Utilizing floatation-REST to enhance recovery in sport, Lydia Caldwell | 2021 Float Conference
Channel: Float Conference
Date: 2022-05-25

Utilizing floatation-REST to enhance recovery and promote resiliency in sport

Floatation therapy has become increasingly popular among high performance populations (e.g., athletes, military) seeking to accelerate recovery and enhance performance readiness. In order to make evidenced-based recommendations and inform best practice in this area we must first understand what recovery domains floatation-REST is capable of modifying. To begin our systematic evaluation, we set out to characterize the novice float experience in trained individuals and assess the use of acute exposure in recovery from an intense laboratory-controlled exercise stress. We found that floatation-REST improved muscle soreness, mood state and fatigue when utilized immediately following intense muscle damaging exercise. While the treatment had no effect on biomarkers of structural damage or inflammation, this may suggest the suitability of the therapy for everyday use as the thermoneutral environment did not appear to interfere with normal repair and remodeling processes in this group of highly-trained men.