INCREASED RELAXATION DUE TO DEEP TOUCH PRESSURE

The underlying science on weighted blankets is called deep touch pressure (DTP). DTP is about gently applying pressure to the body to increase the release of serotonin.

You know that children with autism also tend to be low in serotonin, so gently applying pressure to the body releases a chemical in your child that promotes relaxation.

REDUCED STRESS THANKS TO LESS NERVOUS SYSTEM ACTIVITY

Our first study, from Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering in 2012, looked at how patients nervous systems reacted when having DTP through the use of a weighted blanket. This study shows that there is a physiological reaction in a person’s nervous system when DTP is applied. This was specifically for dentist offices since that is a place that causes so many people anxiety!

WEIGHTED BLANKETS DECREASE ANXIETY

Another study from 2012 in Australasian Psychiatry looked at the effect of sensory rooms in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit. They found that when patients used a sensory room, there was a “significant reduction in distress and improvement in a range of disturbed behaviors. Those individuals who used the weighted blanket reported significantly greater reductions in distress and clinical-rated anxiety than those who did not.”

Not only did the sensory room, which we’ve talked about before here, reduce anxiety, but those who used a weighted blanket saw an even bigger reduction in anxiety and distress.

OVERALL SLEEP IMPROVEMENTS FROM WEIGHTED BLANKETS

This study from the Journal of Sleep Medicine and Disorders from 2015 found that a weighted blanket helped those with insomnia sleep better. Here is a little clip from their results:

“Objectively, we found that sleep bout time increased, as well as a decrease in movements of the participants, during weighted blanket use. Subjectively, the participants liked sleeping with the blanket, found it easier to settle down to sleep and had an improved sleep, where they felt more refreshed in the morning. Overall, we found that when the participants used the weighted blanket, they had a calmer night’s sleep.”

If you would like any more information please visit our website: http://www.springtextile.com Or Spring Hometextile video channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCMCz-yKQMYxA1e2Uscw5PHw. Also can contact Tina at: [email protected]