Floating for Chronic Pain

NCT ID: NCT03584750

Last Updated: 2020-11-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

99 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-06-26

Study Completion Date

2020-06-18

Brief Summary

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In recent years there has been a novel approach for the treatment of chronic pain: Floatation REST (restricted environmental stimulation therapy). Floating is a therapeutic approach, in which patients float in a specialized pool or tank on water that contains high concentrations of Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate). Water is kept at skin temperature (35-36°C) and the pool or tank is shielded to provide almost complete darkness and silence. This therapeutic approach has proven to be effective in alleviating chronic pain.

Due to the difficulties associated with designing a credible placebo control there have been no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with patients blinding so far. Such blinding, however, is crucial, to assess the true therapeutic effect of the intervention.

The investigators will conduct the first patient blinded RCT of Floatation REST for chronic pain with a credible placebo control for floating and a no-treatment group.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Chronic Pain Syndrome

Keywords

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Somatic and psychological factors

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Intervention group

Floating

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Floating

Intervention Type OTHER

Floating in specialized tank with full floatation and sensory deprivation.

Control group

Placebo floating

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo floating

Intervention Type OTHER

Floating in specialized tank with reduced floatation and sensory deprivation.

No-treatment group

Waiting list

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Floating

Floating in specialized tank with full floatation and sensory deprivation.

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo floating

Floating in specialized tank with reduced floatation and sensory deprivation.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Floatation REST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Current diagnosis of chronic pain disorder with somatic and psychological factors (German ICD F45.41)
* Able and willing to give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnant or nursing women (self report)
* Previous experience with floating
* Acute illnesses that may exacerbate or shadow the chronic pain condition (acute inflammation, major depression, active neoplasm, etc.)
* History of alcohol and drug abuse
* Any clinically relevant abnormal findings in the clinical history, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the subject at risk because of participation in the study or may influence the results of the study or the subject's ability to participate in the study.
* Any clinical condition that may prevent the subject from floating, such as: open injuries, contagious diseases (influenza, GI infections, athlete's foot), GERD, epilepsy, claustrophobia, schizophrenia, incontinence or acute skin disorders.
* Suspected inability to understand the protocol requirements, instructions and study-related restrictions, the nature, scope, and possible consequences of the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hannover Medical School

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Beißner, Florian Prof. Dr.

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Florian Beissner, Dr. phil. nat.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hannover Medical School

Locations

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Hannover Medical School

Hanover, , Germany

Site Status

Countries

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Germany

References

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Loose LF, Manuel J, Karst M, Schmidt LK, Beissner F. Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 May 3;4(5):e219627. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.9627.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33988708 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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7684

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id