A systematic review of flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST).
BMC complementary medicine and therapies July 3, 2025 Elnaz Lashgari, Emma Chen, Jackson Gregory et al. 2 citations
A systematic review of 63 studies involving 1,838 participants examined the effects of flotation-REST, a technique using a tank of buoyant saltwater to minimize sensory input. Flotation-REST was found to bring about positive effects on pain, athletic performance, stress, mental well-being, and clinical anxiety, while having limited to no effect on sleep-related disorders and smoking cessation. The review categorizes applications into nine areas and notes that more research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and identify optimal treatment protocols.