Digeridoo's helping apnea

subvertio · Post by **subvertio** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:29 pm

Apparently Didgeridoo training might help Apnea:

http://www.laoutback.com/didgeridoo/edu ... ggod63Tv3g

Between listening to Didgeridoo and my snoring I think my girlfriend would prefer the snoring...and she hates my snoring.

bookwyrm · Post by **bookwyrm** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:13 pm

I actually have one of these..it belongs to my son! I don't think they want to hear me play that...especially since I am not snoring anymore either!

LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:18 pm

I'm wondering if other wind instruments would work on the muscles in the same fashion, i.e. ram's horn, etc.

subvertio · Post by **subvertio** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:41 am

Yes, actually the more irritating the wind instrument is the more therapeutic. For example a bagpipe might completely eliminate apnea because everyone around you becomes deaf or runs away.

LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:00 pm

Yes, actually the more irritating the wind instrument is the more therapeutic. For example a bagpipe might completely eliminate apnea because everyone around you becomes deaf or runs away.

Yep, that's it, I'll take up the bagpipe and drive the neighbors nuts, lmbo.

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:18 pm

LavenderMist wrote:I'm wondering if other wind instruments would work on the muscles in the same fashion, i.e. ram's horn, etc.

"Real" players practice a method of breathing and playing that allows continuous noise making called 'circular breathing,' so there may be more to this than just messing about with the thing.

Also, it seems like it should be possible to cheaply make one out of PVC--the only real challenge being to make a proper mouthpiece.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:09 pm

I actually read somewhere how to make one out of PVC, and there are instructions for making mouthpieces out of wax, beeswax, I think.

I have one, too, but haven't tried it very much because it is the circular breathing that is supposed to be helpful, and I haven't had the motivation to learn it! Saw on David Letterman a while back that a guy was trying to beat Kenny G's record on holding one continuous note on whatever horn instrument he plays. The continuous note was done using circular breathing. (The guy didn't beat his record, btw, which, if i remember correctly, is around 45 minutes.)

Pam

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:24 pm

I don't know if Didgeridoo training, is helping anyones Apnea, I suppect it is promoted to to sell Didgerioo Selling. I think standing on one foot drinking Iced Tea, through a straw is better training to prevent Apnea. After years of Iced Tea training, I have yet to have a Apnea event while doing this. However, with Wine Coolers, I find it hard to stand on one foot near the end of the six pack. ___ The end of my Didgeridoo Ad... Jim

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:51 pm

Goofproof wrote:I don't know if Didgeridoo training, is helping anyones Apnea, I suppect it is promoted to to sell Didgerioo Selling. I think standing on one foot drinking Iced Tea, through a straw is better training to prevent Apnea. After years of Iced Tea training, I have yet to have a Apnea event while doing this. However, with Wine Coolers, I find it hard to stand on one foot near the end of the six pack. ___ The end of my Didgeridoo Ad... Jim

While I'm sure the retailer the OP linked to would like to sell more product, if you had followed the link before chiming in you would have found a legitimate study published in the British Medical Journal:

BMJ 2006;332 (4 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7536.0-a

Didgeridoo playing could improve sleep apnoea

Regularly playing a didgeridoo reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring in people with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. In a randomised controlled trial, Puhan and colleagues (p 266) allocated 25 adults with self reported snoring and an apnoea-hypoponea index of 15-30 (episodes per hour) either to didgeridoo lessons and regular practice at home or to a waiting list. After four months the intervention group had less daytime sleepiness and significant improvement in the index score. The collapsibility of the upper airways must have decreased through the "training," say the authors.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/332/7536/0-a

While all studies are subject to future confirmation or refutation, it does not seem like the possible therapeutic benefits of didgeridoo playing are merely advertising puffery.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:17 pm

Anything that involves more agressive breathing, probably strenghtens your airway muscles, even blowing up balloons for your kids birthday party, if you don't purchase the air tank.

Studies can be made to say anything, we had a promoter here from California, that tried to build up his business here doing that. Folks there isn't a easy way out, strap on some air and live. I guess if you played it all night and didn't sleep, you could call yourself cured by it, so I guess you are right. Jim

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:09 pm

Goofproof wrote:Anything that involves more agressive breathing, probably strenghtens your airway muscles, even blowing up balloons for your kids birthday party, if you don't purchase the air tank.

Studies can be made to say anything, we had a promoter here from California, that tried to build up his business here doing that. Folks there isn't a easy way out, strap on some air and live. I guess if you played it all night and didn't sleep, you could call yourself cured by it, so I guess you are right. Jim

Studies are certainly subject to critique; however, the cited study is a published, peer reviewed study. While it is reasonable to reserve judgement, your attempts to refute the study without, apparently, so much as reading the abstract is going too far.

I'm not saying that Didgeridoo playing cures OSA, but the study suggests that it may reduce it in some people. Additional study could, perhaps, determine if and why that is so and find more direct ways of using breathing training to treat OSA . Given that xPAP therapy is not a cure-all it seems premature to dismiss a reputable peer reviewed study without cause.

split_city · Post by **split_city** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:39 am

Goofproof wrote:Studies can be made to say anything, we had a promoter here from California, that tried to build up his business here doing that. Folks there isn't a easy way out, strap on some air and live. I guess if you played it all night and didn't sleep, you could call yourself cured by it, so I guess you are right. Jim

I'm pretty sure there were many people laughing at one Prof. Colin Sullivan when he invented the CPAP machine. How times have changed

Aussiegrouch · Post by **Aussiegrouch** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:56 am

POWERbreathe. I have been using this device to strengthen my respiratory muscles, as I have COPD.
It really works well and gives a staged work up with different settings.

http://www.powerbreathe.com/homep.html

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:37 am

I play my PAP machine every night. I think there are lots more peer reviewed studies on the success of blowing into a PAP machine to treat apnea than there are of blowing into a hollowed out stick.

But what do I know? ... I'm just blow hard PAPer

DreamDiver · Post by **DreamDiver** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:47 am

Didjeridoo's sold at the DME?
How much will your insurance pay?

I think we have a lateral sales possibility here.

(Not making fun of didjeridoo's -- I can just picture
musical instruments at the display window of the DME.)

Digeridoo's helping apnea

Digeridoo's helping apnea

I have one!

Didjeridoo DME