Health Benefits of Origami

Health benefits of origami: Why do people fold paper into little animal shapes? For most, it is because it’s fun and it looks nice. But for others, it is a way to relax; a way to let the day’s tension melt away. More and more now, care providers and researchers have found that folding paper can help those with medical conditions.

The most obvious benefit of origami is for those who have had surgery or injuries of the hands. Origami helps patients regain control over their hand movements and helps build muscles. Patients find doing their “hand exercise” through origami is more rewarding than traditional physical therapy methods.


Some therapists have found that origami helps those with low self esteem, anxiety, ADHD, autism, intellectual disability, and other psychological conditions. People who have been diagnosed with depression have found that origami gives them hope. You can read some stories here and Voice of America article here. Similarly, those who have an addiction may find that origami gives them a focal point on which to apply their energies as seen in this article.


Interestingly, volunteers have taught origami to prison inmates. The act of folding paper allows some of the inmates to decrease their level of anxiety. Some prison inmates fold origami models to give to their wives or girlfriends. What better way to encourage a healthful mindset? See more from this NY Times article and this blog. Prison inmates from Utah fold 1000 paper cranes, some of which had wishes written on the crane’s wings (significance of 1000 cranes).


John Smith has a list of articles relating to the educational & theraputic benefits of origami. The Proceedings from COET91 has noteworthy information (see table of contents by Tom Hull) purchase book

Perhaps, the best way to understand the benefits of origami is to read the testimonials of those who use origami as a tool for therapy. See the web sites of Marilyn Abbmackdes and George Ho for extensive information on the health benefits of origami which includes first-hand testimonials of how origami helped their mental health.

– go to Home Page
– go to Site map
– let’s start folding!
– go to top of health benefits page

 

The Origami Resource Center is grateful for the community for sharing their expertise in this area of the craft. This web site is not intended as professional advice. If you have a medical condition or know someone who needs medical help, please seek professional advice. Origami is not considered a treatment in itself.


  •  

    Books with Easy Origami

    • Easy Origami: over 30 simple projects by John Montroll
    • Origami Fun Kit for Beginners by John Montroll
    • My First Origami Kit by Joel Stern
    • Easy Origami: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids by C Alexander & M Meinking
    • Fun With Easy Origami (Dover Origami Papercraft)
    • Origami: A Step-by-Step Introduction to the Art of Paper Folding by T Cook & S Henry
    • Easy Origami For Kids Book Traditional Japanese Folding Papers Overs 20 Projects by J Wish
    • Easy Origami for Kids: Over 40 Simple Origami Projects by O Brooks

     

    Easy Origami Books

  •  
     

    Please Help

    Please help by reporting broken links so that we can fix them. One easy message from you can save us hours and hours of clicking. Thanks!

  •  

    More Origami Diagrams and Instructions…

  • These free origami instructions are made available to you by the paper folding community at large. If you have a diagram you would like to share, or if your diagram is listed here and you wish to have it removed, please Contact Us. Diagrams are intended for personal use. Copyright of the models lie with the origami creators and designers. Please contact the designer and/or creator directly for non-private usage of a model and/or artwork.