Have you ever wondered why new parents wrap their newborn babies in cloths to calm them down from crying? Why when you are in a state of anxiety and insecurity you seek a tight hug that will reassure you? Why does a good massage make you feel so good?

The science behind these practices is based on a mechanism called Deep Touch Pressure Stimulation. It is a method that simulates the physical and emotional sensation you get when someone lovingly gives you a tight and warm hug.

What is Deep Tactile Pressure therapy?

To understand what Deep Tactile Pressure is, you first need to understand a little more about how the body perceives the sense of touch.

The human body uses complex sensory systems to detect a range of stimuli, such as the light emitted from a computer screen or the sound of music playing somewhere in the background.

These sensory systems are activated by nerve endings (often called sensory receptors) which are strategically placed in our bodies.

When sensory receptors are stimulated by a stimulus, they produce nerve signals that are transmitted to the brain so that the information can be analyzed and processed and the appropriate body response can be selected.

Our body receives information from 8 sensory systems:

1. The visual (sight)
2. The olfactory (smell)
3. The ear (hearing)
4. The taste (flavor)
5. The tactile (touch)
6. The vestibular system (helps us with body balance)
7. Proprioception (informs us about the body's position in space)
8. The introspective (helps us understand what is happening inside us)

So, in our skin, we have mechanoreceptors, which allow us to detect different tactile stimuli. These different sensory endings are placed in the skin in such a way that you can accurately distinguish the difference between a light pressure, a vibration, or a strong pressure. They are so precise that you can even feel your hairs stand up when you get goosebumps!

In addition to this function, tactile stimuli can supply the brain with even more complex sensory information.

For example, some types of touch can evoke positive emotions and others can't. The feeling when you hug someone you love is different from the feeling of touch on your fingers when you type words on your computer.

The brain has the ability to process and associate complex things when it comes to sensory associations. Think of the memories that a familiar smell can trigger, like the smell of freshly fried meatballs your grandmother used to make.

What are the benefits of Deep Tactile Pressure?

Massage, baby swaddling, weighted vests, and gravity blankets are just some of the most common tools to benefit from Deep Tactile Pressure.

Before we discover the effects of Deep Tactile Pressure, it is important to understand what exactly the body does when it receives sensory information.

Sometimes, sensory information triggers a quick, reflexive response from the body. Think about how quickly you can spit something out of your mouth when you realize it's not what you expected, or how quickly you can jump out of bed when you feel an insect walking on you.

However, not all stimuli cause conscious feelings that we can perceive. For example, sensory receptors located in the walls of veins constantly monitor your blood pressure. These receptors can detect a sudden drop in blood pressure and reflexively cause your heart rate to increase to maintain adequate blood flow through the body (and prevent you from fainting when you stand up suddenly).

In an amazing way that we don't consciously realize, our bodies are constantly using sensory information to understand what's going on in the environment (internal and external) so that it can respond in a way that protects us. We should be grateful to our bodies for the nonstop work they do!

These automated, reflexive reactions are complemented by both the nervous system and the endocrine system (the system that secretes hormones). As for the autonomic nervous system that interests us in this particular case, it is divided into two parts that dynamically influence the way the body functions at any given moment.

These two parts of the nervous system are the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system , and their activity is somewhat analogous to the accelerator and brake of a car: You must use both judiciously to drive properly and safely.

How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work?

Let's say you're in the woods and a bear is chasing you. The sympathetic nervous system in this case will take over and cause your body to do the following: your heart rate and blood pressure will increase dramatically, and blood will be diverted from your digestive system to your muscles so you can run as fast as you can. This is why you may have heard of the sympathetic nervous system as " fight or flight mode ."

On the other hand, if you are lying down and getting a massage, then the parasympathetic nervous system will dominate and it will lower your pulse and blood pressure. Breathing will slow down and blood will regain its normal flow throughout the body, which will make you feel very good. This is because, in addition to the parasympathetic nervous system being activated, situations that make you feel safe and comfortable promote the release of neurotransmitters that make you feel good, such as serotonin and dopamine, which promote a sense of well-being.

Our body, by nature, when in a state of intense stress, enters "fight or flight" mode through the sympathetic system to deal with danger, and as a result, the levels of the well-known stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, increase in the blood.

Under certain circumstances (think of the bear we mentioned earlier), this is a body response that can actually save our lives. However, how the body perceives danger can differ from what is actually happening in our environment, which is why many people experience symptoms of chronic stress.

There are also certain conditions that are associated with an imbalance or excessive activation of stress in the body, such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and sensory processing disorder.

Under these conditions, stress is triggered more easily and more frequently, and the processing of sensory information mentioned above is altered. This can lead to various symptoms such as anxiety disorders and irritability.

And this is where Deep Tactile Pressure comes in, activating a relaxing reflex in the body through touch. Deep Tactile Pressure has been shown to reduce activation of the sympathetic nervous system and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Furthermore, according to a study , participants who received Deep Tactile Pressure therapy through a gravity blanket reported reduced anxiety, and in fact, 78% preferred the gravity blanket for anxiety relief over any other option.

How is Deep Tactile Pressure applied?

It all started with the "hug machine" created by Temple Grandin, a zoologist who has been diagnosed as autistic. People on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing disorder are often sensitive to touch and overreact to sympathetic responses. The Deep Tactile Pressure technique has been shown to be an effective therapy to reduce stress in such cases.

Read: Gravity blanket and autism: Everything you want to know.

From the cuddle machine to gravity blankets, it has become clear that there are many options for enjoying the power of Deep Tactile Pressure as a relaxation tool.

Ways to apply Deep Tactile Pressure

• Intense massage
• Tight hugs
• Compression of the body between pillows (sandwich)
• Intense vibration throughout the body
• Gravity vests or compression garments
• Gravity blankets
• Jump rope and push-ups

Can a gravity blanket help you too?

While there is scientific evidence to support the therapeutic benefits of a gravity blanket, we all know that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. In the end, like most therapies, their value is best determined by the person receiving them - what works for one person may not work for another. And here comes the old adage: you'll never know if you don't try.

Plus, who doesn't love the feeling of being wrapped up warm and snug in a blanket? The good news is that now you know why you feel great under a gravity blanket.

Do you want to improve your sleep experience?

A gravity blanket could help drastically reduce stress and combat insomnia.

Harnessing the power of Deep Tactile Pressure, a scientifically proven stress relief treatment, the Prosleep Gravity Blanket It relaxes the nervous system and increases the levels of serotonin (the "happiness" hormone) and melatonin (the sleep hormone), while at the same time reducing cortisol, which is responsible for stress and anxiety.

After a few minutes in the embrace of the blanket, you feel safe, your body relaxes, your heart rate drops, your eyelids become heavy, and your mind calms down. You are now safe. Rest.

Sources:

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Bestbier, L. & Williams, T.I. (2017). The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences . Occupational Therapy International , 2017, 1-7, DOI: 10.1155/2017/7534972

Chen, H.-Y., Yang, H., Chi, H.-J. & Chen, H.-M. (2013). Physiological Effects of Deep Touch Pressure on Anxiety Alleviation: The Weighted Blanket Approach. Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering , 33 (5), 463-470. DOI: 10.5405/jmbe.1043.

Chen, HY, Yang, H., Meng, LF, Chan, PS, Yang, CY & Chen, HM (2016). Effect of deep pressure input on parasympathetic system in patients with wisdom tooth surgery. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 115 (10), 853-859. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2016.07.008

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Grandin, T. (1992). Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology , 2 (1), 63-72. DOI: 10.1089/cap.1992.2.63

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