs).
- You slip into a state of deep rest as your parasympathetic nervous system is activated and cortisol levels are reduced
- You are bathing in a warm magnesium solution, and this is a vital mineral to ensure good sleep quality
- Your overstimulated brain gets a complete break from sensory input, which gives it the chance to do some "mental decluttering"
- This study shows that floatation has been an effective tool to combat insomnia (14)
- Floating has even been shown to speed up the recovery from jetlag - read the article here (15)
Headache & Migraine
Floating can be very helpful for treating tension headaches, hormone-related headaches or migraines, hypertension headache, post-traumatic headaches (if you’ve had a head injury or a concussion).
- As you allow the water to support your head and body fully, the neck will decompress and circulation to the head and brain will improve
- Deep muscle tension around the back, shoulders, neck and jaw is released, which often results in great relief from any form of tension headache
- In this special environment, your focus naturally moves inwards, and you are able to really feel exactly where it is you are tensing up. You can focus on relaxing specific muscles, whilst doing some breathing exercises to help your body relax fully and release deep tension
- If you suffer from headaches, why not try our specially-recored guided float by local head injury and breathwork expert Katrine Nørgaard.
Skin Conditions
Perhaps you have heard that people travel to the Dead Sea in Israel to treat their skin conditions – well we have an even higher concentration of salt in our float tanks! There aren’t scientific publications with a focus on glowing skin, but we know from our years of experience and feedback from our guests that it leaves your skin feeling soft and that special “post float glow”
- Magnesium helps to reduce swelling & inflammation (1)
- The magnesium-saturated warm water allows the pores to open up and toxins and other waste products to be drawn out of the skin
- Infrared sauna is highly effective for detoxification, leaving you with vibrant skin. Read more about the benefits here. In case you didn't know, we offer a sauna & float "kombi" treatment, which is a very effective way to give your skin som TLC
Decades of research behind floatation
Decades of research behind floatation
Dr John C Lilly pioneered the first float tank designs and early research in the area. Since then there have been hundreds of published studies, where researchers have explored how floatation can help with stress, anxiety, athletic performance, mental clarity, depression, addiction, super learning, creativity, problem-solving, PTSD, anorexia and more.
The Float Research Collective is an organization that serves as a bridge between science and practice in float therapy. Dedicated to integrating the latest research into their approach, Clinical Float strives to explore and understand the therapeutic benefits of floating on a deeper level. Their work ranges from facilitating clinical studies to sharing valuable knowledge about how floating can be an effective method for stress reduction, pain relief, and mental well-being.
Want to delve deeper?
References
References
(2) Magnesium Basics
(3) Exploring the acute cardiovascular effects of Floatation-REST
(5) Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST
(7) Dr Justin Feinstein’s Talk at Float Conference 2017: Floating with Anxiety, PTSD, Depression
(8) Copenhagen Float’s Stress Report
(9) Den Nationale Sundhedsprofil 2023 – Smerter i ryg eller lænd
(10) Den Nationale Sundhedsprofil 2023 – Smerter i skulder eller nakke
(11) Effects of floatation REST on muscle tension pain
(12) Den Nationale Sundhedsprofil 2023 – Træthed
(13) Den Nationale Sundhedsprofil 2023 – søvnbesvær
(14) The study of floatation REST as an insomnia treatment
(15) Article: Why floating is the perfect remedy for jetlag – I-sopod