The effects of short term Flotation REST on relaxation: A controlled study.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of restricted environmental stimulation using a flotation tank (Flotation REST) to the effects of a normal sensory environment on relaxation. All of the subjects were first introduced to a simple relaxation program to be used during the experimental sessions. The program consisted of guided point-to-point relaxation, breathing techniques, and visual imagery techniques. Subjects were then pre-tested on measurements of electromyogram (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), peripheral skin temperature, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The experimental group experienced ten 45-minute sessions practicing the relaxation program in a Flotation REST environment. The control subjects practiced the same relaxation program in a similar body position for 45 minutes in a normal sensory environment. All subjects answered a five-question Subjective Relaxation Questionnaire on trials five through ten and were then posttested on EMG, GSR, skin temperature, and blood pressure. The results indicated significant differences between groups from pre-test to post-test on systolic and diastolic blood pressure; the experimental group showed greater reductions. Significant differences also were observed on three of five questions on the Subjective Relaxation Questionnaire; the experimental group reported greater subjective relaxation and trends in a similar direction on the remaining two questions. The results of this study indicate that flotation REST enhances point-to-point relaxation, breathing techniques, and visual Requests for reprints should be sent to

Comparison of Bispectral Index™ values during the flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique and results for stage I sleep: a prospective pilot investigation

“…Further, the post-flotation-REST mood scores were significantly greater in contrast to the pre-flotation scores. These observations are corroborated by other flotation-REST studies that have demonstrated an objective improvement in relaxation [ 2 , 18 , 53 , 55 ] and mood enhancement [ 18 , 52 ].…”

“…Multiple physiologic alterations have been described during stage I sleep: decreased minute ventilation, muscle tone, heart rate, blood pressure, metabolic rate, and frontal lobe blood flow [ 35 , 37 ]. Other investigations have demonstrated that flotation-REST is associated with reductions in blood pressure [ 52 , 53 ] and levels of plasma cortisol [ 52 , 54 , 55 ], plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone [ 54 ], thyroid stimulating hormone [ 55 ], plasma noradrenalin [ 56 ], and urinary catecholamine [ 55 ]. Each of these five researchers concluded in their manuscript that flotation-REST is conducive to relaxation.…”

An Unusual Death Involving a Sensory Deprivation Tank*

“…Flotation REST has been increasingly employed as an alternative therapy for chronic medical conditions such as systemic hypertension, chronic headache, joint and low back pain, chronic whiplash syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and fibromyalgia (6–8). Controlled studies on the efficacy of therapeutic flotation REST are very limited; a few small controlled studies describe significant decreases in heart rate and blood pressure both during and after flotation sessions (6,9) and detectable electroencephalographic changes similar to dream sequences (10,11).…”

Efeitos fisiológicos da imersão e sua relação com a privação sensorial e o relaxamento em hidroterapia

“…Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que a associação da imersão (flutuação) com a restrição de estímulos ambientais foi mais eficaz que o uso de outras técnicas isoladas para estes casos (JACOBS et al, 1984;WALLBAUM et. al.,1991;KJELLGREN et al, 2001).…”