Weighted blankets help people suffering from varying conditions, but do they work?
Deep touch pressure therapy – a form of massage involving the application of gentle pressure – has been shown to have a calming effect on the nervous system. A new study set to be published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology suggests that this therapy may also help regulate the body’s temperature, which could have implications for treating a host of conditions.
The study’s findings “support the idea that deep touch pressure might be an effective method to modulate both central and peripheral physiology.”
While more research is needed to confirm these findings, the potential implications are significant. For example, if deep touch pressure therapy can indeed help regulate body temperature, it could be used to treat everything from anxiety and insomnia to migraines and menopause-related hot flashes.
Weighted blankets are one type of deep touch pressure therapy that has become increasingly popular in recent years. The best weighted blanket is typically filled with plastic pellets or glass beads, and they apply a gentle, evenly distributed weight to the body.
Several studies have found that weighted blankets help reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. One study even found that a weighted blanket may help ease symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The new study’s authors say that their findings suggest that deep touch pressure therapy “could be used as a complementary treatment” for conditions like these.
While more research is needed to confirm the findings of this latest study, the potential implications are significant. If deep touch pressure therapy can indeed help regulate body temperature, it could be used to treat everything from anxiety and insomnia to migraines and menopause-related hot flashes.
How a Weighted Blanket Works
Weighted blankets are one type of deep touch pressure therapy that has become increasingly popular in recent years. These blankets are typically filled with plastic pellets or glass beads and apply a gentle, evenly distributed weight to the body.
For one, the pressure of best weighted blanket provides a sense of security and calmness, similar to the feeling of being hugged. The weight also triggers the release of serotonin, a mood-boosting neurotransmitter.
Several studies have found that weighted blankets help reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. One study even found that a weighted blanket may help ease symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Also, weighted blankets are likely to help children and adults with autism feel calm and relaxed. In addition, the pressure of the blanket can help provide a sense of security and reduce anxiety, similar to the feeling of being hugged.
For insomniacs, the deep touch pressure of best weighted blanket is thought to mimic the feeling of being held or swaddled. It can help the body relax and fall asleep more easily.
A small study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that people who used weighted blankets reported falling asleep faster and sleeping more soundly throughout the night.
Weighted blankets are also sometimes used to ease symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS), a condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs. One study found that using a weighted blanket reduced RLS symptoms by nearly 80%.
