Chronic pain conditions are debilitating and unfortunately experienced by far too many people. It is simple enough to experience tension and stress. Injuries can easily occur in daily life.
However, those ailments and injuries that don't improve build up and the discomfort becomes chronic.
Most conditions also create life challenging problems in addition to pain. These include trouble sleeping, anxiety, fatigue and trouble concentrating.
With western approaches well documented, today we are introducing how Floatation therapy for chronic pain can be a gentle and beneficial aide.
One in Five Australians are said to live with chronic pain!
Chronic pain can develop from autoimmune conditions such as Fibromyalgia or Arthritis. These conditions are frustrating as their causes are still relatively unknown and their prognosis is usually lifelong.
This can leave you in a negative cycle of pain, frustration, anxiety and depression.
Floatation Therapy for Chronic Pain
This is where alternative therapies such as Floatation Therapy shine a positive light.
They offer a chance to break free from the cycle with a new method of pain management as well as a relaxation tool.
It is a complimentary service and can do no harm.
Floatation Therapy fro Chronic pain has the potential to significantly reduce severe pain.
Research conducted in Sweden in 2001 showed that the participants who were floating in the experiment and were experiencing extreme pain:
- saw a significant reduction in their pain intensity levels.
- Their noradrenaline levels reduced (blood pressure reduction)
- Optimism increased
- reduced anxiety and depression
- and fell asleep more easily at night time.
And all you have to do, is hop in the tank and chill out.
Floatation is REST
You will see that Floating is sometimes referred to as REST.
This clever acronym means Reduced Environmental Stimuli Therapy
Whilst floating, users are deprived of any external sensory stimuli like light and sound.
It is just you, your body, floating in this healing water.
Whilst this can feel strange at first, there is potential for a significant positive impact on the body and mind.
Regular sessions can ease pain in the short term, whilst aiding long term issues.
There is a strong link between floating and chronic pain management.
These REST tanks are a popular choice in the Fibromyalgia community, because of their pain management benefits.
Floating reduces pressure on muscles and joints and can target specific areas as users become supported by the water.
The spine straightens out into a natural posture with low impact to help with spinal pain.
The secret behind Float Tanks is their dense Epsom Salt rich solution
The water within these floatation devices includes Epsom salts. You may already use these in your bath and appreciate their impact on your joints and state of mind.
The primary reason for these salts is to help users float with ease.
It is a bit like being in the Dead Sea.
The bouyancy created in the tank means effortless floating for you. It creates an anti gravity effect for the body assisting in pain relief.
However, these salts also contain magnesium and sulphate.
The Role of Magnesium
When absorbed into the skin, these minerals can regulate any deficiencies you may have and help with pain relief.
Magnesium deficiency isn’t uncommon in those with chronic pain conditions. We need magnesium to maintain muscle function and joint health.
Supplementation can also help those prone to headaches and migraines.
Floating in Epsom salts is one of the more pleasant ways to address that balance.
The Power of Relaxation
Chronic pain conditions and illnesses often go hand-in-hand with stress and anxiety.
We worry about the impact of the condition on our daily lives.
This worry concerns the effect our pain has on those around us.
We develop fears towards the future when we struggle to get a positive prognosis.
Stress and anxiety build up and create further health issues to contend with.
Natural stress relief can help and may decrease the severity of pain and other symptoms.
The sensory deprivation of floatation therapy eliminates distractions while alleviating pain for a meditative experience.
Regular sessions can calm the mind and lower anxiety levels. Research conducted in 2016 to test the efficacy of Floatation Therapy on reducing generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) showed:
- That GAD symptoms were greatly reduced during sessions at the 4 week and 6 month follow up compared to the control group who had no benefit.
- Benefits included aiding sleep difficulties
- Help in emotional regulation
- Decreasing Depression symptoms.
Sleep your way to less Chronic Pain
Chronic pain conditions can also make it more difficult for us to sleep at night.
Pain and aches in the joints and muscles stop us from relaxing and drifting off.
They can also wake us up if we are light sleepers. A lack of sleep can exacerbate symptoms, leading to a vicious cycle.
If we can find a way to improve our sleep, this could have a secondary knock-on effect on pain management.
The calming, stress-relieving experience of this REST therapy could help.
Yet another research study concluded that regular floating reduces symptoms of insomnia.
These people were able to fall asleep and stay asleep more easily.
More importantly, they reported these benefits continued for up to 12 weeks after the study was over!
Float away the Chronic Pain
Dealing with pain management for chronic pain conditions often requires a varied treatment plan.
Pharmaceutical painkillers can help with severe pain but aren’t always the best approach on their own. They can also have adverse affects on the gut with long term use.
Floatation therapy for chronic pain is a great choice because it can help users naturally cope with the other effects of pain.
It may seem strange at first to float in the darkness. But, this alternative therapy could prove to be the key that unlocks a future of reduced pain, better sleep and a calmer state of mind.