Recently, there has been a growing interest in how weighted
How blankets work and why they provide tremendous benefits
One of the answers to this question is deep touch pressure.
therapy, which calms the nervous system by causing a decrease in the production of
of stress hormones such as cortisol, while increasing the production of good
hormones such as serotonin.
There is a lot to be said about deep pressure therapy and
the benefits it brings us. But before that, let’s delve into understanding its
science and how weighted blankets use this mechanism to deliver their benefits.
Also read: A Study
Shows That Weighted Blankets Can Reduce The Severity Of Insomnia.
Let’s go.
The Science of Deep Touch Pressure Therapy
Our body’s sensory system can help us perfectly explain why deep touch pressure is such a useful mechanism to use in weighted blankets.
When your senses gather information from the environment, the central nervous system processes the information received through sensory integration.
The data that these senses gather are as follows:
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- vision: eyes
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- Sound and vestibular movements – the ears
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- Smell – nose
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- The taste – the tongue
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- The touch – the skin
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- Proprioception – Muscles and Joints
The sensory information most used by deep touch pressure therapy is the touch/tactile sensation that the central nervous system processes to produce a calming and organizing effect on the person using it.
How Does The Body React To Deep Touch Pressure Therapy?
The body responds to Deep Touch Therapy through two main mechanisms, namely
1 – Regulation of the autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for receiving information from the environment and regulating the body to react based on the information received.
A practical example of this system at work is coming face to face with a bear while hiking, which automatically causes the body to scream and run.
The autonomic nervous system comprises three systems:
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- the parasympathetic nervous system,
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- the sympathetic nervous system,
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- the enteric nervous system.
Of these three systems, deep touch works well with the systemic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
This is the system of calm and digestion. Press therapy works on this system by increasing its activity and possibly slowing down your body system i.e., decreasing heart rate, slowing breathing and relaxing your muscles.
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
This is the fight or flight system. Deep tactile pressure acts on this system by reducing its activity. The SNS activates in response to stressful situations.
Deep touch pressure therefore works by lowering cortisol, a stress hormone that rises in times of stress. When this hormone is reduced, the activity of the SNS also decreases and the PNS takes over.
2 – Release of endorphins and other happiness hormones
The body also responds to deep touch pressure therapy by releasing happiness hormones:
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- serotonin, responsible for mood regulation and melatonin production
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- Endorphins, responsible for relieving pain and stress and improving general well-being.
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- Dopamine, responsible for reward and pleasure and for regulating emotional responses.
When these hormones are released, they can counter the effect of cortisol.
To back up our various claims, read this research paper published in a journal that reports a corresponding decrease in anxiety and stress in people who use weighted blankets.
A good way to apply deep pressure therapy to your daily life is to incorporate the various products that work with deep pressure therapy into your daily activities.
The Other Benefits Of Weighted Blankets With Deep Pressure Touch Therapy.
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- Improves sleep
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- Improves concentration
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- Reduces stress and anxiety
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- Relieves pain
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- Aid in relaxation
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- Encourages happiness and motivation
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- Improves social interaction skills
You will find a detailed explanation of these benefits in these blog posts which you should check out here:
The weighted blanket, the best remedy for stress and insomnia
ADHD: A Weighted Blanket for People with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Who Needs Deep Pressure Therapy Most?
Anyone who wants extra attention in their daily life needs deep pressure therapy.
However, it is an important need for people whose sensory processing system is disturbed and who have difficulty interpreting any sensory sensation correctly.
It is also a need for people whose sleep is disturbed. These include people diagnosed with:
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- autism spectrum disorder
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- depression
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- Generalized anxiety disorder
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- Alzheimer’s disease
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- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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- Insomnia
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- Post-traumatic stress disorder
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- Sleep Apnea
Here you will find well detailed blog posts on the benefits of weighted blankets for some of these conditions:
Alzheimer’s weighted blanket, a heavy duvet to ease tension
Effect of weighted blankets on the health of elderly people
Autism weighted blanket: a feeling of calm by stimulating the proprioceptive sense
Study Shows Weighted Blankets May Reduce Severity of Insomnia
Conclusion
A variety of health conditions benefit from deep touch pressure, making it a mechanism that has piqued the interest of many people.
The mechanism of deep touch pressure may not be easy to understand, but just remember that it collects touch sensations and reacts by reducing stress hormones and increasing happiness hormones, which eventually calm the body.
Weighted blankets are perfect examples of this type of effect.