Effects of Oropharyngeal Exercises on Patients with Moderate

[roster]

Does anyone have a link to exercise instructions?

[

Effects of Oropharyngeal Exercises on Patients with Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Katia C. Guimaraes1, Luciano F Drager1, Pedro R. Genta1, Bianca F. Marcondes1, and Geraldo Lorenzi-Filho1*
1 Sleep Laboratory, Pulmonary Division - Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medicial School, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Rationale: Upper airway muscles function plays a major role in maintenance of the upper airway patency and contribute to the genesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Preliminary results suggested that oropharyngeal exercises derived from speech therapy may be an effective treatment option for patients with moderate OSAS. Objective: To determine the impact of oropharyngeal exercises in patients with moderate OSAS. Measurements and main results: Thirty one moderate OSAS patients were randomized to 3 months of daily (~ 30 min) of sham therapy (n=15, control) or a set of oropharyngeal exercises (n=16), consisting of exercises involving the tongue, soft palate, and lateral pharyngeal wall. Anthropometric measurements, snoring frequency (range 0-4), intensity (1-3), Epworth daytime sleepiness (0-24), Pittsburgh sleep quality (0-21) questionnaires and full polysomnography were performed at baseline and at study conclusion. Body mass index and abdominal circumference of the entire group was 30.3±3.4 kg/m2 and 101.4±9.0 cm, respectively, and did not change significantly over the study period. 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 (10.2±3.7 vs. 6.9±2.5), and OSAS severity (apnea-hypopnea index - AHI, 22.4±4.8 vs. 13.7±8.5 events/hour). Changes in neck circumference correlated inversely with changes in AHI (r=0.59;P<0.001). Conclusions: Oropharyngeal exercises reduce significantly OSAS severity and symptoms and represent a promising treatment for moderate OSAS. Clinical Trial Registry: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, i.d. = NCT 00660777

http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/conte ... 06-981OCv1

BTW, I don't think reducing AHI from 22 to 14 is a big deal. You would still need CPAP. Maybe you would be able to lower the pressure. Maybe you would tolerate CPAP more easily. Just guesses.

I do think I will build a didgeridoo just for the heck of it.

[rested gal]

Thanks for the link, rooster. You do find so many interesting things!

[Raj]

I, too, would appreciate info on the specific exercises used. I've done a little Googling but have come up empty so far.

[roster]

I, too, would appreciate info on the specific exercises used. I've done a little Googling but have come up empty so far.

Yeah Raj, If I remember correctly, you developed your own set of exercises.

[OCNorsk]

http://www.sdhct.nhs.uk/patientCare/pil/23558.pdf

Here's some soft palate exercises.

I would say I'd be a guinea pig to try them out, but by the time I post this I will have forgotten.

[roster]

http://www.sdhct.nhs.uk/patientCare/pil/23558.pdf

Here's some soft palate exercises.

I would say I'd be a guinea pig to try them out, but by the time I post this I will have forgotten.

Thanks OC.

The didgeridoo sounds like more fun. I will go ahead with my plans to build one.

[OCNorsk]

I think building the didgeridoo is kinda like when I decided to make my own tomato paste. It took months to grow the tomatoes, hours to cook . The epiphany came when I watched all the water that I had so lovingly sprinkled on my tomato plants boil out and go down the drain. Then I realized that I could buy 12 cans for $4.79 at Costco. You can get a didgeridoo from Amazon for about $20.

My first look at this forum was on a thread in which someone asked about didgeridoos (which also interested me). They were rather soundly thumped.
I admire your courage.

Good luck with your project. I'm sure it will be much more rewarding than an Amazonian model.

[Raj]

Rooster, you're right: I have adapted and developed a set of exercises that seem to help somewhat, but I strongly suspect that better ones exist. If we can learn the specific exercises used in the study you found, I'd certainly be eager to give them a test drive. BTW, I greatly appreciate you're giving us a heads-up on this.

OCNorsk, thanks for the link, a few of these exercises are new to me and I'll be experimenting with them.

[mhorowit]

Rooster, you're right: I have adapted and developed a set of exercises that seem to help somewhat, but I strongly suspect that better ones exist. If we can learn the specific exercises used in the study you found, I'd certainly be eager to give them a test drive. BTW, I greatly appreciate you're giving us a heads-up on this.

OCNorsk, thanks for the link, a few of these exercises are new to me and I'll be experimenting with them.

Raj - could we get a copy of the exercises you already have? I'll see if anyone I know is a speech therapist and in the meanwhile, let's see what's on the 'Net under "Speech therapy exercises" - Mike

[roster]

I think building the didgeridoo is kinda like when I decided to make my own tomato paste. It took months to grow the tomatoes, hours to cook . The epiphany came when I watched all the water that I had so lovingly sprinkled on my tomato plants boil out and go down the drain. Then I realized that I could buy 12 cans for $4.79 at Costco. You can get a didgeridoo from Amazon for about $20.

My first look at this forum was on a thread in which someone asked about didgeridoos (which also interested me). They were rather soundly thumped.
I admire your courage.

Good luck with your project. I'm sure it will be much more rewarding than an Amazonian model.

OC,

Yep, I can remember some projects like that tomato paste. Growing my own roasting ears of corn, we figured up at the end of the season if you counted the new garden tractor and implements, each ear of corn we ate cost $178.

I am older and learned a few mistakes by bad decisions about what projects to take on in the past. I found a didge rubber mouthpiece that fits a 1.5-inch plastic conduit. By "build" a didge, I meant get the hardware store to cut the $2 pipe to the appropriate length and then I will slide in the $8 mouthpiece. If I really take to playing the didge, I will try to con my artistic wife into painting with acrylic paint some nice designs on the didge. In the end I should have about $10 and two minutes of my own labor invested.

I'm not competing with Papa:

[OCNorsk]

In that case I am on board with the building project! Sounds doable.
I hope it works, because I'd much rather have a didgeridoo than an implant.

[Raj]

Mike, I don't have time tonight, but I'll post a list of my exercises some time tomorrow. Just wanted you to know that I didn't miss your request.

[yardbird]

I play didgeridoo. I still have OSA.

Making them yourself:
Don't use inch and a half PVC to start out. It requires too much air to keep it going.
Drop down to inch and a quarter.
Length 48 inches (46 to 52 ... lots of leeway unless you want it tuned to a specific note and then the length becomes critical)

You can sand the rim of the cut PVC so it's rounded and smooth BUT PLEASE DO THIS IN A BUCKET OF WATER !!!

Can't stress this enough. You do NOT want to breathe PVC dust or any plastic for that matter. So sand it under water OR ...

get a piece of good pure beeswax, warm it in your hands to soften it well, roll it into a "snake" about the diameter of your thumb, and then lay it on the edge of the cut PVC and shape it into a respectable mouthpiece. OR...

Go to a swimming pool supply place and get a PVC fitting made to slip a pool filter hose over. They're usually rounded.

Lips loose... you're not playing a trumpet... I mean REALLY loose. Make that motorboat sound you made when you were a kid and the motorboat is going slow.

Once you get that down I'll teach you circular breathing. That's right... air coming out your mouth while it's going in your nose.

Sounds impossible.


I learned it in 3 days.

BUT.... I still have OSA.
I can, however get a bunch of neighbors looking out their doors wondering what that odd noise is when I play it out on the back porch.

[araminta]

oh dear. so the didge ain't necessarily the ticket to freedom from being a hose head!

how long have you been playing the didgeridoo?

ps- can't wait for the next installment on how to play the instrument.

[OCNorsk]

So, I guess the definitive question is, how many Australian aborigines have OSA?

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it sounds easier to strap on the mask and just lie there.