The Benefits of Heat Therapy

Reduce Tension and Stress

As old as time, heat has been used to provide relief to muscles and internal organs.  Research has shown that heat helps relieve tight muscles and knots caused by stress, creating a feeling of wellbeing.

Ease Muscle Pain and Stiffness

Gentle heat exerts an analgesic effect to reduce chronic pains and stiffness, such as those caused by arthritis. Studies show that this process can make connective tissue more flexible, permitting greater joint movement and increasing levels of endorphins.

Improve Circulation

When you warm up a sore joint or tired muscle the blood vessels expand. This expansion leads to improved circulation, delivering more oxygen, white blood cells and nutrients, helping to repair damaged tissue.

Can a weighted blanket or pad really help?

Pressure stimulation relaxes the nervous system, imitating the feeling of a hug or being held. It helps to calm anxiety and reduce the perception of pain, as well as improving sleep quality.  

In Sweden, a 2021 study of 85 people with autism or ADHD showed significant improvements in sleep quality and reduced daily anxiety through the use of weighted blankets. Similar results were recorded for around half of the 122 neuro-typical participants of a study in Florida in 2020.

Although unable to reduce pain intensity, researchers at UC San Diego showed a notable reduction in the perception of chronic pain in 94 subjects through the use of a weighted blanket. This highlights how useful such items can be in coping with day-to-day aches and pains.