There are over 60 million adults with arthritis, so chances are, either you or someone you know suffers from arthritis. While many people assume arthritis is an ailment that primarily affects the elderly, it’s a surprisingly complicated disease. In fact, there are over 100 conditions related to arthritis that affect people of all ages.
Despite how common arthritis is, effective pain management is still somewhat limited. When you receive an arthritis diagnosis, your doctor might prescribe medication or suggest lifestyle changes to manage the pain. That can certainly help, but few people want to be on prescription painkillers for the rest of their lives.
This is why more and more people are turning to alternatives like float therapy for both physical and mental relief. Float therapy can’t cure or treat arthritis, but used in conjunction with your medical treatment plan, it’s a great way to experience immediate, all-natural relief.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the science behind float therapy for arthritis, as well as share what you can expect during your visit to a float therapy hub like Krysus.
Table of Contents
- What is Arthritis?
- What the Science Says About Floating and Arthritis
- Soothing Arthritis with Float Therapy
- Benefits of Floatation Therapy for Arthritis
- Relax muscles
- Reduces Stress
- Natural Relief
- How to Prepare for Float Therapy with Arthritis
- Be Pain-Free: Book your Float Hub Appointment Now
What is Arthritis?
“Arthritis” refers to joint pain in general — there are actually more than 100 types of arthritis and related disorders. However, the two most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, which happens as a result of a malfunctioning immune system, and osteoarthritis, which happens when the cartilage between bones wears down.
Regardless of your diagnosis, the universal symptoms of arthritis include:
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Inhibited range of motion
- Mild to severe pain
Some types of arthritis can also put you at risk of a stress fracture and other painful conditions.
Chronic arthritis can drastically affect a person’s quality of life. Day-to-day tasks are often painful, and that has a huge impact not only on your physical well-being but also on your mental health. While visiting a medical clinic that specializes in arthritis might give you some answers, it isn’t possible to cure this condition.
What the Science Says About Floating and Arthritis
Everyone experiences arthritis differently. It doesn’t help that your pain might change from year to year, or even from day to day.
Depending on your diagnosis and symptoms, your doctor might recommend treatments like:
- Medications, including over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen. Some doctors might recommend more powerful drugs, like steroids
- Lifestyle changes like posture adjustments, diet, and physical activity
- Medical procedures or surgery
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
More often than not, doctors create an overall wellness treatment plan to address arthritis from different angles. A person with arthritis is in it for the long haul, so having a good plan is important. Including floatation therapy in that plan is a fantastic way to compound the positive effects of the other treatments.
Soothing Arthritis with Float Therapy
With float therapy, you submerge yourself in a sensory deprivation tank (which is also called an isolation tank) filled with water. Krysus saturates the water with Epsom salt, which makes you completely buoyant. We also heat the water to 95 degrees to match the temperature of your skin.
The result? An anti-gravity experience that makes you feel weightless, which allows your body to fully relax.
Floating is a solid option for people with arthritis thanks to the Epsom salt, as well as the weightless environment.
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate, which can relax muscles, tissues, and nerves — all sources of pain for someone with arthritis. Magnesium is anti-inflammatory and could help protect the cartilage in your joints.
The float therapy tank releases pressure on arthritic joints and relaxes muscles. The gentle heat relaxes tight or sore muscles and joints for near-immediate relief. Floaters with arthritis often say that floating is one of the few times in their life that their body has the chance to fully decompress.
Benefits of Floatation Therapy for Arthritis
Flotation therapy offers immediate relief from arthritis pain, but it can also help maintain joint health, too. If you’re on the fence about floating with arthritis, consider all of the benefits it offers.
Relax muscles
Heat loosens up your muscles and joints and soothes pain. Putting gentle heat on an inflamed area can also increase blood flow and stimulate healing.
The warm water in a float tank promotes relaxation throughout your entire body. If you’re feeling tense from arthritis pain, a one-hour float session offers instant relaxation.
Reduce Stress
Floating is great for your body, but it’s equally good for your mind. Arthritis is stressful, and it isn’t unusual for people with this condition to feel anxious or depressed. In a cruel twist, high stress levels can cause arthritis to flare up even more.
The good news is that float therapy offers immediate stress relief, which could help prevent future flare-ups.
While submerged in the float tank, you’re immersed in complete silence and peace. When you combine it with physical relief, you have the perfect environment for relaxation.
In fact, a float session is the perfect time to meditate and rest your anxious brain. Some studies suggest meditation can help you cope with chronic pain, too.
Other studies suggest that float tank therapy reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. There’s also some evidence that it increases endorphins, which are mood boosters.
Experience Natural Relief
If you have arthritis, you’re probably on a number of medications. Medicine is a must for pain management and for slowing the progression of your disease, but it’s nice to have a natural, drug-free way to get relief, too.
Float therapy provides just that.
While float therapy can’t replace medical treatment, it certainly can amplify the effects of your other pain management methods. Float therapy is natural, uncomplicated, and an easy addition to your schedule.
Krysus float tanks use water, Epsom salt, and heat — some of nature’s best remedies. You should still continue taking medication and consulting with your doctor, but floating is a welcome source of relief with very few side effects.
How to Prepare for Float Therapy with Arthritis
Float therapy is an easy way to enjoy serenity, physical relief, and mental relaxation. But if you’ve never visited a float hub before, you might wonder how to prepare for your float session.
Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect with Krysus HP:
- Assess your current state: While floating can provide pain relief, you must be able to enter and exit the float tank independently. If you’re having a bad pain day and experiencing difficulty moving, call the Krysus office to reschedule your appointment. Ask your doctor if float therapy is appropriate for your unique situation before booking an appointment.
- Before your appointment: Visit the portal to schedule a float for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Avoid shaving or waxing 24 hours before your float to avoid skin irritation.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit: Once you get to Krysus HP, our staff will provide everything you need — towels, earplugs, robes, shampoo and body wash, and slippers. You can wear your swimsuit to float, but we recommend floating nude.
- During your session: After changing, we’ll escort you to your private float tank room. We require a pre-float shower before you lower yourself into the pod. Lights and gentle music will fade as you settle into the tank.
- After your session: After your time in the tank, you will exit, take a shower, and change back into your clothes.
Be Pain-Free: Book your Float Hub Appointment Now
Managing arthritis symptoms day after day can be both physically and mentally exhausting. But you can give yourself some much-needed relief every time you step into one of our float tanks at Krysus HP.
Our friendly staff is here to support your journey and help you feel as comfortable as possible.
Turn off your busy mind and experience pain-free bliss. Book a float session with Krysus today.
