The science behind floatation therapy
Floating, floatation, sensory deprivation, REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulus Therapy)
Floating has been shown to have measurable positive effects on both the brain and the body. Since floatation therapy was developed in the 1950s, numerous scientific studies from independent universities and research institutes have examined its effects and potential benefits.
Floating is used in several countries and has gained increasing recognition as a method for relaxation and recovery. In Sweden, floatation therapy has been used within healthcare settings as a complementary treatment for stress, anxiety, and depression. Floating is also widely practiced in countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Below you will find important articles on floating and it’s impact on us:
Effects of flotation-REST on muscle tension pain, Archer, Kjellgren, Sundequist, Norlander (2000)
Click here for more research on floatation therapy
Research into floatation therapy has investigated its potential effects in several areas, including:
Symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression
Mood and muscle soreness in professional athletes
Physical recovery and muscle tension
Stress-related conditions
Chronic headache and migraine
Elevated cortisol levels
Addiction and dependency
In addition, ongoing research is exploring the possible effects of floatation therapy in areas such as:
ADHD symptoms
PTSD
Immune function
Eating disorders
Hearing and sensory processing
Title
Author
Year of publication
Link to article
Taking the body off the mind: Decreased functional connectivity between somatomotor and default‐mode networks following Floatation‐REST
Obada Al Zoubi, Masaya Misaki, Jerzy Bodurka, Rayus Kuplicki, Colleen Wohlrab, William A. Schoenhals, Hazem H. Refai, Sahib S. Khalsa, Murray B. Stein, Martin P. Paulus, Justin S. Feinstein
Human Brain Mapping
2021
Reduced environmental stimulation in anorexia nervosa: an early phase clinical trial
Sahib S. Khalsa, Scott E. Moseman, Hung-wen Yeh, Valerie Upshaw, Beth Persac, Eric Breese, Rachel C. Lapidus, Sheridan Chappelle, Martin P. Paulus and Justin S. Feinstein
Frontiers in Psychology
2020
Flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy improves sleep and performance recovery in athletes
Vipan Broderick, Liis Uiga, Matthew Driller
Performance Enhancement & Health
2019
The Elicitation of Relaxation and Interoceptive Awareness Using Floatation Therapy in Individuals With High Anxiety Sensitivity
Justin S. Feinstein, Sahib S. Khalsa, Hung Yeh, Obada Al Zoubi, Armen C. Arevian, Colleen Wohlrab, Marie K. Pantino, Laci J. Cartmell, W. Kyle Simmons, Murray B. Stein, and Martin P. Paulus
Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST
Justin S. Feinstein, Sahib S. Khalsa, Hung Yeh, Obada Al Zoubi, Armen C. Arevian, Colleen Wohlrab, Marie K. Pantino, Laci J. Cartmell, W. Kyle Simmons, Murray B. Stein, and Martin P. Paulus
Promising effects of treatment with flotation-REST (restricted environmental stimulation technique) as an intervention for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): a randomized controlled pilot trial
Kristoffer Jonsson and Anette Kjellgren
Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy and napping on mood state and muscle soreness in elite athletes: A novel recovery strategy?
Matthew W. Driller a, Christos K. Argus
Journal Of Elsevier, Performance Enhancement & Health 5, 60–65
2016
Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention – a randomized controlled pilot trial
Anette Kjellgren, Jessica Westman
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, volume 14, Article number: 417
2014
The acute effect of floatation restricted environmental stimulation technique on recovery from maximal eccentric exercise
Paul M. Morgan, Amanda J. Salacinski, and Matthew A. Stults-Kolehainen
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
2013
Preventing Sick-leave for Sufferers of High Stress-load and Burnout Syndrome: A Pilot Study Combining Psychotherapy and the Flotation tank
Anette Kjellgren , Hanne Buhrkall , Torsten Norlander
For more information about the research behind floating, you can follow Clinical Float. The organisation works to bridge the gap between science and practice within floatation therapy and is dedicated to exploring the therapeutic effects of floating through clinical studies and research. Their work focuses on understanding how floating can support stress reduction, pain relief, and mental wellbeing.
