Health and Clinical Psychology magazine (1985 By Thomas H. Fine & John W. Turner, Jr., Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, USA

In the past decade relaxation training has been one of a number of behavioral approaches to the treatment of chronic pain. Recently, flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy), which consists of floating in buoyant liquid kept at skin surface temperature in a sound-proof, light-free enclosure, has been used to induce deep states of relaxation and assist in the relaxation training process. This report presents data on patients receiving multimodal treatment for chronic pain, including REST-assisted relaxation training. The patients received individual stress-oriented psychotherapy, biofeedback-assisted relaxation training and REST assisted relaxation training. The use of flotation REST will be discussed through a comparison of the subjective effects of REST relaxation of biofeedback assisted relaxation specifically regarding the perception of pain.

Introduction
Treatment of pain …

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Treatment in the form of floating in huge tanks of saltwater, so-called ‘floating,’ is effective for chronic stress-related pain. This is shown in a study at Karlstad University, Sweden, led by Professor Torsten Norlander.

The research study shows that individuals suffering from stress-related health problems such as chronic pain, depression, or anxiety are often helped a great deal by floating. The effect remains four months after the treatment period. A control group, which did not participate in floating, experienced no improvement in their health. The study is part of a series at the Human Performance Laboratory and is research project run in collaboration with the Vormland County Council.

The patients who were treated with floating had had health problems for a long time. Several of them had been diagnosed with ‘burn-out.’ They had various stress-related symptoms like pain, exhaustion, depression, and anxiety.

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Our experience at the Float Center on Saturday evening was fantastic!

It was a totally different type of experience and definitely something I would suggest to anyone whom I talk with. I really do believe that anyone who experiences it for the first time will also feel the same.

The set up was clean and relaxed and the staff were just charming.

The pods are BIG and one can stretch out even in a star shape.

Once you reach the Alpha state you cannot feel the water around you because it is at the same temperature as your body.  I opted for total darkness which actually made me feel as if I were floating in space.

Helen loved it as much as I did and we will definitely be back .

- John and Helen, London UK