By: Erica Bruno, MS OTR/L

Deep pressure/touch sensory input refers to firm tactile (touch) input that provides proprioceptive (muscle/joint awareness) information to the whole body. This input can be achieved through actions such as hugging, squeezing, massaging, swaddling, or providing compressions to your child. It can be delivered via physical touch or through other objects. When deep pressure input is provided firmly throughout the entire body, it has a calming and organizing effect on the central nervous system.

But how does it work?

Tactile input releases dopamine and proprioceptive input releases serotonin in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that controls the reward or pleasure center of the brain and assists in regulating emotional responses. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate brain functions and mood. It is also known to stimulate parts of the brain that are responsible for sleep and the production of melatonin. Together, serotonin and dopamine are the “happy” neurochemicals that help us feel good. The increase in serotonin and dopamine also works to counteract the effects of the stress hormone, cortisol. This decreases the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system, and instead, increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for resting and digesting.

Functional outcomes of deep pressure input can also include increased focus and attention, increased body awareness and spatial relations, improved proprioceptive processing for balance and coordination, and improved tactile processing for decreased sensitivities.

To put it simply: deep pressure sensory input releases neurochemicals that will help your child better regulate their emotions and actions, focus and attend, feel calm and happy, and improve sleep.

What are some easy ways to provide deep pressure input at home?

  • Massage your child’s arms, legs, and back using deep touch
  • Firmly roll a therapy ball over your child’s back, arms, and legs while they are laying on their stomach
  • Roll or wrap your child firmly inside a blanket to make a “burrito”
  • Squish your child between two soft pillows to make a “sandwich”
  • Provide deep vibration to the whole body
  • Use a weighted blanket
  • Provide your child with bear hugs using firm pressure
  • Provide joint compressions to all extremities

 

If your child frequently struggles to maintain a calm and appropriate body state, appears to be unaware of their body in space and constantly bumps into objects, has difficulty with attention and focus, or has difficulty with sleep, they likely would benefit from this type of input.

 

Try providing deep pressure input to your child on a regular basis. Make it fun through play! Use it preventatively before a time, transition, or activity that your child may have particular difficulty with. This will help their body become more regulated and may help to make the unpreferred event a bit more tolerable. Providing deep pressure sensory input regularly and consistently over time will change your child’s neurochemistry and can lead to a host of benefits.