The Benefits of Swinging for Adults

Plenty of websites say swinging is good for adults, and few say where the claim comes from. This guide sticks to what published research actually found. There are two relevant studies, neither one is about hammocks, and both have limits you should know about. After that, it covers the practical reasons people choose a hammock, a hammock chair or a swing, using specs from our range.

What We Can and Cannot Say

A hammock or swing is furniture. We do not claim that using one treats, prevents or improves any health condition. The research below is general, it is not medical advice, and it was not carried out on our products. If you have concerns about sleep, stress or your health, talk to your doctor.

Rocking and Sleep: What One Study Found

Researchers at the University of Geneva built a gently rocking bed and tested it on adults. The study, by Aurore Perrault and colleagues, was published in the journal Current Biology in January 2019. It followed 18 young adults who slept in a lab on three occasions, including one night on a rocking bed that moved from side to side at 0.25 Hz, which is one slow rock every four seconds.

Compared with a night on a stationary bed, the rocking nights had three results. The participants fell asleep sooner, they spent more time in deep non-REM sleep and they woke up less often. The authors also tested memory, using word pairs learned before bed, and the participants did better the next morning after the rocking night. An earlier study from the same group found that rocking during a 45-minute nap helped people fall asleep faster.

What That Study Does Not Show

It is easy to stretch these findings, so here are the limits.

• It was a laboratory bed, not a hammock, a hammock chair or a garden swing.
• It involved 18 young adults, which is a small group.
• The motion was a slow, regular side-to-side rock, not the movement of a person swinging in a chair.
• It measured sleep in a lab. It does not show that a hammock will improve anyone’s sleep at home.

In short, it is interesting research about rocking and sleep. It is not proof about hammocks.

Time Outdoors: What a Large Survey Found

A second study looked at time spent in nature. Mathew White and colleagues surveyed 19,806 adults in England and published the results in Scientific Reports in 2019. The people who reported spending at least 120 minutes in natural settings in the previous week were more likely to report good health and high wellbeing than people who reported no nature contact. The settings included parks, woodlands and beaches. For people in the 120 to 179 minute group, the odds of reporting good health were about 1.6 times higher, and the odds of reporting high wellbeing about 1.2 times higher.

The researchers reported no clear gain for people who spent less than 120 minutes, and no extra gain beyond about 200 to 300 minutes. It did not matter whether the time came in one visit or several.

What That Study Does Not Show

Again, the limits matter.

• It found an association, not a cause. People who spend time in nature may differ from those who do not in other ways.
• The data was self-reported, so people were describing their own health and time outdoors.
• The nature settings were places like parks and woodland. A hammock in your own garden was not part of the measure.
• It says nothing specific about hammocks or swings.

A hammock is one way to make an outdoor spot you want to sit in. That is a practical point, not a research finding.

How Swinging Differs from a Lab Rocking Bed

It helps to see why the rocking study does not transfer neatly to a swing. In the lab, the bed rocked sideways at a fixed slow rate while people slept. A hammock moves with your weight and your breathing, and it moves differently each time. A hanging chair swings forward and back, and an egg chair on a stand can also turn. Nobody has measured whether those movements do anything like the lab motion.

That is not a reason to avoid a swing. It is a reason to be careful with claims. If a seller tells you a particular hammock or swing will improve your sleep or reduce your stress, ask what study they are relying on, and check whether it tested the same product and the same people.

Why Adults Choose a Hammock, Chair or Swing

With those limits clear, here are the reasons people give that you can check yourself.

It gives you a comfortable place to sit that is not a sofa. A hammock chair or egg chair is a seat you choose to use, often outside.

It takes little space. A hammock chair hangs from one point, so it fits balconies and small patios.

It suits slow activities. Reading, a cup of tea and listening to music all work well in a supported seat.

You can leave it up. A stand or ceiling mount means the seat is always ready.

It is a simple purchase. There is no complicated setup once the fixing is in.

Choosing Between a Hammock, Chair and Swing

Each type suits a different use. This table uses specs from our listings.

You can browse our hammocks, our hammock chairs and our sensory swings, which include adult-sized options. Adult suitability depends on each listing’s size and weight capacity, so compare carefully rather than assuming the whole range is adult-rated.

Which Setup Suits Which Space

Backyard with trees: a hammock between two strong, living trees, hung with wide straps. See our hammocks for sizes and weight ratings.

Backyard with no trees: a freestanding hammock or a separate stand, which you can move around the yard.

Balcony or small patio: a hammock chair on a chair stand, or from a strong overhead beam if one is available.

Indoors: a hammock chair or swing from a joist, or from a freestanding frame if you rent. Ask a builder if you are unsure about the ceiling.

A covered deck: an egg chair or a weather-resistant hammock chair, with a cover when you are away.

Using a Swing Safely as an Adult

Check the weight limit. Use the number on the product page, and check the hook, swivel and carabiner as well. The lowest rating sets your limit.

Fix to something solid. Use a timber joist, beam, concrete or a freestanding frame. Plasterboard on its own cannot hold a swing.

Start gently. Sit in the middle with your feet on the ground first, then add movement slowly.

Keep the space clear. Move furniture, planters and hard edges out of the swing path.

Add a swivel for single-point hangs. It stops the strap twisting.

Ask about health conditions. If you have a condition that affects balance, dizziness or your neck or back, check with your doctor before using swinging furniture.

Setting Up a Spot You Will Use

Research aside, the best seat is the one you use. A few practical choices help.

1. Pick a shaded, sheltered place so you can sit in it comfortably most days.
2. Put it within easy reach of the house, so it takes no effort to get there.
3. Add a small table for a drink or a book.
4. Use a cushion or throw if the seat is firm.
5. Check the fixings each season, since straps and fittings wear.

If you share the space with other people, agree who looks after the gear. Someone should check the straps and the hook now and then, and bring cushions inside when rain is forecast. A seat that is easy to maintain is one you will keep using.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is swinging good for adults? There is no research in this article that shows a hammock or swing improves health. One lab study found that a rocking bed helped 18 young adults fall asleep faster, and one survey linked time in nature with self-reported wellbeing. Neither tested a hammock.

Can a hammock help you sleep? We cannot say that. The rocking bed study was in a laboratory and used a bed, not a hammock. If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor.

How long should an adult swing for? These studies do not give a recommended time for swinging, and we do not either. The nature study is about time outdoors in general, not swinging.

Can adults use sensory swings? Some are made for adults, and many are not. Check the size and weight capacity on each listing.

What is the best swing for a small space? A hammock chair hangs from one point and takes little floor space. Measure the area and check the hanging height.