5 Benefits of Float Therapy

Written By Taylor Hartman

The accessibility of float therapy, also known as sensory deprivation therapy, has grown significantly in recent years. Businesses offering personal float pods have sprouted across the Puget Sound. It raises the question - is float therapy just a fad, or does it truly offer health benefits?

Preliminary research into float therapy unveils a blend of potential physical and mental health benefits. Among these are:

  • Stress reduction

  • Anxiety alleviation

  • Reduction of depressive symptoms

  • Enhancement of sleep quality

  • Muscular relaxation and relief from muscle pain

A clinical trial demonstrated that a single hour-long float session led to reduced stress, depression, and anxiety levels in study participants (Feinstein et al., 2018). This practice inherently fosters mindfulness, which may explain psychological advantages associated with using float pods.

Float pods are filled with water that is generally kept at 98.6 degrees Farenheit, and they contain a significant concentration of Epsom salts. Epsom salts help pod users to stay afloat while also supporting muscular relaxation. Beyond the physical benefits, the tranquility induced by float therapy has been shown to help mitigate sleep disturbances - high quality sleep is an essential component of proper bodily functioning (Jonsson & Kjellgren, 2016).

While float therapy is generally deemed safe for most, there are notable exceptions. Folks who experience claustrophobia should avoid float tanks, as should individuals with seizure disorders, infectious diseases, open wounds, or certain skin conditions (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).

 
 

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, March 31). Could You Benefit From Sensory Deprivation Tank Therapy?. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/float-therapy-benefits/

Feinstein, J. S., Khalsa, S. S., Yeh, H. W., Wohlrab, C., Simmons, W. K., Stein, M. B., & Paulus, M. P. (2018). Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PloS one, 13(2), e0190292. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190292

Jonsson, K., & Kjellgren, A. (2016). Promising effects of treatment with flotation-REST (restricted environmental stimulation technique) as an intervention for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): a randomized controlled pilot trial. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 16, 108. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1089-x

Taylor Hartman
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