In einer Metaanalyse über 27 Studien zeigt sich, dass Flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) anderen Entspannungstechniken, wie Autogenem Training, Progressiver Muskelentspannung oder Atementspannung überlegen sein könnte.
Weitere Studien, welche zwischen 2005 und 2010 durchgeführt wurden belegen, dass Floating den Blutdruck senkt, das Schmerzempfinden herabsetzt und sich positiv auf das Empfinden von Stress und Anspannung auswirkt. Es hat eine stimmungsaufhellende Wirkung und damit einen positiven Effekt auf Depressionen und es stärkt das Immunsystem.
Bei Angst- und Panikstörungen zeigt sich eine Besserung der Symptome nach regelmässigem Aufenthalt im Floating Tank.
Der DFV sammelt und digitalisiert wissenschaftliche Aufsätze und stellt sie an dieser Stelle als PDF oder Link zur Verfügung. Die Website https://www.clinicalfloat.org/ sammelt ebenfalls Online zugängliche Forschungsergebnisse zum Floating.
Witte, Laura u.a. (2021): Floatation Therapy for Specific Health Concerns. A review of the research on this increasingly popular intervention, in: Natural Medicine Journal, April 2021 Vol. 13 Issue 4 (PDF).
Kjellgren, Anette u.a. (2020): Does flotation-rest (restricted environmental stimulation technique) have an effect on sleep?, in: European Journal of Integrative Medicine 33, 2020 (PDF).
Feinstein, Justin S. u.a. (2020): Taking the body off the mind: Decreased functional connectivity between somatomotor and default-mode networks following Floatation-REST, in: Human Brain Mapping, 2021;42:3216–3227 (PDF).
Khalsa, Sahib S. (2020): Reduced Environmental Stimulation in Anorexia Nervosa: An Early-Phase Clinical Trial, in: Front. Psychol., 06 October 2020 (PDF).
Schauwecker, Johannes: Starksolebad-Therapie bei Wirbelsäulenbeschwerden – eine prospektive randomisierte kontrollierte Studie, Abstract (PDF).
Feinstein, Justin S. u.a.: Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST, in: PLOS One, February 2, 2018.
Jonsson, Kristoffer: Promising effects of treatment with flotation-REST (restricted environmental stimulation technique) as an intervention for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): a randomized controlled pilot trial, in: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2016, 16:108.
Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention – a randomized controlled pilot trial, in: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014, 14:417.
Kjellgren, A., Edebol, H., Nordén, T., Norlander, T.: Quality of Life with Flotation Therapy for a Person Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Atypical Autism, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression, in: Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 2013, 2, 134–138
Edebol, H., Nordén, T., Norlander, T.: Behavior change and pain relief in chronic whiplash associated disorder Grade IV using flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique: A case report, in: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2013; 2(6): 206–216.
Kjellgren, A., Edebol, H., Nordén, T., & Norlander, T. (2013): Quality of Life with Flotation Therapy for a Person diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Atypical autism, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression, Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 2, 134–138
Kjellgren, A., Edebol, Norlander, T., Bood, A. (2012). Rehabilitation through flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique), Float Summit 2012.
Kjellgren, Anette; Buhrkall, Hanne; Norlander, Torsten: Psychotherapeutic Treatment in Combination with Relaxation in a Flotation Tank: Effects on „Burn-Out Syndrome“. In: The Qualitative Report, Volume 15, Number 5, 2010, 1243–1269.
Bood, Sven; Kjellgren, Anette; Norlander, Torsten: Treating stress-related pain with the flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique: Are there differences between women and men? In: Pain Research & Management 2009 Jul-Aug; 14(4): 293–298.
Suedfeld, Peter; Borrie, Roderick: Health and therapeutic applications of chamber and flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). In: Psychology & Health, Volume 14, Issue 3, 1999. DOI: 10.1080/08870449908407346
Suedfeld, Peter; Eich, Eric: autobiographical memory and affect under conditions of reduced environmental stimulation. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology (1995) 15, 321–326.
Suedfeld, Peter; u.a.: Explaining the effects of stimulus restriction. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology (1994) 14, 87–100.
Vartanian, Oshin; Suedfeld, Peter: The Effect of the Flotation Version of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) on Jazz Improvisation. In: Music and Medicine, published online 6 May 2011. DOI: 10.1177/1943862111407640
Suedfeld, Peter; Collier, Drew E.; Hartnett, Bruce D.: Enhancing perceptual-motor accuracy through flotation REST. In: The Sport Psychologist, Vol 7(2), Jun 1993, 151–159.
Wallbaum, Alistair B; Rzewnicki, R; Steele, H; Suedfeld, P.: Progressive muscle relaxation and restricted environmental stimulation therapy for chronic tension headache: a pilot study. In: International Journal of Psychosomatics, Vol 38(1–4), 1991, 33–39.
Suedfeld, Peter; Bruno, T.: Flotation REST and imagery in the improvement of athletic performance. In: Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12, 1990, 82–85.
Suedfeld, Peter; Coren, Stanley: Perceptual isolation, sensory deprivation, and REST: Moving introductory psychology texts out of the 1950’s. In: Canadian Psychology, 30(1), 1989, 17–29.
Suedfeld, Peter; Metcalfe, Janet; Bluck, Susan: Enhancement of scientific creativity by flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique). In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 7/1987, 219–231.
Wong, G. K. Y.; Suedfeld, Peter: Ultraviolet light as a sterilization method in flotation tanks. In: Journal of Clinical Engineering, 11/1986, 69–72.
Suedfeld, Peter; Ballard, Elisabeth; Murphy, Margaux: Water immersion and flotation: From stress experiment to stress treatment. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 3/1983, 147–155.
Suedfeld, Peter: Behavioral applications of the restricted environmental stimulation technique. In J. Richard Eiser (Ed.), Social Psychology and Behavioral Medicine (pp. 393–412). London 1982.
Jüngere Studien aus den Jahren 2005 bis 2010 kommen zu dem Ergebnis, dass der Aufenthalt in einem salzwassergefüllten Floating-Tank den Blutdruck absinken lasse, die Schmerzempfindung vermindere und sich positiv auf das Empfinden von Stress und Anspannung sowie bei Depressionen auswirken kann. Das Schwingen der sogenannten Thetawellen beim Floating könne zwar ebenso durch Meditieren, autogenes Training oder eine Massage hervorgerufen werden, aber das sei bei weitem aufwendiger. Zudem wirke Floating stimmungsaufhellend und stärke das Immunsystem. Deswegen sei das Schweben im Salzwasser anderen Entspannungstechniken überlegen.[6]
Seit seiner Entwicklung sind einige hundert klinische Studien zur Erforschung der Wirkungsweise des Floating durchgeführt worden.[7] Diese haben fast ausschließlich in den USA stattgefunden, jüngere Forschung fand hauptsächlich in Schweden statt.[8]
Die wichtigsten Felder der wissenschaftlichen Forschung zum Floating sind: Orthopädie, Dermatologie, Sportmedizin und Stressmanagement.
Witte, Laura u.a. (2021): Floatation Therapy for Specific Health Concerns. A review of the research on this increasingly popular intervention, in: Natural Medicine Journal, April 2021 Vol. 13 Issue 4 (PDF).
Kjellgren, Anette u.a. (2020): Does flotation-rest (restricted environmental stimulation technique) have an effect on sleep?, in: European Journal of Integrative Medicine 33, 2020 (PDF).
Feinstein, Justin S. u.a. (2020): Taking the body off the mind: Decreased functional connectivity between somatomotor and default-mode networks following Floatation-REST, in: Human Brain Mapping, 2021;42:3216–3227 (PDF).
Khalsa, Sahib S. (2020): Reduced Environmental Stimulation in Anorexia Nervosa: An Early-Phase Clinical Trial, in: Front. Psychol., 06 October 2020 (PDF).
Schauwecker, Johannes: Starksolebad-Therapie bei Wirbelsäulenbeschwerden – eine prospektive randomisierte kontrollierte Studie, Abstract (PDF).
Feinstein, Justin S. u.a.: Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST, in: PLOS One, February 2, 2018.
Jonsson, Kristoffer: Promising effects of treatment with flotation-REST (restricted environmental stimulation technique) as an intervention for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): a randomized controlled pilot trial, in: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2016, 16:108.
Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention – a randomized controlled pilot trial, in: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014, 14:417.
Kjellgren, A., Edebol, H., Nordén, T., Norlander, T.: Quality of Life with Flotation Therapy for a Person Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Atypical Autism, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression, in: Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 2013, 2, 134–138
Edebol, H., Nordén, T., Norlander, T.: Behavior change and pain relief in chronic whiplash associated disorder Grade IV using flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique: A case report, in: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2013; 2(6): 206–216.
Kjellgren, A., Edebol, H., Nordén, T., & Norlander, T. (2013): Quality of Life with Flotation Therapy for a Person diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Atypical autism, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression, Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 2, 134–138
Kjellgren, A., Edebol, Norlander, T., Bood, A. (2012). Rehabilitation through flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique), Float Summit 2012.
Kjellgren, Anette; Buhrkall, Hanne; Norlander, Torsten: Psychotherapeutic Treatment in Combination with Relaxation in a Flotation Tank: Effects on „Burn-Out Syndrome“. In: The Qualitative Report, Volume 15, Number 5, 2010, 1243–1269.
Bood, Sven; Kjellgren, Anette; Norlander, Torsten: Treating stress-related pain with the flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique: Are there differences between women and men? In: Pain Research & Management 2009 Jul-Aug; 14(4): 293–298.
Suedfeld, Peter; Borrie, Roderick: Health and therapeutic applications of chamber and flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). In: Psychology & Health, Volume 14, Issue 3, 1999. DOI: 10.1080/08870449908407346
Suedfeld, Peter; Eich, Eric: autobiographical memory and affect under conditions of reduced environmental stimulation. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology (1995) 15, 321–326.
Suedfeld, Peter; u.a.: Explaining the effects of stimulus restriction. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology (1994) 14, 87–100.
Vartanian, Oshin; Suedfeld, Peter: The Effect of the Flotation Version of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) on Jazz Improvisation. In: Music and Medicine, published online 6 May 2011. DOI: 10.1177/1943862111407640
Suedfeld, Peter; Collier, Drew E.; Hartnett, Bruce D.: Enhancing perceptual-motor accuracy through flotation REST. In: The Sport Psychologist, Vol 7(2), Jun 1993, 151–159.
Wallbaum, Alistair B; Rzewnicki, R; Steele, H; Suedfeld, P.: Progressive muscle relaxation and restricted environmental stimulation therapy for chronic tension headache: a pilot study. In: International Journal of Psychosomatics, Vol 38(1–4), 1991, 33–39.
Suedfeld, Peter; Bruno, T.: Flotation REST and imagery in the improvement of athletic performance. In: Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12, 1990, 82–85.
Suedfeld, Peter; Coren, Stanley: Perceptual isolation, sensory deprivation, and REST: Moving introductory psychology texts out of the 1950’s. In: Canadian Psychology, 30(1), 1989, 17–29.
Suedfeld, Peter; Metcalfe, Janet; Bluck, Susan: Enhancement of scientific creativity by flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique). In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 7/1987, 219–231.
Wong, G. K. Y.; Suedfeld, Peter: Ultraviolet light as a sterilization method in flotation tanks. In: Journal of Clinical Engineering, 11/1986, 69–72.
Suedfeld, Peter; Ballard, Elisabeth; Murphy, Margaux: Water immersion and flotation: From stress experiment to stress treatment. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 3/1983, 147–155.
Suedfeld, Peter: Behavioral applications of the restricted environmental stimulation technique. In J. Richard Eiser (Ed.), Social Psychology and Behavioral Medicine (pp. 393–412). London 1982.
Suedfeld, Peter; Coren, Stanley: Perceptual isolation, sensory deprivation, and REST: Moving introductory psychology texts out of the 1950’s. In: Canadian Psychology, 30(1), 1989, 17–29.
Suedfeld, Peter; Metcalfe, Janet; Bluck, Susan: Enhancement of scientific creativity by flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique). In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 7/1987, 219–231.
Wong, G. K. Y.; Suedfeld, Peter: Ultraviolet light as a sterilization method in flotation tanks. In: Journal of Clinical Engineering, 11/1986, 69–72.
Suedfeld, Peter; Ballard, Elisabeth; Murphy, Margaux: Water immersion and flotation: From stress experiment to stress treatment. In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 3/1983, 147–155.
Suedfeld, Peter: Behavioral applications of the restricted environmental stimulation technique. In J. Richard Eiser (Ed.), Social Psychology and Behavioral Medicine (pp. 393–412). London 1982.
Suedfeld, Peter: Environmental restriction and „stimulus hunger“: Theories and applications. In: H. I. Day (Ed.), Advances in intrinsic motivation and aesthetics (pp. 71–86). New York 1981.
Carder, Kimberley Jade Sackett: What is the Lived Experience of Floatation-REST Inside a Tank? Alliant International University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2018