Scientific
Scientific research shows: Floating is more effective than other relaxation techniques
The leading scientific magazine Psychology and Health recently published a study by Dirk van Dierendonck and Jan te Nijenhuis, titled Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) as a stress-management tool: A meta-analysis*.Floating
Floating (officially known as Floatation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) aims to minimize the level of environmental stimulation through the use of a special designed tank filled with a specific saltwater solution. The tank resembles a large bathtub, which can be closed and made completely dark and almost soundproof. Through the use of a salt-water solution at skin temperature, a sense of near weightlessness is achieved, allowing the participant to float and safely sleep or daydream in the floatation tank. An average float session takes around 45 or 60 minutes.
Research
Van Dierendonck and Te Nijenhuis used a meta-analysis to investigate whether floating can be used as an alternative or supplement to other stress-management instruments. A meta-analysis is a way of research in which one uses statistical methods to summarize published scientific data from different research projects on the same subject. The focus of a meta-analysis is on measured effects as a result of a treatment or intervention.
In this meta-analysis the researchers used the data from twenty-seven previously published studies on the effects of floating on physiology, well-being and performance.
Physiological measures
In their research they included the data from ten studies based on measures of blood pressure, level of cortisol or level of adrenaline. Following positive outcomes with other relaxation techniques, several researchers have focused on the extent that floating lowers blood pressure and brings down cortisol levels. The pre-post mean effect size based on the statistical calculations of this data was 1.01, which means that floating has strong positive physiological effects.
Burnout & chronic fatigue
The results of this study show that floating has positive effects on physiology (e.g., lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure). The strongest effect of floating is its reduction of high cortisol levels and thereby the reduction of higher levels of exhaustion. Therefore floating can be of great benefit for people suffering from burnout or chronic fatigue, where exhaustion is one of the main symptoms.
Measures of well-being
Ten of the analysed studies included measures of well-being. Earlier research suggested that the sensory restriction during floating and the muscle relaxation that results from floating in salt-water are important mechanisms that allows one to release stress and reduce levels of arousal. It is therefore likely that by reducing the heart rate and muscle tension, floating will make people feel better. The pre-post mean effect size based on the statistical calculations of this data was 1.09, which means that floating has significant positive effects on well-being.
Performance
Seven of the analysed studies included performance measures of activities involving a physiological component. Earlier research showed that relaxation techniques have positive effects on performance in sports that require a perfect perceptual-motor coordination (like tennis or archery). Floating helps to reduce the levels of stress during these kind of situations and thereby optimizes the performance. The pre-post mean effect size based on the statistical calculations of this data was 0.76, which means that floating has positive effects on performance.
Floating most effective stress-management tool
The overall pre-post mean effect size (based on the statistical calculations of all measures) was 1.02, which means that floating has positive effects on physiology, well-being, and performance.
The randomized control group effect-size (based on the statistical calculations of all measures) was 0.73. In comparison with the results of other studies on stress and coping these effects can be considered high. The study of 300 meta-analyses of psychological, educational and other behavioral interventions showed that an effect size of 0.73 belongs to the top 25% of effect sizes. Earlier research on other stress management techniques showed a mean effect size of 0.35. This indicates that floating is more effective in the reduction of stress than other relaxation techniques.
More effective through repeated sessions
The researchers conclude that the positive effects of floating become stronger through repeated exposure. They suggest that the effects become better integrated through repetition and that people who float, learn to profit more from repeated sessions. They suggest that the beneficial effects remain after persons end their float sessions. Restricted by the available data, the researchers can not give exact advice on how many sessions of floating to recommend. They do suggest however that more sessions, taken over a longer period of time, will give a better result.
*Source: Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) as a stress-management tool: A meta-analysis, Dirk van Dierendonck1 & Jan te Nijenhuis2 in: Psychology and Health, June 2005.
1Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
and 2Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University, The Netherlands
