Hammock Better Than A Bed For Sleeping?
BOSTON (CBS) - Do you ever have trouble sleeping?
It might be your bed, or the fact that you even use one.
New research says you might do better if you trade that bed in for a hammock.
The conclusion of Swiss researchers is you can fall asleep quicker, and sleep more deeply due the swinging motion of the hammock.
The researchers studied the brainwaves of 12 healthy adults as they napped, either in a stationary bed or in a hammock.
WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben reports
The brain scans revealed those on a hammock slept more soundly and woke up more refreshed.
Doctor Louis Ptacek, a neurologist, thinks the research is worth studying seriously. He specializes in sleep issues.
However, he is concerned this research sample is too small to draw any substantial conclusions.
"I don't thing we should get rid of our beds and buy rocking beds yet," he added.
Hammocks are already in use in some medical settings. Their calming, swaying motion is used to treat premature babies in Columbia.
Specially made hammocks are placed in the incubator to cradle the baby and facilitate breathing.
Researchers say the gentle rocking motion of a hammock might have other health applications. It could potentially help with memory issues, or healing after a brain injury.
This study only evaluated how men sleep on hammocks.
Some data on women is needed before any wide scale recommendations could be made.
