Sleep-improving effects of a novel motion mattress.

To promote better sleep, we designed a motion mattress producing slow and swaying movements by slow regional changes of height generated by 10 separated air cells underneath. The motion induces a stretching movement and a gentle swaying movement of the user's body. In this study, we examined its sleep-improving effects. Subjects who were not fully satisfied with their sleep were recruited. The study was performed for three periods, each of which was a week with a distinct condition. The first period was assigned as pre-experimental (PRE) period when the subjects sleep using their own mattress. The other two periods were assigned as motion mattress active (MM1) period and motion mattress control period. All subjects were randomly divided into two groups for a cross-over study. The subjects recorded electroencephalograms at home for themselves during these 3 weeks. Subjects were asked to perform sleep questionnaires. We examined the effects of this motion mattress at home by measuring the subjective and objective sleep parameters of 11 subjects. As for the objective sleep parameters, Sleep efficiency, NREM sleep stage 3, and awakening index significantly improved during MM1 compared with PRE (p < 0.05). As for the subjective sleep quality, subjects gave significantly higher value to the questions about "falling asleep quickly", "slept soundly", and "woke up refreshed". Our newly developed motion mattress improved both objective and subjective sleep parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]