Have you ever had to pick a blanket and found yourself struggling to choose between cozy or functional blankets? Well, you’re in luck because weighted blankets are the solution to your dilemma. They are not only comfy but functional too.
As the name implies, weighted blankets provide the right amount of extra weight on your body to mimic light hands-on pressure that can help calm you—and your nervous system—down.
It’s a proven therapeutic technique called “Pressure Therapy.”
The Benefits of Using A Weighted Blanket
Imagine being held or lovingly hugged to sleep. It sounds like a nice way to end your day, right? That’s how deep pressure stimulation calms the nervous system. The only difference is that with weighted blankets, the pressure comes from wrapping the blanket around the body rather than the pressure being applied by another person.
Weighted Blankets & Pressure Therapy Also Help With:
- Reducing the sensation of pain
- Reducing or eliminating feelings of anxiety
- Improving your quality of sleep
- Alleviating some of the symptoms of depression
There are studies on the effectiveness of weighted blankets in reducing specific physical and emotional symptoms. So far, there has been evidence indicating that there may be benefits for conditions like anxiety, autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Insomnia, and numerous sleep disorders. There are also some benefits of using weighted blankets for osteoarthritis, chronic pain, and in recovery regimens for medical procedures.
These recent studies may convince you of the benefits of weighted blankets and how they work.
A study performed by Swedish researchers in 2021 reported that weighted blankets help adults and children with Autism spectrum disorder or ADHD fall asleep and stay asleep. The participants included 48 children and 37 adults who found it easier to relax during the day while using weighted blankets for sleep.
In another study carried out in 2020 by researchers in Florida, Researchers measured the effect of weighted blankets on people in an inpatient psychiatric facility. Out of the 122 people who participated, half of the participants who chose to use weighted blankets recorded objectively lower rates of anxiety than the other half who didn’t.
How to Pick the Best Weighted Blanket
When choosing a weighted blanket, most people prefer a snug size around 10% of their body weight. Before making a decision, consider your preferences for weight, texture and fabric and keep in mind that weighted blankets are sold in weights ranging from 7 to 25 pounds. Most weighted blankets come in standard bedding sizes such as twin, full, queen, and king.
Weighted blankets are one of the latest innovative developments in wellness products now available worldwide and they’re one of the simplest, and some may say the nicest things, we can do to help ourselves and those we love feel better.
