Let’s Learn about Weight!

Let’s Learn about Weight!

It can be very overwhelming as a parent of a child with sensory processing and anxiety to find the right tools that will help their child feel calm and stable in our crazy unpredictable world.

So, let’s talk about one of the most used tools in the occupational therapy community and why it’s important!

Weighted clothing is a type of therapeutic tools that has been gaining increased attention and popularity over the last few years with the rise of the weighted blanket. The weighted blanket like many know, helps people calm so they can sleep better at night. Like the weighted blanket, weight in clothing helps provide a calming effect as well but is wearable so you can do things and not have to sit still while wearing it.

Many individuals with sensory processing and anxiety are starting to use weight to help with calming and it has been gaining increased popularity recently since it helps manage symptoms associated with these conditions.

Weight provides proprioceptive input through deep pressure to the muscles and joints of the body. This has been shown to help calm the nervous system. Many kids with sensory and anxiety are always in a state of “fight or flight”. This means their heart beats fast, they have trouble breathing, and thinking.  When weight is applied, it releases our happy neurotransmitters dopamine and serotine which turns on our “rest or digest mode” so kids can slow their bodies down and do more.

In addition to helping with calming, weight also provides 4 other benefits to the body when worn.

1. Improves body awareness

Weighted clothing  can help improve body awareness by providing proprioceptive input to the body. Proprioception is the sense of body position and movement and is critical in the development of body awareness. Weighted clothing helps those with sensory and anxiety become more aware of their body and its movement, which can help improve their motor planning and coordination.

2. Slows speed of play

In addition to helping improve strength and endurance, Weighted clothing adds extra weight and resistance to the body and slows speed of play. When wearing weighted clothing the body has to work harder to move the extra weight around. That makes movements like running, jumping, and changing directions more difficult and slower. For a child who is always on the move and has difficulty sticking with one preferred task, weighted clothing might be beneficial.

3. Improves focus and attention

Weighted clothing has been shown to increased focus and attention. The deep pressure stimulation provided by the clothing helps individuals feel more grounded and focused which can improve their ability to concentrate and attend to tasks.

4. May Help with sleep

Since  deep pressure input helps slow the body down and provide a natural calming effect, many have reported feeling calmer and more relaxed after wearing weighted wear. If worn before bedtime, weighted clothing could help with reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.

In conclusion, weighted clothing can be a valuable therapeutic tool for individuals with sensory and anxiety. If you or someone you know is struggling with sensory and anxiety consider incorporating weighted clothings into their daily lives!