Benefits
Miracle in Motion®
Rocking during pregnancy can improve neurodevelopment in the womb and reduce pain during labor. Rocking after birth can improve balance and blood circulation reducing postpartum muscle pains and it can provoke the infant’s vestibular system, stimulating growth and respiratory regulation. Rocking has been a long-time remedy for infant irritability associated with colic/gas and it encourages physical contact, strengthening the bond/attachment between a parent and child. Rocking can benefit both mothers and infants alike by increasing the release of endorphins in the brain, improving mood and reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. Stress reduction can promote better and longer breastmilk production.
Dr. Brian De Benedictis
MD, MS Neonatologist & Baby Physician
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) board certified physician in both Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and General Pediatrics
- Worked in multiple states within the U.S. at 15+ different hospital units caring for a wide variety of different patients
- Author of publications in peer reviewed journals
- Involved in the educational training of medical students, residents, and fellows
Dr. Brian De Benedictis
MD, MS Neonatologist & Baby PhysicianRhythmic movements like rocking help build a better bond between mother and child and can help comfort them assisting in better sleep. Rocking has also been shown to aid in the growth of a newborn by stimulating both motor and sensory development. Having a portable rocker easily accessible will ensure persistent use stimulating both motor and sensory pathways improving an infant's neurodevelopment. Recurrent stimulation of these pathways has been shown to improve overall growth and internal regulation of a baby's basic functions like breathing.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) board certified physician in both Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and General Pediatrics
- Worked in multiple states within the U.S. at 15+ different hospital units caring for a wide variety of different patients
- Author of publications in peer reviewed journals
- Involved in the educational training of medical students, residents, and fellows
Dr. De Benedictis holds both a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Science degree in Pathology. He is board certified in both Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and General Pediatrics by the American Academy of Pediatrics. He completed his fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in New York. Currently, Dr. De Benedictis is practicing as a Neonatologist in the Phoenix, AZ area and holds the title of Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona. He cares for premature and severely ill infants with a vast array of diseases ranging from genetic and cardiac anomalies to neurological diseases and birth injuries. He also works closely with parents. He is well informed in the infant benefits of human milk and assisting mothers in successful breastmilk production and in the evaluation of postpartum depression.
The motion of rocking can activate the mechanoreceptors located in the skin, muscles, and joints. This allows electrical signals to travel from the spine to the brain. This can promote normal or enhanced activation and functioning of neurons. This can have a profound effect on restoring proper function and in turn can create positive changes in a wide variety of issues or ailments.
Dr. James Farley
DC, MS, BCIM, FAAIM, FAIS Neuromusculoskeletal & Allostatic Stress Specialist
- Provider for Cambridge Brain Sciences – testing and cognitive assessments – featured on CNN, BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel
- Has treated patients from over 18 countries
- Has consulted with over 5,100 patients and provided approximately 225,000 treatments
- Author of 4 books and 3 booklets
Dr. James Farley
DC, MS, BCIM, FAAIM, FAIS Neuromusculoskeletal & Allostatic Stress SpecialistA persons allostatic stress loads can impair proper function and drive many diseases. Rocking has the unique ability by activating movement receptors that fire into the brain to help reset and lower these damaging responses. This can have profound positive effects on energy, mood, pain, digestion, immune, and hormonal balance.
- Provider for Cambridge Brain Sciences – testing and cognitive assessments – featured on CNN, BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel
- Has treated patients from over 18 countries
- Has consulted with over 5,100 patients and provided approximately 225,000 treatments
- Author of 4 books and 3 booklets
Dr. Farley is a trusted and dependable doctor, advisor, consultant, health coach and creator of healABILITY concepts. He treats a variety of chronic and unresponsive health conditions and is regarded as one of the top doctors within his field. He has one of the largest practices of its kind in the United States and he has done television ads, radio interviews/ads, and produces sciences-based weekly blogs. Dr. Farley holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College and a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. He is board certified in Integrative Medicine and has also completed training for the American Board of Childhood Development Disorders at the Carrick Institute for a Diplomate in Functional Neurology. As well, Dr. Farley is a member of the American Institute of Stress, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, the International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation, the American Association of Integrative Medicine, the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies, the Infectious Disease Society of America, the Endocrine Society, and the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
"Rocking provides the child with all the important tactile stimulation that the child needs for optimal brain development. I can't overestimate the importance of tactile stimulation.”
- Dr. Edward Zigler | Yale University
- Dr. Edward Zigler | Yale University
Dementia
“Patients with Alzheimer's disease who rock for 1-2 hr per day in a rocking chair demonstrate significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and balance and a decrease in pain medication usage.”
- Binghamton University
- Binghamton University
ADHD
“The study of pre-teens and teenagers examined how movement — its intensity — correlated with accuracy on cognitively demanding tasks. Participants who moved more intensely exhibited substantially better cognitive performance.”
- University of California
- University of California
Stress / Anxiety
“When I have a couple, or parents or even friends where one or both individuals experience anxiety, stress, PTSD… I teach them how to do therapeutic rocking.”
- Leslie E. Korn | Ph.D., MPH, LMHC, ACS, NTP
- Leslie E. Korn | Ph.D., MPH, LMHC, ACS, NTP
SLEEP
"People fall asleep faster when rocking. Additionally, they showed improvements in memory consolidation and spent more time in non-REM sleep.”
- University of Geneva
- University of Geneva
Back Pain
“Use a rocking chair as one of several back pain remedies that make up a larger back pain relief program. This is an excellent adjunct to spinal decompression for bulging disc treatment.”
- Dr. Barry L. Marks
- Dr. Barry L. Marks
Cerebral Palsy
"Gentle rocking can help your child with cerebral palsy get accustomed to shifting their weight, adjusting their posture, and feeling more at ease in motion."
- Flint Rehab
- Flint Rehab
SOOTHING
"One essayist suggests that all one needs to relieve stress and improve one’s overall health is to hold a baby and rock. The questions surrounding relaxation is not whether we should occasionally sit in a rocker, but how long we should do this."
- Amy Gagliardi | Yale University
- Amy Gagliardi | Yale University
AUTISM
“Every autistic child should have a rocker in his/her room."
- Anna Jean Ayres | Occupational therapist, educational psychologist and advocate for individuals with special needs. Known for her work on sensory integration (SI) theory.
- Anna Jean Ayres | Occupational therapist, educational psychologist and advocate for individuals with special needs. Known for her work on sensory integration (SI) theory.
Labor
"Rocking is healthy for the mother as well as for the baby. Women who rock their infants in a rocking chair for 1 hour a day recover faster after cesarean delivery."
- Amy Gagliardi | Yale University
- Amy Gagliardi | Yale University
NERVOUS SYSTEM
"After extensive studies, NASA determined that the most effective procedure to bring back the livelihood of the autonomic nervous systems post extended time in space was to rock and bounce returning astronauts."
- NASA
- NASA
Cognitive
“The rocking motion soothes the brain and facilitates concentration along with the ability to think logically, which provides overall better cognitive processing.”
- Gerry Vassar | President/CEO, Lakeside Educational Network
- Gerry Vassar | President/CEO, Lakeside Educational Network
PAIN MANAGEMENT
"Rocking can tap into the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the sedative side of the nervous system and therefore good for pain management.”
- Physiotherapist Brad Beer | AMAZON Best Selling Author
- Physiotherapist Brad Beer | AMAZON Best Selling Author
Depression
“During my clinical fellowship at a Harvard teaching hospital, I rocked patients who were suicidal and called 'borderline' (they were really trauma survivors).”
- Leslie E. Korn | Ph.D., MPH, LMHC, ACS, NTP
- Leslie E. Korn | Ph.D., MPH, LMHC, ACS, NTP
CONCENTRATION
“The student who was bouncing was providing themselves with additional sensory stimulation and the child who was rocking was calming themselves and thus decreasing sensory stimulation; both were able to improve their learning outcomes.”
- Georgia State University
- Georgia State University
FIBROMYALGIA
“Rocking can ease chronic pain. A group of women with fibromyalgia, rocked for 10 minutes, 3 times weekly, for 16 weeks. They reported a sense of calmness and said that helped manage their pain."
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
"Rocking helps self-soothe urges and desires to drink. A significant association was observed between a greater number of minutes spent rocking with fewer urges and desires that are connected with the intent and plan to drink."
- University of Alabama | VA Medical Center
- University of Alabama | VA Medical Center
VERTIGO
“Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, such as rocking, can help patients with vestibular dysfunction, such as vertigo and episodes of dizziness.”
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Baylor College of Medicine
POST OPERATION
"A study looked at how long it took patients who’d undergone surgery for abdominal cancer to pass gas, a process that’s indicative of their recovery. The group who rocked post-surgery passed gas 16.8 hours earlier than those who didn’t."
- University of Texas M.D.
- University of Texas M.D.
ARTHRITIS
"Rocking can reduce the impact of diseases such as arthritis. This is because the increased blood flow sends more oxygen to the joints while the relaxation effect boosts the immune system."
- Jane Chitty | Writer | Healing Natural Oils
- Jane Chitty | Writer | Healing Natural Oils
Balance
“A gentle rocking motion helps stimulate the vestibular system, which helps maintain balance.”
- School of Nursing at the University of Rochester
- School of Nursing at the University of Rochester