Float Therapy for Sleep Quality

Overseen By Victor Finomore, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: West Virginia University

Disqualifiers: Kidney disease, Heart disease, Psychiatric condition, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial compares traditional flotation therapy and Zerobody Dry Float technology to see how they affect sleep quality and stress levels in people with poor sleep and high stress. Flotation-REST is a treatment for deep relaxation, where a person is contained in a stimuli-restricted environment and floats in water with high salt content.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Simulated Flotation Therapy, Traditional Float-REST Therapy for improving sleep quality?

Research shows that flotation therapy, which involves lying in a tank with minimal sensory input, can help reduce stress and muscle tension, leading to deep relaxation. This relaxation effect may indirectly support better sleep quality, as seen in studies where flotation therapy helped with stress and anxiety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does Simulated Flotation Therapy differ from other treatments for improving sleep quality?

Simulated Flotation Therapy is unique because it involves floating in water, which can create a sense of weightlessness and deep relaxation, potentially improving sleep quality. Unlike other treatments, it combines elements of hydrotherapy and relaxation techniques, which may influence sleep by affecting hormones and body temperature. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for men and women aged 18-60 who want to improve their sleep quality. It's not suitable for individuals taller than 76 inches, those with recent piercings or tattoos, a history of loss of consciousness or brain injury, skin conditions, certain medical devices, seizures in the last decade, weight over 250 pounds, motion sickness, communicable diseases or psychiatric conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18 and 60 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You have fainted or passed out within the past 6 months.

You have a skin condition that can easily spread to others.

Pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks

Baseline Testing

Participants undergo baseline testing to gather initial data before starting the crossover study

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Crossover Treatment

Participants alternate between Float-REST and Dry Float in 3-week segments with a 1-week break in-between

9 weeks

2 visits per week (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Simulated Flotation Therapy
• Traditional Float-REST Therapy

Trial Overview The study compares two types of floatation therapy: Traditional Float-REST Therapy where participants float in saltwater tanks and Simulated Flotation Therapy that mimics this experience without water. The goal is to see which method better enhances sleep and overall well-being.

Participant Groups

Group I: Simulated Flotation Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will utilize the Zerobody dry flotation therapy.

Group II: Traditional Float-REST Therapy Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will utilize sensory deprivation tanks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

West Virginia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

192

Recruited

64,700+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of flotation-restricted environmental stimulation technique on stress-related muscle pain: what makes the difference in therapy--attention-placebo or the relaxation response? [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled safety and feasibility trial of floatation-REST in anxious and depressed individuals. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention - a randomized controlled pilot trial. [2018]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of a new overlay mattress in patients with chronic pain: impact on sleep and self-reported pain. [2017]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep and spa therapies: What is the role of balneotherapy associated with exercise? A systematic review. [2022]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of breathing relaxation to improve poor sleep quality in adults using a huggable human-shaped device: a randomized controlled trial. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of hydrotherapy, spa therapy, and balneotherapy on sleep quality: a systematic review. [2023]

9. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of footbath on sleep among the older adults in nursing home: A quasi-experimental study. [2017]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of sodium bicarbonate bath on the quality of sleep: An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled, pilot clinical trial. [2023]