[News] Oropharyngeal exercises and myofunctional therapy may possibly reduce SA severity

[JoeyWallaby]

Found this article by Dr. Barry Krakow where he references a few studies on the topic
http://www.sleepdynamictherapy.com/index...ing-sleep/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25950418

No significant changes occurred in the control group. In contrast, patients randomized to therapy experienced a significant decrease in the snore index (snores > 36 dB/h), 99.5 (49.6-221.3) vs 48.2 (25.5-219.2); P = .017 and total snore index (total power of snore/h), 60.4 (21.8-220.6) vs 31.0 (10.1-146.5); P = .033.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19234106

No significant change occurred in the control group in all variables. In contrast, patients randomized to oropharyngeal exercises had a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in neck circumference (39.6 +/- 3.6 vs. 38.5 +/- 4.0 cm), snoring frequency (4 [4-4] vs. 3 [1.5-3.5]), snoring intensity (3 [3-4] vs. 1 [1-2]), daytime sleepiness (14 +/- 5 vs. 8 +/- 6), sleep quality score (10.2 +/- 3.7 vs. 6.9 +/- 2.5), and OSAS severity (apnea-hypopnea index, 22.4 +/- 4.8 vs. 13.7 +/- 8.5 events/h).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26993338

Body mass index (25.6 ± 3.1) did not change significantly at the end of the study period. There was significant reduction in the neck circumference (38.4 ± 1.3 to 37.8 ± 1.6) at the end of the study. Significant improvement was seen in symptoms of daytime sleepiness, witnessed apnoea, and snoring intensity. Significant improvement was also seen in sleep indices like minimum oxygen saturation, time duration of Sao2 < 90 %, sleep efficiency, arousal index, and total sleep time N3 stage of sleep at the end of study.

[Hydrangea]

I just met with a myofunctional therapist who says obstructive apnea can be improved by 80% (or 80% of apnea can be improved - I wasn't quite sure what precisely she was trying to communicate) with myofunctional therapy.

I'm going to give it a shot!

[StevesSp]

Good luck and please keep us informed!