Weigh Down and Sleep

Abstract

Background:

The purpose of this study was to investigate if sleeping with a weighted blanket improves the quality of sleep for the user. Weighted blanket manufacturers claim that sleeping with a weighted blanket improves sleep quality by reducing anxiety, stress and insomnia. There is dearth research to support their claims besides user testimonies.

Methods:

Participation in this study included having individuals wear an out of center sleep testing device (OCST) for two nights. This device measured total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep onset and snoring. After the participants slept the first night wearing the OCST without the weighted blanket, they were then asked to sleep with weighted blanket and repeat the study. An 8 question Epworth Scale was also used to evaluate participants predisposition to sleep disorders. Informed consent was obtained.

Results:

A total of 10 subjects participated in this study. Due to tight academic time constraints the total number of participants was limited. Comparison between sleeping with and without the weighted blanket yielded mixed results. An increase in total sleep time was found in 40% of the participants, a decrease in sleep onset in 60% of participants, a decrease in snoring episodes in 40%, and an increase in sleep efficiency in 50% of the participants.

Conclusions:

There is an expanding market for consumers searching for easy solutions to poor sleep quality as well as a huge emphasis on the need for sleep education today. Dearth amount of data is available to prove or disprove the claims that weighted blankets improve the user’s sleep quality. With the mixed results from this study, and the lack of available research, more research needs to be done to determine the effects of weighted blankets on sleep quality.