Nocturnal vestibular stimulation using a rocking bed improves a severe sleep disorder in a patient with mitochondrial disease

Mitochondrial diseases can cause severe sleep problems. This study tested whether a rocking bed could help a 12-year-old boy with a mitochondrial disease who had severe sleep disruption. The rocking bed provided gentle movements and sounds similar to a train ride. Over several months, different rocking settings were tested to find what worked best for the boy. The rocking bed improved the boy's sleep, reduced the help he needed from caregivers during the night, and decreased his fatigue during the day. The study suggests rocking beds could be a treatment for sleep disorders in some patients.

• 1
  Sleep duration increased by 25% during the final 4-week intervention period compared to baseline.
• 2
  Caregiver interactions reduced by 75%, and caregiving time decreased by 40% during the final intervention.
• 3
  Subjective fatigue, assessed by the Checklist Individual Strength, decreased by 40%, falling below the threshold of severe fatigue.