Deep Touch Pressure Research Articles

The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: a brief review.

Sleep disorders such as insomnia can lead to a range of health problems. The high risk of side effects and drug abuse of traditional pharmacotherapy calls for a safer non-pharmacotherapy. To examine the use and efficacy of weighted blankets in improving sleep and related disorders in different populations and explore the possible mechanisms. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases. Eligible studies included an intervention with weighted blankets and outcomes covering sleep and/or related disorders (behavioral disturbance, negative emotions and daytime symptoms). Studies using other deep pressure, compression, or exercise-related interventions were excluded. Most of the included studies showed that weighted blankets could effectively improve sleep quality and alleviate negative emotions and daytime symptoms in patients with sleep disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and other related disorders, with a possible mechanism of deep pressure touch. Weighted blankets might be a promising tool for sleep interventions among individuals with sleep disorders in clinical settings. More high-quality and large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to further validate the safety and efficacy of weighted blankets and explore precise mechanisms.

Deep touch pressure for calming and comfort therapy from the perspective of contact mechanics: A review

Deep touch pressure for calming and comfort therapy from the perspective of contact mechanics: A review

A Study on Evaluation of Before and After Wearing the Deep Touch Pressure Therapy Compression Garment by Children with Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by severe difficulties in communication and social interaction as well as a restricted pattern of repetitive and stereotyped behaviour. Due to its extensive range of symptoms, including issues with communication and social interaction, repetitive behaviours, and sensory processing disorder, it is known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD experience anxiety which leads to outbursts and eventual meltdowns. Autism interventions typically involve Deep Touch Pressure (DTP) Therapy. Occupational therapists frequently apply deep pressure to patients with autism spectrum disorders. For children with autism, occupational therapists employ a variety of devices to provide deep contact pressure, including weighted vests, compression vests, pneumatic pressure garments, and weighted blankets etc. Research examining deep pressure is scarce. Additionally, a number of studies have shown the efficacy of DTP. A therapy compression garment for autistic children with sensory defensiveness was developed using a user-centric design paradigm. The aim of this study was to evaluate the before and after wearing the deep touch pressure therapy compression garment worn by the six wearer children with Autism.

Telomere Length and Structured Deep Touch Pressure Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Project Synopsis

Autism spectrum disorder is characterised by inability of the child to socially interact with people , poor eye to eye contact, absent or perverted speech, abnormally received sensory stimuli (more or less than optimum response to sensory stimulus),self stimulating, self injurious behaviour ,with associated intellectual disability of varying severity, liking for sameness, abnormal stereotactic movements. Hyperactivity and sleep disorders are usually associated ,making it difficult for parents to look after the child. Mostly this abnormal behaviour is noticed at the age of 11/2 to 3 years. This is a progressive condition worsening with age.1 The incidence has been noticed to increase over the years in most parts of world.2 The incidence in western world is said to be around 1 in 59 children.3 In India the incidence has been estimated to increase but real prevalence is not known. Many of these children remain undiagnosed and untreated due to difficulty in diagnosis by health care personnel and poor understanding by parents. Two scales developed for Indian children4,5 have now made the work easy. Juneja et al found prevalence around 0.9/1000.6 This study will test the utility of deep touch pressure therapy on telomere length and development of the child. Keywords: Deep touch pressure therapy; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Synopsis.

Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Sensory Interventions for Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Abstract Date Presented 03/28/20 A systematic review of literature from 2010 to 2019 yielded 2,035 studies of sensory interventions for children and youth. Using established criteria, 22 qualifying studies were identified that spanned six interventions: environmental modifications, deep touch pressure, sensory integration, sensory diet, weighted vests, and stability balls. Strong evidence supported one approach, with moderate evidence in support of three approaches. The results yielded moderate evidence against two approaches. Primary Author and Speaker: Victoria Battin Additional Authors and Speakers: Julia Panzone, Marguerite Fish, Nicole Lorthioir, Justine Odierna, Andrea Dow, Alexandra Regimbald, Gabrielle Lukovich, Taylor Heitmann, Morgan Eberley

Weighted Blankets: Anxiety Reduction in Adult Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

Weighted blankets have been used as a deep touch pressure (DTP) tool to alleviate anxiety in many patient populations. Patients with cancer can experience anxiety related to diagnosis and treatments, such as chemotherapy infusions. Research on the effectiveness of weighted blankets as a DTP tool to alleviate anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy is limited. This study assessed the effectiveness of a medical-grade therapeutic weighted blanket on anxiety in patients receiving their first and second chemotherapy infusions at an outpatient infusion center. A randomized controlled trial with a crossover design was performed with new patients in the outpatient chemotherapy infusion center. Patients were randomized to one of two study arms (given the weighted blanket during their first infusion or given the weighted blanket during their second infusion). Anxiety was measured using an anxiety inventory and a visual analog scale. Anxiety was reduced among patients receiving chemotherapy when the weighted blanket was used. Based on the results, a standard-weight, medical-grade therapeutic weighted blanket can be safely used to reduce anxiety in patients of various weights, and a visual analog scale can be a reliable indicator of patients' state anxiety.

Neonatal Tactile Stimulations Affect Genetic Generalized Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression-Like Behaviors.

Recent studies suggest that development of absence epilepsy and comorbid depression might be prevented by increased maternal care of the offspring, in which tactile stimulation induced by licking/grooming and non-nutritive contact seem to be crucial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of neonatal tactile stimulations (NTS) on absence epilepsy and depression-like behaviors in adulthood. Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rat pups with a genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy were divided into tactile stimulation (TS) group, deep touch pressure (DTP) group, maternal separation (MS) group or control group. Between postnatal day 3 and 21, manipulations (TS, DTP, and MS) were carried out for 15 min and three times a day. Animals were submitted to locomotor activity, sucrose consumption test (SCT) and forced swimming test (FST) at five months of age. At the age of six months, the electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were conducted in order to quantify the spike-wave discharges (SWDs), which is the hallmark of absence epilepsy. The TS and DTP groups showed less and shorter SWDs in later life in comparison to maternally separated and control rats. SWDs’ number and total duration were significantly reduced in TS and DTP groups whereas mean duration of SWDs was reduced only in DTP group (p < 0.05). TS and DTP also decreased depression-like behaviors measured by SCT and FST in adult animals. In the SCT, number of approaches was significantly higher in TS and DTP groups than the maternally separated and control rats. In the FST, while the immobility latency of TS and DTP groups was significantly higher, only TS group showed significantly decreased immobility and increased swimming time. The results showed that NTS decreases both the number and length of SWDs and the depression-like behaviors in WAG/Rij rats probably by increasing arousal level and causing alterations in the level of some neurotrophic factors as well as in functions of the neural plasticity in the developing rat’s brain.

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

Abstract Introduction Weighted blankets are designed to create deep touch pressure stimulation, to simulate the feeling of being held or hugged. The deep pressure provided by a weighted blanket, along with consistent sensory input from its weight, is thought to work by lowering stress and reducing physiological arousal, thereby improving sleep. We tested whether a weighted blanket would improve sleep. Methods 30 participants with objectively measured sleep onset and sleep maintenance issues participated in a 6-week field study, using a non-counterbalanced pre-post intervention design. Intervention consisted of the use of a weighted blanket every night at home. The blanket was filled with microbeads and weighed approximately 10 percent of each participant’s body weight. Sleep was measured objectively using ResMed S+ every night and by daily self-report. Paired t-tests and multilevel regression were used to test for statistical significance. Results Objective sleep data from the 28 participants who completed all study requirements showed 7% improvement of Wake After Sleep Onset, 2% decrease in Light Sleep, and slight improvement in Sleep Efficiency (1.5%) and Sleep Maintenance (1.4%) during intervention (all ps &amp;lt; 0.05). Additionally, participants felt they fell asleep faster (13% faster), experienced better sleep quality (14% better), felt more rested in the morning (17% more rested), and felt they slept better through the night without waking up (36% improvement). They also reported feeling 13% less stressed at bedtime and 17% more relaxed while trying to fall asleep. Conclusion Using a weighted blanket reduces self-reported feelings of stress, enhances feelings of relaxation, and can improve sleep and reduce time awake at night in people with sleep onset and sleep maintenance issues. Support Gravity Blanket

(357) Effect of Naloxone on Touch Intensity and Pleasantness

Both light skin stroking (engaging the C-tactile afferent sensory pathway) and deep pressure touch (as in deep tissue massage) are commonly perceived as pleasant and relaxing. Opioid blockade has been found to increase receipt of grooming in monkeys, suggesting possible opioid modulation of touch pleasantness. Recently, human data [1] suggested that blocking opioid receptors might decrease the perceived intensity of gentle brushing but increase its pleasantness. The current study examined the role of endogenous opioids in the perceived intensity and pleasantness of pleasant touch. Using a double-blind cross-over design, 24 healthy adult participants received intravenous naloxone or saline (control) on separate days. Blocks of gentle brushing and deep pressure compression were administered on the lower left calf. Participants rated the intensity and pleasantness of each stimulus, as well as current mood and anxiety. Naloxone significantly reduced perceived intensity of gentle brushing (p = 0.039), but did not affect brushing pleasantness (p = 0.44) or intensity or pleasantness of deep pressure (p = 0.97; p = 0.85). The naloxone-induced reduction in gentle touch intensity replicates results previously seen in chronic pain patients [1]. The lack of effect on pleasantness in this study versus [1] could relate to differences in the location of touch (arm or leg), sex of the experimenters, or whether the touch followed pain tasks. However, in the current study, naloxone was marginally anxiolytic (p = 0.07), and naloxone-induced changes in touch pleasantness were significantly more correlated with subsequent mood and anxiety ratings than were changes during saline (mood p = 0.04; anxiety p

The Immediate Effect of Therapeutic Touch and Deep Touch Pressure on Range of Motion, Interoceptive Accuracy and Heart Rate Variability: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Moderation Analysis.

Background: There is paucity in the literature regarding the role of the interoceptive pathway through the insular cortex (IC), as well as heart rate variability (HRV) in relation to Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) and deep-touch.Aims: The present study investigated whether both OMT treatment and deep-touch (a newly hypothesized treatment option) was effective at altering the interoceptive pathway and HRV, whilst OMT was only expected to be effective for increasing Range of Motion (ROM).Methods: Thirty-five healthy volunteers were randomly allocated into three conditions in a repeated measures crossover design; a control (laying supine on a plinth); deep-touch (head cradling); and an osteopathic mobilization therapeutic technique on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Interoceptive accuracy (IAc), HRV, as well as range of motion (ROM) for the TMJ area as well as the cervical spine (Csp) right and left measures were taken pre and post each condition setting.Results: Significant condition effects emerged from the deep-touch and mobilization interventions for IAc where increases were identified through planned comparisons. For the HRV measure (RMSSD), a significant effect emerged in the deep-touch condition (increase) but not in the mobilization or control conditions. ROM did not increase for any condition. IAc correlated with post-ROM outcomes in many cases and HRV moderated some of these relations.Conclusion: These results are discussed in the context of clinical practice, where cranial deep-touch maybe an effective treatment and modulator of the parasympathetic nervous systems, as well as the interoceptive system.

An assistive sleeping bag for children with autism spectrum disorder

Children suffering from autism spectrum disorder are often reported to encounter sleeping disorder several causes such as hypersensitivity as result of irregular brain and muscle functions. Disturbance in sleep affects not only their health but also daytime activities including the risk of other cognitive and behavioral impairments. Such hindrance in sleep have been demonstrated to treat therapeutically by measures like application of deep pressure touch and full body vibration which can be beneficially integrated into the sleeping environment such as on the textile-based platform around the bed. With such a vision, this pilot design project aimed to develop a smart textile based sleeping bag incorporated with sensors to detect awakening stage of the child and thereby actuating stimuli for assuaging the child to fall asleep. To serve the purpose, a micro-controllable body movement detection sensor, based on conductive yarns connected to a vibrating motor was prosperously embedded at the interior of the sleeping bag along with weighted slots to exert deep touch and soothing sensation in the form of wearable technology.

Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities

The current meta-analysis examined the use of deep touch pressure (DTP; e.g., weighted vests) with students with disabilities. DTP is a form of sensory integration therapy that is currently used extensively in schools with students with autism and other disabilities. Each study in the analysis was evaluated using the Council for Exceptional Children’s guidelines for evidence-based practices. In addition, noting the debate regarding appropriate single-case effect sizes, the current study calculated omnibus effect sizes utilizing a variety of single-case design effect sizes. Results of the current study suggest that DTP interventions are of generally poor quality and demonstrate effects that do not validate their current use for students with disabilities.

Sensory modulation and post meal distress at Royal Melbourne Hospital Eating Disorders Specialist Unit

Sensory modulation utilises sensory input from external senses (vision, taste, smell, hearing and touch) and internal senses (vestibular, proprioceptive and deep pressure touch), along with abdominal breathing. It has been shown to help with stress reduction, relaxation, emotional regulation and symptom management of adolescent consumers and elderly consumers. An exploratory method was used to evaluate if Sensory Modulation had an impact on reducing post meal distress in adult consumers suffering from eating disorders. The data was collected from inpatient eating disorder consumers. There ranged between five and eight consumers per group per week. The Sensory Modulation Group ran once a week for forty five minutes over a ten week period. The Sensory Modulation Consumer Self Rating Tool was used to rate the consumer mood before and after Sensory Modulation was implemented. It was found that Sensory Modulation utilised after a meal reduced post meal distress by 10%-20%. With increased implementation on the inpatient unit, Sensory Modulation allows inpatient consumers to find a sensory modality that works for them that they can utilise in the community to manage post meal distress.

Adjunctive Deep Touch Pressure for Comorbid Anxiety in Bipolar Disorder

Previous studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorders and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience sensory over-responsivity (SOR) in which a heightened response is evoked by stimuli in the environment. These individuals also display symptoms of anxiety such as irritability, avoidance, and sweating. Deep touch pressure, a technique in which firm touch is applied to the body either by the self or by a machine, has been shown to improve functioning and reduce symptoms of anxiety in these populations. A patient presenting with bipolar I disorder and comorbid anxiety, ADHD, and dyslexia was taught deep touch pressure strategies to alleviate severe symptoms of sensory over-responsivity and anxiety. The patient reported that the techniques were helpful as they allowed her to cope with potentially overwhelming situations in her environment. Clinician-rated functioning also improved over the course of treatment. This case study suggests that deep touch pressure may be useful in patients with bipolar disorder who have SOR and anxiety as comorbid conditions.

THE BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF A PROCEDURE USED BY PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

Pediatric occupational therapists often use specific activities associated with deep pressure touch as a modality when providing services based in sensory integration theory. This study investigated the effects of these activities contingent on choice responding. Initially, preference assessments identified that activities such as being swaddled in a blanket or sandwiched between halves of a therapy mat were potential reinforcers for each of the three participants. Then, the stimuli were presented contingently under a two‐response concurrent schedule. The results suggested that for each participant, the application of these activities functioned as a positive reinforcer. Given that such activities are often used in pediatric occupational therapy interventions, the clinical implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Physiologic and behavioral effects of papoose board on anxiety in dental patients with special needs

Anxiety induced by dental treatment can become a serious problem, especially for patients with special needs. Application of deep touch pressure, which is a sensory adaptation technique, may ameliorate anxiety in disabled patients. However, few empiric studies have investigated the possible links between the clinical effects of deep touch pressure and its behavioral and physiologic aspects. Equally little progress has been made concerning theoretical development. The current study is a crossover intervention trial to investigate the behavioral and physiological effects of deep touch pressure for participants receiving dental treatment. Nineteen disabled participants, who were retrospectively subclassified for positive trend or negative trend, were recruited to receive the papoose board as an application of deep touch pressure. Quantitative analyses of behavioral assessments and physiological measurements, including electrodermal activity and heart rate variability, were conducted. We sought to understand the modulation of the autonomic nervous system and the orchestration of sympathetic and parasympathetic (PsNS) nervous systems. Behavioral assessments reported that higher levels of anxiety were induced by the dental treatment for participants with both groups of positive and negative trends. Although no significant differences were found in the SNS activity, physiologic responses indicated that significantly changes of PsNS activity were observed under the stress condition (dental treatment) when deep touch pressure intervention was applied, especially for participants in the group of positive trend. Our results suggest that the PsNS activation plays a critical role in the process of ANS modulation. This study provides not only physiologic evidence for the modulation effects of deep touch pressure on stressful conditions in dental environments but also the evidence that the application of papoose board, as a sensory adaptation technique, is not harmful for dental patients with special needs.

Editorial

Editorial

The clinical application of deep touch pressure with a man with autism presenting with severe anxiety and challenging behaviour

Accessible summary • Many people who show challenging behaviour continue to be tranquilised and physically restrained. • There have been claims that deep pressure touch can be of beneficial in reducing agitation and distress, particularly in people with autism spectrum disorders. • Deep pressure touch is demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on extreme agitation, including lowering increased heart rate and respiration, as well as reducing the need for physical restraint and medication • This paper describes a ‘‘low tech’’ approach to the systematic use of deep pressure touch that can be readily applied in many settings Summary Although there have been claims of significant therapeutic benefits arising from the use of deep touch pressure techniques with children with autistic spectrum disorders, to date there have been few empirical investigations of its use with adults with autistic spectrum disorders and anxiety in clinical practice. This paper reports on the systematic use of deep touch pressure within a structured programme for a man with autism who was presenting with severe challenging behaviour. The programme led to significant reductions in the use of both physical restraint and medication, as well as appropriate physiological changes, with a parallel increase in the person's quality of life. The implications of this approach are discussed with regard to both theory and practice with the aim of increasing the provision of more appropriate forms of support for people who present with challenging behaviour.

Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals

ABSTRACT Many people with autistic disorder have problems with oversensitivity to both touch and sound. The author (an autistic person) developed a device that delivers deep touch pressure to help her learn to tolerate touching and to reduce anxiety and nervousness. The "squeeze machine" applies lateral, inwardly directed pressure to both lateral aspects of a person's entire body, by compressing the user between two foam-padded panels. Clinical observations and several studies suggest that deep touch pressure is therapeutically beneficial for both children with autistic disorder and probably children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Only minor and occasional adverse effects have been noted. Data are reported that show a similar calming effect in nonreferred college students. A review of the animal literature reveals that animals have similar calming reactions, and also suggests possible additional physiological effects of deep touch pressure. At present, there are increasing anecdotal reports of the clinical value of the squeeze machine, including suggestions that it can be used to reduce required doses of psychostimulant medications. More clinical studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of this seemingly beneficial form of "physiological" stimulation.