Rocking Benefits & Scientific Studies Of Interest (just in case your interested)

#1. Vestibular Dreams: The Effect of Rocking on Dream Mentation
Kenneth Leslie and Robert Ogilvie
Dreaming: Journal of the Association for the Study of Dreams. Vol 6(1) 1-16, Mar 1996.
A rocking by time interaction was found: rocking increased lucid mentation during early morning REM periods… These results suggest that vestibular activation during REM sleep can influence dream mentation, specifically, dream self-reflectiveness and vestibular imagery.

#2. Sudden infant death syndrome and possible relation to vestibular function.
Farrimond T., University of Waikato, New Zealand.

Some infants seem to be born with a degree of respiratory centre immaturity which in combination with other problems such as illness, head colds, exposure to cold, air or smoke, may result in cessation of breathing. Vestibular stimulation by rocking has been shown to be beneficial for premature babies in reducing apnea. There also appear to be other benefits, resulting in more rapid maturation of the nerve cells of the cerebellum which is still developing during the first six months of life. The suggestion is made that crib deaths may be reduced by the use of automatically rocking cribs, particularly during the night when most deaths occur.
PMID: 2251079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Pediatrician. 1989;16(1-2):39-44.

#3. Management of young children's acute pain and anxiety during invasive medical procedures.
Kuttner L., B.C. Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Acute painful medical procedures frequently engender anxiety reactions in children and sensitize them to future medical interventions. Techniques that reduce pain and anxiety, including behavioral distraction (e.g. bubbles and pop-up books), kinesthetic methods (e.g. rocking), and imaginal methods (e.g. hypnosis), are discussed and described using case examples. Guidelines are provided for the physician's management of children during acute painful procedures. These include methods of engaging the child and the use of ego-supporting suggestions. These pain reduction techniques are synergistic with analgesics and have long-term benefits for pediatric patients.
PMID: 2657691 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Profiles Healthc Mark. 1992 Jul-Aug;(48):45-7.

#4. Seniors 'rocking' to good health. Columbia Hospital, Milwaukee, WI.
[No authors listed]
PMID: 10120011 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Am J Sports Med. 1989 Mar-Apr;17(2):187-96.

#5. Rock 'Til You Drop
24 April 1998
If heavy metal leads to senile dementia, elderly headbangers could do worse than head down to Kirkhaven nursing home in Rochester, USA. For as studies there have shown, residents who rock around the clock are both happier and healthier.

"The more they rocked, the better they felt," says nurse researcher Nancy Watson of Rochester University, speaking of a six-week study presented at the Eastern Nursing Research Society. "There's a stereotype of older people on a porch happily going back and forth in their rocking chairs. It turns out that the activity really does bring some peace of mind to many folks."

Benefits of zealous rocking for residents suffering from dementia include emotional well-being and an improved sense of balance. Patients who rock incessantly even tend to request less medication to ease their daily aches and pains. "It's been very well documented with infants that a gentle repetitive motion has a soothing effect," says Watson. "We've shown that the same is true in an older population that is emotionally distressed."

With some 1.6 million people currently in US nursing homes — more than half of whom suffer from some form of dementia — expect "rocking-chair therapy" to become the latest vogue. Good news for residents and nursing home staff .

#6. Rock Your Stress Away
Studies suggest the humble, low-tech rocker can ease the stress and anxiety brought on by our high pressure, high-tech lives. Research has long confirmed what new mothers learn very quickly: rocking soothes babies, possibly because the motion mimics the sensation of being carried in the womb. The gentle back and forth of rocking transforms crying into cooing and magically changes a wakeful infant into one who sleeps…well, like a baby. But less has been known about rocking’s effect on adults.

One recent study reveals the welcome news that rocking is as good for grandma and grandpa as it is for baby. Researchers recently conducted a study to examine the effect of rocking on nursing home residents who were suffering from dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease or other causes. For six weeks, the 25 men and women rocked from 30 to 80 minutes every day. Subsequently, the rocking mechanism was disabled on the platform rockers and the result was observed.

During the first six weeks, nearly half the study group exhibited less anxiety, disorientation, tension and depression. Those who rocked 80 minutes per day showed the most dramatic difference, requesting pain medication less often and having fewer episodes of anxiety and depression. Researchers noted that those who achieved the greatest benefit were those who rocked for the longest amount of time over the course of the day, not necessarily during one sitting. They also noticed that when emotionally distraught residents were helped into rocking chairs and began rocking, the motion immediately calmed them.

An additional benefit was observed: rocking improved the balance of the study group, possibly because the rocking motion helps stimulate the body’s ability to maintain balance.

Though researchers have not documented rocking’s effect on adults in mid-life, evidence suggests that it must be as soothing for baby boomers as it is for their parents and children. Demand for rocking chairs has soared during the past few decades, and the plain wooden rocker has diversified to suit the tastes of both the chic set and couch potatoes, in the process spawning a whole category of furniture. "We don’t sell as many of the old-fashioned maple Boston rockers as we did in the past," says Nick Cardi, "but we do sell a lot of Shaker-style and painted rockers, and in upholstered furniture, swivel rockers and glider rockers. Twenty years ago we had five or six different styles and now we’re all over the place."
The Cardi brothers conclude, "The population is rocking."

#7. Glider chairs are now commonly recommended by health officials for people with anxiety, high blood pressure, back injuries, chronic back problems and pregnant women.

#8. From an article in Furniture Insider:
As science is beginning to discover, the use of rocking chairs has clear-cut health benefits. In babies, rocking recreates the soothing rhythm of being in the womb. For older folks, rocking stimulates blood flow and facilitates the gentle, rhythmic contraction and relaxation of back muscles.

#9. Rocking is a passive aerobic exercise device.
Using a Passive Aerobic Exerciser (rocker) helps improve circulation and cell oxygenation just as aerobic exercise does, but without raising blood pressure or heart rate. Daily use improves the body's metabolism, helps align the spine, stimulates the immune system, releases muscle tension, and gently manipulates the internal organs. Many users report increased energy and rapid relief of stress and tension; also many individuals comment on relief of chronic back or neck pain within a matter of days.
Increased oxygenation of the blood takes place due to lateral flexing of the spine, which stimulates the autonomic nervous system to open the bronchioles. Once there is increased oxygenation, the circulation automatically increases to pick up the additional oxygen.
Benefits of Passive Aerobic Exercisers:
* Better stamina
* Stress Reduction
* Relief from back pain
* Improved lymphatic drainage
* Reduce overall body weight
* More energy, a greater sense of well-being
* Stronger and more limber spine and joints
* Firming and toning of thighs, hips, buttocks
* Sounder and more restful sleep
* Greater ease in getting going in the morning
* Stronger immune system - fewer or no colds
* Alleviation of many stress-related conditions
* Improved circulation of the blood
* Improved function of the internal organs