★★★★★
Yesterday was a lovely day and I went out to the porch to swing and crochet in the sunshine for a little bit. I realized my pain was not bothering me as much. Certainly sunshine and something to do with my hands was a pleasant distraction, but then I considered the rocking.
Parents and caregivers naturally rock and sway to sooth babies and little children. Perhaps rocking is soothing for humans of all ages!
I did a little research and found that studies have found that rocking in a rocking chair has many health benefits.
It helps to decrease cravings of addicts in rehab facilities. It improves balance among the elderly in care facilities, it also reduces requests for pain medicines, and reduces agitation. Rocking can release endorphins, which can help with pain.
For the elderly, rocking in a chair improve blood flow and gives a bit of exercise to muscles.
Rocking chair therapy has also been used to improve outcomes after some surgeries.
My take away is that it makes sense to ensure that the elderly have an available rocking chair. And that anyone, no matter the age, may benefit from some rocking chair time to relieve anxiety, pain, and cravings.
Maybe rocking chairs are a way to restore some calm to our society which has become increasingly frenetic.
Happy Rocking,
~Mama to Many~
