Study: Do weighted blankets solve insomnia problems (video)

After analyzing 18 studies on the use of weighted blankets, scientists concluded that this could improve sleep quality and reduce drug use.

Weighted blankets* are offered as a miracle cure. remedies for insomnia, depression and anxiety. Is this true from the point of view of scientists?

Researchers from Flinders University (Australia) answer this question. Led by mental health practitioner Dr Suzanne Dawson, Scientists have found positive results in improving sleepreducing medication use and improving mood. Dawson notes:

“Weighted blankets appear to offer a tangible non-drug intervention for improving sleep quality. Adults who used them reported improved sleep, reduced use of sleep medications, and even improved mood and pain relief.”

The researchers, however, emphasized that results were obtained among adultsthe answers of children and adolescents were ambiguous. Conclusions of Australian scientists published in the scientific journal American Journal of Occupational Therapy. This is a review of 18 available studies on a recent hot topic. The team said the next step would be to develop clear clinical guidelines for the use of blankets regarding weight and safety considerations. Dawson says:

“We are pleased that our findings have been used to change protocols for the use of weighted blankets in South Australian public mental health services.”

However Some experts were critical of the findings Team Dawson. They note that due to the limited published literature in this area, the authors were only able to include a small number of studies in their review, many of which were conducted by the same group of researchers or in a specific subpopulation. More research is needed to draw more general conclusions.

Blankets come in different types, filled with beads or plastic pellets, and in different weights, but there are no standardized recommendations yet. “More research is needed to determine the optimal use of blankets, and their impact on sleep and human health should continue to be studied in practice,” Dawson concluded.

*Typically, weighted blankets weigh between 2 and 15 kg. But there are models with greater weight. Manufacturers recommend using a blanket weighing about 10% of the body weight of the person who will sleep under it.

Source link