CClinicalTrials.gg
WithdrawnNCT04155268Updated Sep 10, 2020

Flotation-REST for Chronic Pain, Stress, and Sleep

An interventional study of Flotation-REST and Dark Room in Healthy, Chronic Pain and Musculoskeletal Pain, sponsored by University of Missouri-Columbia. Withdrawn. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-09-10.

Sponsored by University of Missouri-Columbia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Unable to conduct the study due to Covid-19.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

This randomized crossover trial aims to examine the effects of Flotation-REST (Reduced, Environmental, Stimulation, Technique/Therapy) compared to laying in a dark room (with reduced environmental stimulation) for those with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This design will allow for comparisons between the two interventions on daily diary assessments of pain, stress, and sleep, both between groups and within individuals.

Read the detailed description

Chronic pain is a prevalent and significant health problem. Previous research shows that Flotation-REST may be an effective treatment for reducing pain but little is known about the short-term effects of a single session of Flotation-REST on the day-to-day variability of pain, stress, and sleep. Sleep, stress, and pain are all bidirectionally related to each other, and previous research shows that Flotation-REST may positively influence all three of these outcomes. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine changes in pain, stress, and sleep following Flotation-REST. The secondary aim is to investigate whether various subjective experiences during the intervention are associated with changes in pain, stress, and sleep following the interventions.

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Conditions studied

  • Healthy
  • Chronic Pain
  • Musculoskeletal Pain

Keywords

  • Healthy
  • Chronic Pain
  • Floatation-REST
  • Floating
03

In context

Musculoskeletal Pain

493 studies on the registry are indexed under Musculoskeletal Pain; 113 are open to participants now.

Browse Musculoskeletal Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Missouri-Columbia is the lead sponsor of 357 studies on the registry; 70 are open to participants now.

Of its 42 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 28 (67%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Chronic musculoskeletal pain (e.g., back pain or upper or lower extremity pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia) on more days than not for the past 3 months
  • Psychologically healthy
  • Adults between the ages of 18-75 years.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous experience in a flotation-REST device.
  • Diagnosed with neuropathic pain condition or endorsing more than 4 peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
  • Diagnosed with any psychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia or bipolar disorder).
  • Active suicidality with intent or plan.
  • Currently taking SSRI medication.
  • History of neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, severe traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia)
  • Any skin conditions or open wounds that could cause pain when exposed to saltwater
  • Inability to lay comfortably for 60 minutes
  • Pregnant
  • Started a new sleep or pain medication within the last 6 weeks
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Floatation-REST

    Participants will float in a shallow pool of water with about 1000 pounds of epsom salt, in a light and sound attenuated device, for up to 60 minutes. Following the session, participants' ratings of the experience will be measured.

    Behavioral: Flotation-REST

  • Active comparator
    Dark Room

    Participants will lay on an air mattress in a dark and quiet room, with reduced environmental stimulation, for up to 60 minutes. Following the session, participants' ratings of the experience will be measured.

    Behavioral: Dark Room

Interventions

  • BehavioralFlotation-REST

    Floating in a specialized device (float pod or float cabin) used to attenuate sensory input.

  • BehavioralDark Room

    Participants will lay on an air mattress in a dark room with no cell phone and reduced sensory input.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    Change in daily pain intensity where higher scores represent greater pain reduction using the Brief Pain Inventory

    Time frame: From baseline to follow-up, approximately 2 weeks

  2. Pain Unpleasantness

    Change in daily pain unpleasantness where higher scores represent greater pain unpleasantness using the Brief Pain Inventory.

    Time frame: From baseline to follow-up, approximately 2 weeks

  3. Stress

    Changes in perceived stress scale and daily diary assessments of stress where higher scores represent higher levels of stress.

    Time frame: From baseline to follow-up, approximately 2 weeks

  4. Sleep

    Sleep Health Index and daily electronic dairies will be used to record sleep parameters. Higher sleep quality represents better sleep.

    Time frame: From baseline to follow-up, approximately 2 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in pain interference

    Change in daily pain interference where higher scores represent interference in daily activities from pain using the Brief Pain Inventory.

    Time frame: From baseline to follow-up, approximately 2 weeks

  2. Change in muscle tension or tightness

    Average change in muscle tension from pre- to post-intervention where higher scores indicate greater muscle tension.

    Time frame: Immediately before and after each intervention

  3. Change in self-actualization from baseline

    Self-actualization Scale; 5-point Likert-type scale where the highest score indicates strongest self-actualization

    Time frame: Baseline, 1- week and 1-month after intervention

  4. Interoception

    Self-reported interoception assessed with the Multidimensional Interoceptive Awareness Scale after each intervention where higher scores indicate greater interoception during the session.

    Time frame: Immediately after each intervention

  5. Insight

    Self-reported insights assessed with the Psychological Insight Questionnaire after each intervention where higher scores indicate more insight occurred during the session.

    Time frame: Immediately after each intervention

  6. Emotional Breakthrough

    Self-reported emotional breakthrough assessed with the Emotional Breakthrough Inventory after each intervention where higher scores indicate more emotional breakthrough occurred during the session.

    Time frame: Immediately after each intervention

  7. Mystical Experiences

    Self-reported mystical experiencesassessed with the Mystical Experiences Questionnaire after each intervention where higher scores indicate more mystical-type experiences occurred during the session.

    Time frame: Immediately after each intervention

  8. Change in perceived stress

    Perceived Stress Scale; assesses changes in perceived stress where higher scores indicate greater levels of stress

    Time frame: Baseline and 1-week after each intervention

  9. Change in Pain Catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale; assesses changes in pain catastrophizing where higher scores indicate greater levels of pain catastrophizing

    Time frame: Baseline and 1-week after each intervention

  10. Change in Depression

    Becks Depressive Inventory II; assesses changes in depression where higher scores indicate greater levels of depression

    Time frame: Baseline and 1-week after each intervention

  11. Persisting Effects

    Persisting Effects Questionnaire: scale of 0 - 5 where 5 is the strongest persisting effect

    Time frame: 1-week after each intervention

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 10, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04155268
Lead sponsor
University of Missouri-Columbia
Responsible party
Steven Pratscher (Principal Investigator, University of Missouri-Columbia) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 7, 2019
Start date
Mar 9, 2020 (estimated)
Primary completion
Sep 8, 2020
Completion
Sep 8, 2020
Last update
Sep 10, 2020

Study contacts

Steven Pratscher
principal investigator · University of Missouri-Columbia

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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