Why does occupational therapy use weighted blankets? In the past, the weighted blanket was only used in the medical field to relieve patients suffering from psychological or physical trauma.
Today, its use has become so liberalized that recent versions have enjoyed resounding success twenty-one years after the creation of the first models.
The origin of this success is undoubtedly because these blankets have soothing properties and they promote falling asleep.
Health professionals, in this case occupational therapists, tend to recommend its use to their patients for reasons that I will discuss in this article.
In the end, you will understand the link between occupational therapy and weighted blankets.
Also read: The Science Of Deep Touch Pressure And The Benefits Of The Weighted Blanket
Let’s go.
Do Weighted Blankets Help With Anxiety And Stress?
It is not always easy for a category of people to react normally to certain life situations. They tend to have an anxiety or anxiety attack.
Studies have shown that in more than half of patients, a stressful situation can lead to a loss (total or partial) of sleep.
The function of an occupational therapist is to develop care protocols or offer treatments whose aim is to enable people experiencing sleep disorders to sleep better.
Among the solutions recommended by these health professionals is the use of a weighted blanket whose weight helps relieve stress and anxiety.
Is It OK To Sleep With A Weighted Blanket Every Night? Yes.
An occupational therapist specializes in the treatment of physical or psychological disorders and disabilities. His role is to facilitate the daily activities of his patients.
Since sleep is also an activity (of cellular regeneration), we understand why it is of capital importance in occupational therapy.
Among the disorders that slow down falling asleep and disrupt the sleep cycle, is restless leg syndrome.
This pathology manifests itself by “impatience” which generally occurs in the middle of the night.
Using a heavy blanket will help to sustainably reduce its effects for peaceful sleep.
If the offer of sensory duvets is quite large on the market, you will have to be careful to choose a model that meets all the resistance and performance criteria.
How Long Should You Use A Weighted Blanket Occupational Therapy?
He should be able to remove it very easily and get rid of it if it is not well
We do not use it for more than 20 minutes. This gives time to achieve the desired effect and prevents us from forgetting to monitor our child.
It is therefore not recommended to make a child sleep all night with a weighted blanket.
It’s not a blanket like any other, we don’t want it to end up on the child’s face during the night and prevent them from breathing
How To Wash Your Weighted Blanket?
Machine Washing A Weighted Blanket
Machine washing is an effective method of cleaning your blanket if the care instructions allow it.
It is important to distribute the blanket evenly in the drum to avoid unbalanced loads, which could damage your machine.
A gentle or delicate cycle with cold water will help preserve the integrity of your blanket, while a mild detergent will clean it without causing damage.
Do not overload your machine and be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove any detergent residue.
Hand Washing A Weighted Blanket
If your blanket is not suitable for machine washing, hand washing is a great alternative. Fill a large bathtub halfway with cold water and sprinkle with a tiny bit of mild detergent.
Fully immerse your blanket in the soapy water and swirl it gently with your hands, making sure the water and detergent mix well with the blanket.
After cleaning the cover, drain the soapy water and fill the tub with clean, cold water to rinse. Repeat this process until no soap residue remains.
Read the full article about how to wash a weighted blanket here.
Conclusion
Now that you know why occupational therapists use weighted blankets, always keep in mind that the usage of a weighted blanket, which has been shown to be effective in reducing feelings of tension and anxiety, is one of the options that these medical specialists advocate.
I have an extended article stating: A Weighted Blanket For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder