When working out in the gym, running a marathon or doing any sport where you’re pushing yourself to the limit, you need to replenish your body’s resources – and that includes rest. Weighted blankets are proven to improve sleep and fight insomnia, and good sleep can speed up athletic recovery by allowing the body to rest more fully, allowing the muscles to completely relax, restore and revitalise themselves.
How Do Weighted Blankets Speed Up Recovery?
Weighted blankets work by providing firm, Deep Touch Pressure Stimulation, or DTP. According to the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology “Deep touch pressure is the type of surface pressure that is exerted in most types of firm touching, holding, stroking, petting of animals, or swaddling.”
The weighted filling inside the blanket produces a stroking, soothing tactile sensation when you move. Like a hug, it stimulates the release of serotonin and melatonin, decreasing anxiety and ultimately leading to deeper sleep. Dr. Temple Grandin, PhD, who lives with autism spectrum disorder, was one of the first to point out the benefits of deep-touch pressure provided by weighted blankets to help relax overstressed nervous systems.
The PrettySpecial Weighted Recovery Blanket weighs around 5.5kg and is the size of our Toddler blanket – 80cm x 120cm. So it’s perfect to use when you’ve just finished a long run or won that gruelling rugby match. It’s just the right size and weight to wrap around your legs or shoulders. It’s also not too heavy or too large to carry with you and can be easily rolled up and put in your gym bag.
This message came from an avid runner who frequently runs marathons:
“ I can say for sure that after a long run, having that weight on your legs feels awesome, it’s like a constant massage.”
If you’re thinking about trying a weighted recovery blanket please feel free to email us at info@prettyspecial.co.za or message us here, we deliver straight to your door, throughout South Africa.