Find The Perfect Weighted Blanket At Gravity Blankets
So, to answer the question Can a weighted blanket be too heavy? the answer is yes, it most definitely can. A weighted blanket should make you feel like youre being hugged, not squeezed or smothered. To that end, we highly recommend trying our best-selling Gravity blanket in a weight that is approximately 10 percent of your body weight. With the correct size and weight, youll look forward to cozying up with your weighted blanket every night!
How To Prevent Back Pain
Sports create an environment where back injuries are possible. This is due to the intense physical demand for the sport. Stretching and sleep are keys to limited back injuries to name a few. There are many ways to help prevent back pain or injury. Were going to discuss how a weighted black can help back pain.
Do Weighted Blankets Help With Pain
Weighted Blankets Can Help Relieve Pain
One of the easiest, most comfortable ways to combat chronic pain is with the power of weighted blankets. Research shows that weighted blankets can work in unison with your other pain-relief techniques to drastically reduce and improve a variety of pain conditions.
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Correctly Choose A Weighted Blanket That Suits Your Weight
The weight of the weighted blanket is selected based on 10%-12% of the user’s weight. Try to choose a lighter weight when you first use it. This allows the body to adapt to the weight of the weighted blanket. Follow up your own situation to increase or decrease the weight.
We know that the weighted blanket is a functional product. It can relieve stress, effectively improve sleep quality, relieve depression, anxiety and other functions. But if you do not have these symptoms, we do not recommend that you use a weighted blanket. This will make you very uncomfortable with the weight of the weighted blanket. Be sure to follow up your actual situation and choose whether to use a weighted blanket.
What Is A Namaste Weighted Blanket
For over a decade Namaste has been creating weighted blankets for those who suffer from a wide variety of conditions which include chronic pain. Namaste has managed to make a name for itself in the creation of a weighted blanket for back pain and other types of chronic pain to help people fall asleep.
Namaste uses a combination of glass beads for the weights and 100% organic cotton for maximum comfort. The high-quality of weighted blankets come in different sizes and are priced competitively to fit your budget. But understanding why you need a weighted blanket for your chronic pain starts with how the deep touch pressure works on the body.
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Any Potential Dangers Of Weighted Blankets
Are weighted blankets safe? It is important to note that weighted blankets can be dangerous, especially for children. In 2014, a weighted blanket was tragically connected to the death of a seven month old. A nine-year-old autistic boy in Canada was also suffocated by a weighted blanket in 2008. The use of a weighted blanket is typically not recommended for infants. If children use weighted blankets, it should only be under adult supervision and with a healthcare providers approval.
In addition, its typically recommended that you should not use a weighted blanket if you have:
- Diabetes
- Difficulty breathing, including asthma and sleep apnea
- Circulation or blood pressure issues
- Fragile skin, a rash or an open wound
- Claustrophobia
- Cleithrophobia
If you are looking to purchase a weighted blanket as a supplemental treatment for a medical condition, check with your healthcare provider for the correct weight, size and recommended duration of use.
Also, check with your healthcare provider before using a weighted blanket if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition and/or are currently taking medication. Always check with your childs pediatrician before using a weighted blanket with a child.
Your Skin May Improve If You Start Sleeping With A Weighted Blanket Every Night
Using a weighted blanket may have a surprising effect on your complexion. This is because tummy and side sleepers may be coerced into sleeping on their backs with the gentle encouragement of a weighted blanket.
As it turns out, your sleeping position can vastly hurt or help your skin. Dermatologist Joshua Zeichner told MindBodyGreen that sleeping on your back is the best sleep position for the health of your skin. “Side or stomach sleeping means that the skin on your face is pushed against the pillow, leading to folding of the skin. Besides folding, frictional forces of the face against the pillow can cause pressure and inflammation of the skin leading to premature wrinkles,” he told the publication.
Furthermore, the author of the Mind Body Green article found that using a weighted blanket herself not only helped her transition to back sleeping, but it also enhanced her quality of sleep, which can also lead to improved skin, per the site.
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Should I Get A Weighted Blanket Conclusion
Now, you know a lot more about weighted blankets, including what they can and cannot do for you. No, a weighted blanket will not take away all your symptoms magically, but they have helped many.
Compression therapy has been used for decades, proving it works to help with pain and restlessness. Could a weighted blanket be the answer to helping with your anxiety, pain, or sleeplessness?
Trial and error may be the best approach. If you feel inclined to purchase a weighted blanket, do your homework and find the best you can afford. Remember, you typically get what you pay for.
Can Weighted Blanket Cause Back Pain
Research workers in regards to the wellness benefits of the optional blanket are couple however they really do point within an optimistic way. One particular such study documented that burden raising lower spine discomfort. The participants underwent significant declines in back pain from weight-lifting in comparison with those that did not exercise. Another review documented that sleep quality improved from overweight or overweight older people as a consequence of fat loss using a barbell. Weighted blankets drive the body down into a deeper feeling of relaxation and rest. This analysis reported that weight raising reduced cortisol levels even though restraining the body in the low-stress state during sleepapnea.
In addition, another study documented that placing weight bearing blankets onto an mattress reduced rest disturbance one of teenagers. The members underwent significant declines in sleep onset latency and elevated sleep caliber when compared with those that put non-weighted blankets. These findings are reassuring as many individuals suffer with insomnia, which is often related to added burden and bad slumber. It might be worth noting that children who have notably problematic times sleeping and attaining weight due to ingesting too much sugar and processed food items over the course of your day.
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So Why Are Weighted Blankets So Popular Now
The first weighted blankets date back to 1999, when occupational therapist Tina Champagne began using them to treat patients coping with mental and physical trauma. Fast-forward to the present and weighted blankets are increasingly featured in Must-Have Gift Lists, ads on Instagram, and were even listed in Time Magazines Best Inventions of 2018 roundup. If weighted blankets have been around for years, one has to wonder: Why are they so popular now?
Well, the primary reason is that, until recently, weighted blankets were mainly marketed to and within the special-needs community. As Schlecht mentioned, those with autism, Aspergers, PTSD, and other sensory processing disorders have historically used weighted blankets to alleviate anxiety and calm the nervous system. But in 2017, bedding brand Gravity Blanket launched a Kickstarter campaign to make weighted blankets accessible to everybody, advertising them as a cozy sleep accessory rather than a medical aid.
A post shared by Gravity Blanket on Feb 2, 2019 at 2:00pm PST
Within a year of the hyper-successful Kickstarter campaign, myriad brands emerged, and weighted blankets swiftly became the super-trendy hashtag they are today. Influencers like Kourtney Kardashian, JoJo Fletcher, and Vanessa Grimaldi have all celebrated the fad on social media, crediting weighted blankets with helping them achieve a great nights sleep But not everyone shares the same enthusiasm for the campaigns success.
Considered Removing Part Of My Spine
This is how bad it was: I had one scheduled procedure at Penn Medicine in center city. An anesthesiologist was going to use an x-ray to guide a needle into my spine. And Id be awake.
If that didnt work, the only other option left would be surgery to remove my coccyx. Yes, removing part of my backbone!
All this time, Im totally racking my brain trying to figure out what it could possibly be. What was different in my life that could have caused this back pain?
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> > > Click Here For Effective Lower Back Pain Relief
Initial treatment in your home may include heat application as well as staying clear of reinjury and hefty training. Prescription drugs that are often made use of for intense lower back pain consist of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, by shot or by mouth, muscle relaxants,Long periods of inactivity in bed are no more suggested, as this therapy may really reduce recuperation. Spine control for durations of up to one month has been located to be helpful in some individuals who do not have indicators of nerve irritation.
Future injury is stayed clear of by using back-protection strategies during activities as well as assistance devices as required in your home or job.
Muscular Tissue Strain as well as Tendon SprainA lower back strain or stress can happen unexpectedly, or can create slowly over time from repetitive motions. Lower Back Pain Weighted Blanket
Stress take place when a muscle mass is stretched too much and tears, harming the muscle itself.
Strains occur when over-stretching as well as tearing affects ligaments, which connect the bones with each other.
For useful functions, it does not matter whether the muscular tissue or ligament is harmed, as the signs and also treatment coincide.
Usual causes of sprain and pressure consist of:
While strains and also strains do not seem serious as well as do not commonly cause durable pain, the sharp pain can be fairly severe.
What Are The Risks Of Using A Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are safe provided you have the desired strength to lift them off themselves when necessary to prevent suffocation.
Experts recommend that sleepers with specific medical conditions such as chronic respiratory issues, asthma, low blood pressure, claustrophobia, and sleep apnea should avoid using a weighted blanket because it may restrict airflow.
There are very few risks associated with using a weighted blanket. According to manufacturers, Infants and toddlers should avoid using weighted blankets as they run the risk of becoming trapped underneath.
You should consult your doctor before trying a weighted blanket.
A weighted blanket may also be risky for sleepers with certain conditions, including:
- obstructive sleep apnea, which may lead to disrupted breathing during sleep
- claustrophobia may be triggered by the tightness of a weighted blanket
- asthma that may cause difficulty in breathing at night
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How Heavy Should A Weighted Blanket Be: Professional Recommendations
First things first: If youre purchasing a weighted blanket upon the advice of a doctor, occupational therapist, or other medical professional as part of your therapy, make sure you ask them what an appropriate weight is for you.
Better yet: Ask if your occupational therapist has an adult weighted blanket you can try. Many therapists keep a set of these blankets on hand to give deep touch pressure for their clients. Doing a test drive with a weighted blanket can help you get a feel for it and decide what weight will suit you the best. Youll also be able to consider:
- What type of cover you prefer
- What style gives you the best rest
- Which combination has the biggest calming effect
What if youre simply buying a weighted blanket on your own accord? How do you figure out how heavy a weighted blanket should be?
Well, its all up to your personal preference.
As a rule of thumb, the right weight for your blanket is roughly 7% to 12% of your body weight. A study in Sleep Medicine & Disorders states the perfect weighted blanket weight is around 10% of your body weight.
If youre not sure what works best for you, we recommend rounding down and opting for the lighter blanket.
Weighted Blankets: For Better Or Worse
- Post author
Like many people over the last few years, I invested in weighted blankets for members of my family. Id read they are particular good for improving sleep and reducing anxiety. Because I had always slept markedly better with heavy quilts, that made sense to me.
I followed the guidelines for buying them: 5-10% of your bodyweight.
Both of my sons who have trouble sleeping and have cold cold cold bedrooms loved them. They are toasty warm. First put off by the cost I made them heavy quilts. Sleep improved. Anxiety down. Then I bought commercial weighted blankets first for one, then for another.
Their sleep immediately improved again.
Win!
Non-invasive. Lowered anxiety. Better sleep.
This fall, during the pandemic, I bought one for myself and my husband. It is COLD in our attic bedroom and like many folks my sleep quality had gone way down during the pandemic.
I loved the weight and the luxurious warmth. I noticed a little trouble turning over under the weight, but no big deal. And it did make it harder to make the bed. Although it looked great and was very smooth, you cant flick and fluff like a regular comforter. But my sleep felt deeper and more restful.
Although my husband asked me if I really liked it , I was sold.
And then it started . . . .
Hurray! Back was pain free for almost a week.
Then it got cold. Weighted blanket back on the bed. All of a sudden, I couldnt turn over again.
Blanket off again. Back is fine.
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Is A Weighted Blanket Good For The Elderly
Yes, weighted blankets are just as effective for the elderly as younger people. That being said, depression can be a common early sign of dementia as people age . So a weighted blanket can help combat depression and thus reduce the risk of dementia.
Also, elderly people may have other respiratory conditions and heart problems that cant be ignored. If they have COPD, sleep apnea, issues with circulation, or history of a stroke, weighted blankets are not recommended.
We hope you found this article on weighted blankets and sleep apnea helpful. Always remember to consult your doctor before using a weighted blanket. More often than not, it wont be the right choice to treat your sleep apnea. Ask about alternative options for treatment.
Thanks for stopping by!
Others Have Experienced The Same
I receive lots of email as a result of this blog post. Here is one example:
Within one month of getting my weighted blanket, I started suffering from extreme hip pain. I tried to think of what I could have possibly done to cause this, when my wife suggested trying to sleep without it. The very first morning I awoke with zero pain, after suffering for a month, never thinking this could be caused by simply adding some weight. Thanks for the article that helped me not to ignore my wifes suggestion.
John S.
And for the record, please dont email and tell me well, you did it wrong. Its unbelievable, but I get a few of those emails each month. People claiming that I used my weighted blanket incorrectly and should try again. First, no I didnt. My blanket was actually less than 10% of my body weight which is what is recommended.
Second, my doctor and I considered removing parts of my spine. It is not that important to me to use a weighted blanket, that its worth losing body parts. Take your woo some place else.
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Can Weighted Blankets Cause Knee And Leg Pain
The simple answer is yes, weighted blankets can cause leg and knee pain and there have also been reports of hip and back pain. Here are some potential causes and solutions for this problem.
Income Disclosure: I recommend products based on my personal experience working with seniors. I may earn a commission on items purchased from affiliate links in this guide. Learn More.
Weighted blankets are the latest health and wellbeing trend that claim to treat insomnia, anxiety, depression and a whole slew of other physical and mental health conditions. There are even claims that it can reduce the symptoms of aggression and agitation in Alzheimers and dementia patients as well as people on the autism spectrum.
Fortunately, there is scientific evidence to support these claims and for most people, weighted blankets that are used to provide deep pressure stimulation are beneficial. But clinical trials are still ongoing and there is much that still needs to be established about the side-effects and negative consequences of weighted blankets.
In fact, information about chronic leg and knee pain being experienced by some users of blankets that have been weighted are only starting to see the light of day now.
But can weighted blankets really cause leg and knee pain and can this be avoided?
Are There Risks When Using A Weighted Blanket
There are very few risks for using a weighted blanket.
However, according to manufacturers, weighted blankets shouldnt be used for toddlers under 2 years old, as it may increase the risk of suffocation. Always consult your pediatrician before trying a weighted blanket for your child.
A weighted blanket may also be unsuitable for people with certain conditions, including:
- obstructive sleep apnea, which causes disrupted breathing during sleep
- asthma, which can cause difficulty breathing at night
- claustrophobia, which the tightness of a weighted blanket may trigger
Tips for choosing the correct weight
- As a general rule, a weighted blanket should be 5 to 10 percent of your body weight. The weighted blanket should also fit snugly to the size of the bed.
- Adults can use medium-large weighted blankets ranging from 12 to 30 pounds.
- For a 20- to 70-pound child, a small weighted blanket should weigh from 3 to 8 pounds.
- For a 30- to 130-pound child, a medium weighted blanket should weigh from 5 to 15 pounds.
- Older adults may want to use small or medium weighted blankets ranging from 5 to 8 pounds.
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