Use of the rocking bed in the treatment of neurogenic respiratory insufficiency

We describe 53 patients who received ventilatory support witha rocking bed. Diagnoses included previous poliomyelitis (30),muscular dystrophy (12), motor neurone disease (4), adult-onsetacid maltose deficiency (4) and a miscellaneous group (3). Patientspresented with respiratory insufficiency characterized by diaphragmweakness, progressive nocturnal hypoventilation and/or acuteor chronic respiratory failure. Domiciliary rocking beds wereused by 43 patients for a mean of 16.0 years (range 1 monthto 35 years). Most patients were able to breathe adequatelyby day when sitting or standing, but needed assistance by rockingbed for 6–11 h when lying down for sleep. The rockingbed was well-tolerated, and associated with both symptomaticrelief and amelioration of arterial blood gas abnormalities.Seventeen of these 43 patients discontinued its use, eitherbecause of discomfort (9) or increasing respiratory insufficiency(8). The rocking bed is a valuable adjunct in the managementof the respiratory insufficiency associated with neuro-musculardisease.