How Infrared Clothing Improves Sleep Quality

Regardless of your level of health or activity, sleep is a fundamental bedrock of wellness. Poor sleep quality impacts your physical function, your cognitive function but also your psychological function – mood, self-esteem, confidence, decision making and the like are all impacted by the quality and quantity of your sleep.

How Infrared Clothing Improves Sleep Quality

How Infrared Clothing Improves Sleep Quality

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We have discussed many of the health-enhancing benefits of KYMIRA infrared clothing before, but so far one we haven't touched on is how infrared clothing improves sleep quality.

Regardless of your level of health or activity, sleep is a fundamental bedrock of wellness. Poor sleep quality impacts your physical function, your cognitive function but also your psychological function – mood, self-esteem, confidence, decision making and the like are all impacted by the quality and quantity of your sleep.

We have evidence of how effective infrared can be when it comes to improving sleep quality and the impact this will have on your subsequent health. This is an article that will benefit anyone, but especially those looking to improve their energy levels, mood or general wellness.

Time to read: 7 minutes

Level: Intermediate

Key Points:

  • Sleep and Athletic Performance – What the Science Shows
  • Lack of Sleep and Increased Injury Risk
  • Lack of Sleep Relating to Physiological and Psychological Responses to Sport
  • Sleep Deprivation and Impacts on Decision Making in Stressful Environments
  • Sleep and Athletic Recovery
  • How Infrared Benefits Sleep
  • Improving Sleep Quality
  • Improved Sleep in Active Individuals
  • Impacts on Falling Asleep
  • Infrared and Sleep Benefits – Concluded

Regardless of your level of health or activity, sleep is a fundamental bedrock of wellness. Poor sleep quality impacts your physical function, your cognitive function but also your psychological function – mood, self-esteem, confidence, decision making and the like are all impacted by the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Sleep and Athletic Performance – What the Science Shows

The best place to start is by broadly outlining what the science tells us about sleep and the effects it has on our bodies' performance. By showing the breadth and depth of the impact that sleep has on our ability to function at our best, we can highlight the scale of the impact that infrared clothing and sleep improvement can have on quality of life, from immune function and injury risk to mood and mental health.

Lack of Sleep and Increased Injury Risk

In a 2019 study [1] a lack of sleep was associated with a statistically significant musculoskeletal injury risk increase in adolescent athletes. The injuries were broad in nature, suggesting this isn't just an effect on say, muscle tissue. It was also apparent that the injury risk increased across a very broad spectrum of activities, ruling out one particular mechanism of injury such as impact.

Lack of Sleep Relating to Physiological and Psychological Responses

This study is of particular interest because although the study subjects are athletes, it highlights the breadth of the impact that a lack of sleep has on mental performance [2]. It builds on previous research and suggests that a lack of sleep may have an impact on cognitive function and decision-making, it may disrupt immune function and increase inflammation leading to feelings of physical overexertion. Another study [2a] on cognition and circadian clocks highlights how disturbance of your pattern (for work, jet lag or other reasons) compromises your sleep, and therefore your alertness and capacity to problem solve. We tend to think of circadian rhythm in the context of sleep, but it also impacts cognitive ability while you're awake.

Sleep Deprivation and Impacts on Decision Making in Stressful Environments

The impact of sleep deprivation and stress is a difficult one to study in an everyday context, because we all make mistakes for a myriad of minor reasons or for seemingly no reason at all. What we can study is the broader impact of sleep deprivation as it relates to behaviour in a stressful environment. In this study [3], sleep-deprived doctors were shown to suffer from higher levels of stress and make more mistakes on the job. Although not everyone would face this intensity of stress or high stakes in their everyday life, doctors make a good case study to highlight the effect of sleep deprivation on our decision making skills.

Sleep and Recovery

This is arguably the most important impact a lack of sleep has on health – it disrupts recovery. The knock on effect of inadequate sleep is psychological overload and, in the long term, health problems [4]. It's well known that a poor night's sleep will make us irritable and affect our ability to focus, but a consistent lack of quality rest can have long-term implications for your mental health and general psychological state.

How Infrared Benefits Sleep

Now we have shown the evidence of how poor quality sleep impacts physical and mental health, it's time we look at the claims that sleep quality is enhanced by the use of infrared technology. We're going to share a number of studies from different areas, each suggesting that infrared has the capacity to improve sleep quality.

Improving Sleep Quality

There's a temptation to assume improving sleep quality means simply sleeping longer, but that's not always the case. In many cases the amount of sleep isn't the problem, but the quality is. In this study [5] participants actually slept less, but the quality of the sleep improved. Participants spent an average of 18.3 minutes less time awake post-sleeping than they did without the infrared, plus they reported an average increased sleep efficiency of 2.6%.

Improved Sleep in Active Individuals

This study [6] is particularly interesting because it tracks the sleep of slightly older athletic participants (average age 40) who are performing CrossFit, which is a multi-modality sport (weight training, swimming, running, cycling, bodyweight exercises, gymnastics etc). This rules out specific sleep impacts on particular types of activity. When exposed to infrared, the participants reported improved sleep and reduced daytime napping.

Impacts on Falling Asleep

A lot of people report trouble actually getting to sleep in the first place. In this study [6], participants reported reduced insomnia, suggesting they were able to get to sleep quicker and more effectively. They also reported less daytime napping, in line with the previous study. Interestingly, the infrared technology employed in the study was ‘printed' onto the fabric, which washes away. As the study progressed and the infrared washed away, the benefit reduces, proving it was the infrared that was effective.

KYMIRA KNergy fabric weaves the infrared technology into the fabric, so it doesn't wash off – it's as effective regardless of how many times the garment is washed.

Infrared and Sleep Benefits – Concluded

There's already an established link between sleep quality and health, but now we've proven that infrared improves sleep quality and efficiency, the discussion needs to move on to how best to employ the infrared technology to further enhance biological efficiency and quality of life.

By using KYMIRA clothing, we can enjoy deeper, more restorative sleep which will reduce injury risk, improve cognition and enhance almost every aspect of everyday health and wellbeing.

Suggested KYMIRA Items…

The KYMIRA T-Shirt

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References

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6446394/

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25315456/

[2a] https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(10)00065-3?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1364661310000653%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6448892/

[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453011001569?via%3Dihub

[5] https://celliant.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Double-Blind_web.pdf

[6] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326659879_The_effect_of_far-infrared_emitting_sheets_on_sleep

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This is an article that will benefit anyone, but especially those looking to improve their energy levels, mood or general wellness.\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \nTime to read: 7 minutes\nLevel: Intermediate\nKey Points:\n\nSleep and Athletic Performance – What the Science Shows\nLack of Sleep and Increased Injury Risk\nLack of Sleep Relating to Physiological and Psychological Responses to Sport\nSleep Deprivation and Impacts on Decision Making in Stressful Environments\nSleep and Athletic Recovery\nHow Infrared Benefits Sleep\nImproving Sleep Quality\nImproved Sleep in Active Individuals\nImpacts on Falling Asleep\nInfrared and Sleep Benefits – Concluded\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n Regardless of your level of health or activity, sleep is a fundamental bedrock of wellness. Poor sleep quality impacts your physical function, your cognitive function but also your psychological function – mood, self-esteem, confidence, decision making and the like are all impacted by the quality and quantity of your sleep.\n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n Sleep and Athletic Performance – What the Science Shows\n \n \n\n\n\n\n \nThe best place to start is by broadly outlining what the science tells us about sleep and the effects it has on our bodies' performance. By showing the breadth and depth of the impact that sleep has on our ability to function at our best, we can highlight the scale of the impact that infrared clothing and sleep improvement can have on quality of life, from immune function and injury risk to mood and mental health.\n\n\nLack of Sleep and Increased Injury Risk\n\n\n\n\nIn a 2019 study [1] a lack of sleep was associated with a statistically significant musculoskeletal injury risk increase in adolescent athletes. The injuries were broad in nature, suggesting this isn’t just an effect on say, muscle tissue. It was also apparent that the injury risk increased across a very broad spectrum of activities, ruling out one particular mechanism of injury such as impact. \n\n\nLack of Sleep Relating to Physiological and Psychological Responses\n\n\n\n\nThis study is of particular interest because although the study subjects are athletes, it highlights the breadth of the impact that a lack of sleep has on mental performance [2]. It builds on previous research and suggests that a lack of sleep may have an impact on cognitive function and decision-making, it may disrupt immune function and increase inflammation leading to feelings of physical overexertion. Another study [2a] on cognition and circadian clocks highlights how disturbance of your pattern (for work, jet lag or other reasons) compromises your sleep, and therefore your alertness and capacity to problem solve. We tend to think of circadian rhythm in the context of sleep, but it also impacts cognitive ability while you're awake.\n\n\n\n\nSleep Deprivation and Impacts on Decision Making in Stressful Environments\n\n\n\n\nThe impact of sleep deprivation and stress is a difficult one to study in an everyday context, because we all make mistakes for a myriad of minor reasons or for seemingly no reason at all. What we can study is the broader impact of sleep deprivation as it relates to behaviour in a stressful environment. In this study [3], sleep-deprived doctors were shown to suffer from higher levels of stress and make more mistakes on the job. Although not everyone would face this intensity of stress or high stakes in their everyday life, doctors make a good case study to highlight the effect of sleep deprivation on our decision making skills.\n\n\n\n\nSleep and Recovery\n\n\n\n\nThis is arguably the most important impact a lack of sleep has on health – it disrupts recovery. The knock on effect of inadequate sleep is psychological overload and, in the long term, health problems [4]. It's well known that a poor night's sleep will make us irritable and affect our ability to focus, but a consistent lack of quality rest can have long-term implications for your mental health and general psychological state. \n\n\n\n\nHow Infrared Benefits Sleep\n\n\n\n\nNow we have shown the evidence of how poor quality sleep impacts physical and mental health, it’s time we look at the claims that sleep quality is enhanced by the use of infrared technology. We’re going to share a number of studies from different areas, each suggesting that infrared has the capacity to improve sleep quality.\n\n\n\n\nImproving Sleep Quality\n\n\n\n\nThere’s a temptation to assume improving sleep quality means simply sleeping longer, but that’s not always the case. In many cases the amount of sleep isn’t the problem, but the quality is. In this study [5] participants actually slept less, but the quality of the sleep improved. Participants spent an average of 18.3 minutes less time awake post-sleeping than they did without the infrared, plus they reported an average increased sleep efficiency of 2.6%.\n\n\n\n\nImproved Sleep in Active Individuals\n\n\n\n\nThis study [6] is particularly interesting because it tracks the sleep of slightly older athletic participants (average age 40) who are performing CrossFit, which is a multi-modality sport (weight training, swimming, running, cycling, bodyweight exercises, gymnastics etc). This rules out specific sleep impacts on particular types of activity. When exposed to infrared, the participants reported improved sleep and reduced daytime napping.\n\n\n\n\nImpacts on Falling Asleep\n\n\n\n\nA lot of people report trouble actually getting to sleep in the first place. In this study [6], participants reported reduced insomnia, suggesting they were able to get to sleep quicker and more effectively. They also reported less daytime napping, in line with the previous study. Interestingly, the infrared technology employed in the study was ‘printed’ onto the fabric, which washes away. 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