Many people consider the benefits of floatation therapy to be effective in improving both physical and mental health. Over the past few years, this type of therapy has become much more popular. Floating in a tank helps to promote a meditation-like state, which has several benefits.

In this article, we’ll talk more about using a sensory deprivation tank, including how it works, if it improves mental health, and how it offers several advantages.

Table of Contents

1. What is float therapy?
2. Does float therapy help improve mental health?
3. Does float therapy help relieve physical pain?
4. Does floating help improve performance?
5. Book a float session today.

What is float therapy?

Floating therapy occurs in a sensory deprivation tank, typically in a dark, soundproof float tank or small pool.  The floatation tank is then filled with salt water to help you float. About 300 millimeters of Epsom salt is added to the water, and the water is heated to the outer skin temperature.

As float tanks are usually dark and soundproof, this allows you to stay calm and relax. It provides a sensory deprivation experience that often triggers a meditative-like state. When you enter the tank, you’ll float on your back with the back of your head slightly below the water’s surface. These tanks are large enough to extend your arms and legs without touching the walls.

While the salt is mostly used to help you stay afloat, it also works to relieve stress and ease your aches and pains. As you float, the body relaxes and your worries drift away. This calming therapy typically lasts about an hour. Those who own their own floatation tank may float for much longer.

Keep reading to learn the many benefits of floating and how sensory deprivation effects your health.

Does float therapy help improve mental health?

Sensory deprivation has long been considered an effective tool for treating mental conditions. Even if you suffer from everyday stressors and occasional anxiety, floating can provide some much-needed relief.

Take a look at how this can improve mental health:

Sensory deprivation effects stress

Many people believe the reduction of stress is one of the top advantages of floating therapy. As many of us live extremely busy lives, this can add stress on a daily basis. Whether you’re raising a family or working a demanding job, stress can add up quickly. Over time, this can weigh you down mentally, leading to fatigue and several other problems.

When using a sensory deprivation tank, everything is tuned out, allowing your nervous system to relax. As your nervous system takes a break, your body restores to a sense of balance and relaxation.

Benefits your immune system and overall health

Those who are frequently stressed tend to have weaker immune systems. When an abundance of stress hormones are released, this also suppresses the digestion and reproductive systems. While in a sensory deprivation tank, the meditative-like state helps calm the body and mind, leading to fewer stress hormones and an improved immune response. If you’re getting sick often and need an immune system boost, consider hopping in an isolation tank. You may notice improvements after just one session.

Sensory deprivation reduces anxiety

Life can be overwhelming at times. From work struggles to relationship problems, many stressors can send your anxiety through the roof. Also, life can be overstimulating. With so much happening in our everyday lives, it can all be a lot to handle. Luckily, a float session can help.

In a 2018 study, 50 participants with anxiety or a stress-related disorder noticed significant improvements after a course of floating therapy. These benefits were observed up to four months after therapy. Not only was stress reduced for these subjects, but they also noticed an improvement in happiness and overall well-being.

Improves concentration and focus

As our lives can be stressful and anxiety-inducing, this can increase brain fog. Over time, this can lead to mental decline and poor cognitive function. After sensory deprivation treatment, many people notice sharper focus and better concentration. If you’re having problems with your memory or thinking abilities, you may want to try a floatation session. As you float and relax, your cortisol levels start to become more balanced, promoting mental clarity.

Increases endorphins in the body

Endorphins are neurotransmitters that promote a positive mood, reduce pain, and lower anxiety. But when we’re stressed or experience something negative, these endorphins can suddenly drop. Luckily, a sensory deprivation tank can help to restore these neurotransmitters to the proper levels.

Floatation actually floods the body with endorphins. During your float session, you could be left with a better mood, less pain, and an overall sense of calm. If you’re looking for a mental boost, give floatation treatment a try today.

Using a float tank encourages relaxation

When the body is in a deep state of relaxation, this is where healing happens. However, as we all deal with stressors on a daily basis, our bodies can fall into a chronic state of stress. Not only can this harm your mental health, but it can also have lasting effects on your body. You may deal with tense muscles, tension headaches, and tightness everywhere. This is another area where a float session can help.

Due to the Epsom salt and water solution in these tanks, you can fully relax your muscles while you float. Without any tension on your body, you can fall into a deep relaxing state. This experience is similar to being in a zero-gravity environment.

Does float therapy help relieve physical pain?

Time in a sensory deprivation tank can do wonders for your mental health, there are also several physical benefits to consider. One of which involves pain reduction.

Take a look at how this type of treatment can help with physical ailments:

Helps relieve chronic pain

Several studies show the significance of isolation tanks in helping to reduce chronic pain. Whether you have had back pain for years or knee pain for decades, you may find relief from floating therapy.

When you’re in a sensory deprivation tank, your body calms down and your muscles relax. This takes away any strain throughout the body, which promotes healing and less pain. As your bones and joints aren’t stressed, your body can heal itself and return to a state of balance.

Time in a tank reduces muscle tension

The reduction in muscle tension is known as one of the leading advantages of using a sensory deprivation tank. In a study of 37 patients with muscle pain from aching muscles in the neck and back, several subjects noticed a significant reduction in pain after float treatment. However, the benefits were seen mainly by those dealing with severe pain. For subjects with a low amount of pain, the float sessions didn’t pose any significant pain reduction.

Another finding of the study was that many participants noticed fewer anxiety or depression symptoms, and many patients could fall asleep more easily.

Gets rid of migraines

Migraines can be terrible for many people. They can involve a throbbing pain in your head, including a pulsing sensation that lasts for hours or even days. This pain can be so intense that it can leave you lying in bed for hours and hours. While some people have found relief with medication, it’s not a sustainable long-term solution. However, using a sensory deprivation tank is one way people are getting rid of migraines for good.

A sensory deprivation tank allows the body to get away from all the distractions of everyday life, including normal sensory stimuli like sound and light. When you’re not focused on these sensations, your senses are turned inward. This helps to increase body awareness, promoting healthy responses of many internal processes. Chemicals and metabolic levels will balance out over time, leading to fewer migraines and tension headaches.

A sensory deprivation tank helps with stress-related pain

Do you have pain resulting from stress? If so, you may benefit from sensory deprivation treatment. In a study involving 32 patients with stress-related muscular pain, the subjects noticed a significant improvement in their symptoms after a float session. After receiving this float treatment for six weeks, participants showed lowered blood pressure, reduced pain, less anxiety, and decreased depression symptoms. As a result, the subjects experienced a reduction in stress-related pain, including less stress overall and more energy.

Improves arthritis and joint pain

Arthritis involves the swelling and tenderness in your joints. Those with this condition may experience joint pain and stiffness, and these symptoms often get worse as you get older. While some exercises and medications may offer some relief from arthritis, one safe and trusted treatment is using a sensory deprivation tank.

As you’ll float weightless in 1000 pounds of Epsom salt water, this helps to take away any pressure on your joints, muscles, and bones. This is similar to an anti-gravity environment. As you float, your body works to get rid of pain, tension, and inflammation—the main culprits of arthritis.

Does floating help improve performance?

Athletes around the world are noticing the incredible benefits of isolation tank therapy. They use this treatment to recover and boost their athletic abilities.

Check out the following benefits of float treatment on athletic performance:

Tank therapy encourages faster recovery after exercise

Athletes worldwide constantly experience sore muscles, aches, and pains after training. While you may be sore for days, this can get in the way of your training regime or even your game schedule. That said, athletes frequently search for ways to speed up their recovery time. This is another area where a float session can help with health benefits.

Float tanks are often packed with high levels of magnesium sulfate. This substance has long been known to relax sore muscles and build protein in your joints, which ultimately helps you recover faster. It’s also important to note that these benefits increase the more you participate in this float treatment.

Benefit from better sleep

Sleep problems are a harsh reality for millions of people.  Better sleep is one of the most powerful floatation therapy benefits.  Once you lay your head down at night, it can take hours to fall asleep. However, once people finally fall asleep, receiving a good quality rest is another problem many people experience. If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep issues, sensory deprivation tanks can help you find relief and take advantage of additional health benefits.

One reason why this treatment helps is that stress is a common culprit of insomnia. That said, when these tanks help to lower stress, better sleep will soon follow.

Lowers high blood pressure

As isolation tanks help you relax at a high level, this can slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. That said, you may consider relaxing in these tanks if your blood pressure is elevated.

While high blood pressure can negatively impact the body in many ways, it’s important to lower this number as best you can. As regulating your blood pressure isn’t always easy, float treatment seems to be an effective, reliable tool. Not only does a float session reduce stress and lower blood pressure, but it accomplishes this without the use of drugs and invasive treatments.

Benefits increased oxygen circulation

Many of us have bodies that don’t receive the right amount of oxygen. This can leave you feeling fatigued, stressed, and sore all over. While exercising, drinking water, and even improving your posture can provide relief, sometimes this isn’t enough. For those with oxygen issues, consider participating in floatation therapy.

This treatment has long been known for improving oxygen circulation throughout the body. If you often exercise and eat healthy, this amount of oxygen can increase even more. While this can be an effective tool for anyone, athletes may notice an even greater improvement.

Helps fight off fatigue

Float treatment is considered a great way to eliminate fatigue. Whether it’s physical fatigue or fatigue after a long day of work, this feeling can sometimes be overwhelming. When you participate in a float healing session, your mind and body relax, which helps to reduce stress and tension. As stress is a leading cause of fatigue, this treatment can be an excellent solution for feeling better—so you can benefit both physically and mentally.

Enjoy the Benefits of Float Therapy Today

Float treatment can change your life for the better. Not only can it help you get rid of stress and anxiety, but it can also work wonders for your physical ailments. As this type of treatment is gaining in popularity, facilities are popping up everywhere. There may even be a float spa just minutes from your home.

Schedule a float session today to experience the many advantages of this remarkable treatment!