What are the benefits of weighted blankets?

Introduction

Weighted blankets are therapeutic tools designed to provide deep touch pressure stimulation, which mimics the sensation of being held or hugged. They are increasingly used to address various conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. This synthesis aims to evaluate the benefits of weighted blankets based on recent research findings.

Key Insights

Reduction in Anxiety:
- Weighted blankets can significantly reduce anxiety levels in various populations, including psychiatric patients and those with eating disorders .
- They are particularly effective in reducing anxiety among patients with anorexia nervosa and avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder.
Improvement in Sleep:
- Weighted blankets improve sleep quality, reduce wakefulness after sleep onset, and enhance sleep efficiency in individuals with sleep onset and maintenance issues .
- They are beneficial for children with ADHD, improving total sleep time and sleep efficiency .
- However, they do not significantly increase total sleep time or reduce sleep onset latency in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Chronic Pain Relief:
- Weighted blankets can reduce the severity of chronic pain, particularly in individuals with high trait anxiety, although they do not affect pain intensity ratings.
Physiological Effects:
- Using weighted blankets can increase pre-sleep melatonin levels, which may contribute to their calming effects.
- They also reduce physiological arousal, as indicated by lower pulse rates and reduced stress hormone levels .
User Preference and Tolerance:
- Both children and parents generally prefer weighted blankets, and they are well-tolerated over extended periods.
- Weighted blankets are considered a safe and non-pharmacological intervention for managing anxiety and sleep issues .

Conclusion

Weighted blankets offer several benefits, including reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality, and alleviating chronic pain. They are particularly effective for individuals with high anxiety levels and children with ADHD. While they do not significantly increase total sleep time in all populations, they are generally preferred and well-tolerated, making them a viable non-pharmacological option for managing anxiety and sleep-related issues.

What are the benefits of weighted blankets?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review.

Weighted blankets may help reduce anxiety, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in reducing insomnia.

Widespread pressure delivered by a weighted blanket reduces chronic pain: A randomized controlled trial.

A 15-lb weighted blanket significantly reduces chronic pain perceptions compared to a 5-lb blanket, offering an accessible, nondrug therapy for pain relief.

1203 Worth The Weight: Weighted Blanket Improves Sleep And Increases Relaxation

Weighted blankets can improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and increase relaxation, especially for those with sleep onset and maintenance issues.

Weighted Blankets and Sleep in Autistic Children—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Weighted blankets did not significantly improve sleep duration, fall asleep faster, or wake less often in children with autism spectrum disorder, but were favored by both children and parents.

SLEEP: intervention with weighted blankets for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep problems: study protocol for a randomised control trial

Weighted blankets may be an effective and cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention for children with ADHD and sleep problems.

Assessing the Impact of Weighted Blankets on Anxiety Among Patients With Anorexia Nervosa and Avoidant- Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Weighted blankets may help reduce anxiety in patients with anorexia nervosa and avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder when used alongside occupational therapy interventions.

A weighted blanket increases pre‐sleep salivary concentrations of melatonin in young, healthy adults

Using a weighted blanket at bedtime significantly increases salivary melatonin concentrations, potentially benefiting insomnia and anxiety.

Using weighted blankets in an inpatient mental health hospital to decrease anxiety.

Weighted blankets are a safe and potentially effective alternative to medications, seclusion, and physical restraints for managing anxiety in inpatient mental health patients.

The efficacy of weighted blankets for sleep in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-A randomized controlled crossover trial.

Weighted blankets significantly improve sleep time, sleep efficiency, and wake after sleep onset in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, potentially offering an alternative to pharmacological sleep interventions.

A randomized controlled study of weighted chain blankets for insomnia in psychiatric disorders.

Weighted chain blankets effectively and safely improve insomnia in patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or ADHD, while also improving daytime symptoms and activity levels.

Try another search