8 Flotation-REST Studies: The Scientific Research Behind the Benefits of Flotation Therapy
A Brief Overview of Float Therapy
Flotation therapy occurs in a light and sound-proof sensory deprivation chamber tank.
Inside the tank/chamber are 10-12 inches of saltwater with more than 1,000 pounds of dissolved Epsom salt. The high salt levels create a buoyancy that causes the body to float naturally without effort.
The saltwater and air inside the chamber are warmed to the skin's natural temperature, roughly 93-94° Fahrenheit.
The saltwater is not rough and grainy like the ocean; it is silky and smooth.
Imagine being in an environment where you no longer need to maintain your posture, in absolute silence and darkness, where everything is the same temperature as your body.
While floating can take some time to get used to, if you let yourself completely relax, you may lose track of the boundaries of your body. By that, you may not feel where your skin ends and the saltwater begins. This is scientifically called “body dissolution,” recently published on April 23, 2024. This study (the third one on this list) found that losing track of your body’s boundaries and the concept of time in a Flotation-REST environment directly relieves symptoms of anxiety, burnout, and depression.
Anxiety and Depression
Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST
February 2, 2018
This study involved 50 anxious and depressed participants. Anxiolytic refers to floatation therapy as a treatment for anxiety. The participants in the study were evaluated through a questionnaire before and after a 60-minute Float REST appointment. A reduction in state anxiety and a substantial improvement in mood were reported post-float by all 50 individuals. This study showed that individuals with anxiety and depression can feel better after just one session.
Stress and Burnout
March 12, 2004
This is a meta-analysis of 27 studies, including 449 participants. The study found that participants had lower cortisol levels and lower blood pressure after floating, which positively affected well-being and performance.
Relaxation
April 3, 2024
This study included 50 participants. Not only did it focus on whether or not floatation rest improved symptoms of anxiety and depression, but it also found the mechanism by which flotation therapy delivers these results. Losing track of time and losing awareness of one's body was shown to improve deep relaxation and lower the symptoms of anxiety.
Blood Pressure
Exploring the acute cardiovascular effects of Floatation-REST
December 8th, 2022
This study included 37 clinically anxious patients and 20 non-anxious patients. Float REST was shown to lower blood pressure significantly in both groups. This led to more serenity and lower state anxiety.
Body Image and Anorexia
August 29, 2023
This study involved 68 participants suffering from anorexia nervosa. Patients in the test group floated for 60 minutes twice a week for eight weeks. The float group saw significant reductions in body dissatisfaction. This study also found positive results for anorexia patients six months after their float sessions.
Chronic Muscle Pain
Effects of flotation-REST on muscle tension pain
May 14, 2001
This study included 37 patients suffering from chronic back and neck muscle pain. Over three weeks, the participants were given nine opportunities to float. Patients who floated saw significant relief from high-intensity pain and could fall asleep more quickly than the control group.
Improve Perceptual-Motor Skills and Creativity
2011
This is a smaller study involving only 13 student volunteers. Eight of these participants were given the opportunity to float for one hour for four weeks. The other five did not float. The instructor graded the students on improvised jazz pieces before and after treatment. Students who floated showed higher technical ability after the four weeks and received a higher class grade.
Pain, Athletic Performance, and More
A systematic review of Flotation-Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST)
April 25, 2024
This is the most recent and most comprehensive analysis of float therapy. Systematic reviews are primarily regarded as the best form of evidence because the results of one study should not be presented as scientific facts. This review included the results and conclusions from 60 studies for 1,838 participants. This quote summarizes their findings nicely, “In general, flotation-REST was found to bring about positive effects on pain, athletic performance, stress, mental well-being, and clinical anxiety while having limited to no effect on sleep-related disorders and smoking cessation.”
Scientific Research on Floating is Limited
Floating was first invented in 1954, so it is a relatively new mode of holistic healing. It is challenging to scientifically prove the impacts of floating on the mind, and most of these studies rely on the physical impact of floating on the body.
Hope Floats was founded in 2013 in Kimberly Boone's home. It all started with one flotation tank in her basement-turned-spa after she found that floating helped her reduce anxiety and ultimately overcome addiction. Since then, thousands of people have tried flotation therapy at Hope Floats and found it helpful for various reasons.
We own a float spa, and we are not scientists. Here, we do our best to provide links to scientific research and put it into layman’s terms to spread awareness of the topic. As with everything you read online, we caution you to research and try floating for yourself to see how it impacts you specifically.