POLL: Is didgeridoo gaining more cred. as a txmt option?

[Kitatonic]

We bought a cheap didgeridoo and found how difficult it is to make any pleasant sounds. I play the clarinet and saxophone, but still tested out severe OSA. Apparently the clarinet provides more wind resistance than the sax, but now with CPAP, I can just play what I enjoy! If you decide to buy a didgeridoo, don't buy a cheap one online, it's a waste of money.

[eeckel]

There is only one study about dideridoo and cpap. Here's the abstract.

1.
Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: randomised controlled trial.
Puhan MA. Suarez A. Lo Cascio C. Zahn A. Heitz M. Braendli O.
BMJ. 332(7536):266-70, 2006 Feb 4.

AB OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of didgeridoo playing on daytime sleepiness and other outcomes related to sleep by reducing collapsibility of the upper airways in patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and snoring. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Private practice of a didgeridoo instructor and a single centre for sleep medicine. PARTICIPANTS: 25 patients aged > 18 years with an apnoea-hypopnoea index between 15 and 30 and who complained about snoring. INTERVENTIONS: Didgeridoo lessons and daily practice at home with standardised instruments for four months. Participants in the control group remained on the waiting list for lessons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Daytime sleepiness (Epworth scale from 0 (no daytime sleepiness) to 24), sleep quality (Pittsburgh quality of sleep index from 0 (excellent sleep quality) to 21), partner rating of sleep disturbance (visual analogue scale from 0 (not disturbed) to 10), apnoea-hypopnoea index, and health related quality of life (SF-36). RESULTS: Participants in the didgeridoo group practised an average of 5.9 days a week (SD 0.86) for 25.3 minutes (SD 3.4). Compared with the control group in the didgeridoo group daytime sleepiness (difference -3.0, 95% confidence interval -5.7 to -0.3, P = 0.03) and apnoea-hypopnoea index (difference -6.2, -12.3 to -0.1, P = 0.05) improved significantly and partners reported less sleep disturbance (difference -2.8, -4.7 to -0.9, P < 0.01). There was no effect on the quality of sleep (difference -0.7, -2.1 to 0.6, P = 0.27). The combined analysis of sleep related outcomes showed a moderate to large effect of didgeridoo playing (difference between summary z scores -0.78 SD units, -1.27 to -0.28, P < 0.01). Changes in health related quality of life did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Regular didgeridoo playing is an effective treatment alternative well accepted by patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Trial registration ISRCTN: 31571714.

[Dazed and Confused]

REALLY?
Throat Exercises Can Relieve Sleep Apnea
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/healt ... ealth&_r=0

[Goofproof]

Only with fools and people that profit from selling them. Oh yes, and those in De-Nile, willing tonite on any way to treat sleep apnea but one that works. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Only makes sense if you love playing the instrument, are not using it in place of xpap, and your neighbors are deaf.

[1041]

Throat muscles decay with age. As our airway becomes floppier, we need more CPAP pressure. What if when you are 60 you find that the pressure has become so high you can't tolerate it any more?

Keeping throat muscles strong via exercise might stave off this crisis. If we exhale as forcefully as possible into an AutoSet each morning and view the Flow graph, would that measure the decay or improvement of our throat power?

[chunkyfrog]

FYI: sixty is not as old and decrepit as it was 200 years ago.
I'm 65; I don't even notice the pressure.

[BlackSpinner]

The difference in the AHI in the didgerdoo group didn't bring the AHI down below 5.

It also means for the rest of your life you have to set aside 25 minutes a day to practice these exercises, every day because as any musician or runner will tell you, if you don't practice you lose it quickly. So plan to take on that cruise, to that business conference, home for Christmas and on your honeymoon.

I can assure you that a year form now most people won't be practising unless they become part of a band.

[sleepnasta]

I've got a sick mind... -delete my thoughts-

[sleepnasta]

FYI: sixty is not as old and decrepit as it was 200 years ago.
I'm 65; I don't even notice the pressure.

well done!

[chunkyfrog]

They really need to make one that floats.
--with a tether tying it to the kayak.
Waterboarding in De-Nile.