Myofunctional Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in U.S. Service Members With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Summary
The overall purpose of this study is to compare changes in sleep outcomes in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) depending on their participation in one of two behavioral interventions; both involve drinking water and breathing. A second purpose is to compare outcomes between people who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and those with no history of TBI. The main questions it aims to answer are whether sleep quality improves after 3-months of high-resistance versus low-resistance exercises, and whether people have different outcomes depending on their history of TBI.
Description
Background A nonintrusive, inexpensive behavioral approach is emerging as a promising alternative to the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Generally referred to as myofunctional therapy (MFT), the approach involves exercising the muscles of the oropharynx and respiratory system.The exercises are intended to improve muscle strength and tone so that the muscular structures of the upper airway improve their neuromuscular responsiveness to breathing and resist collapsing into the airway during sleep. They are relatively simple to implement and train, but the regimen requires high-dosag…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * New diagnosis of OSA (AHI, ≥ 5) or failure of first-line OSA treatment; * Willingness to forego first-line OSA treatment or stop current OSA treatment for 3 months; * Ability to follow directions and perform the required exercises; * Age between 18-65 yr. Exclusion Criteria: * Current use of OSA treatment; * Medical comorbidities that require restricting fluid intake (e.g., dysphagia, renal disease, liver disease, hyponatremia); * Severe nasal obstruction; 4) severe ankyloglossia; 4) craniofacial abnormality; 5) severe pulmonary disease; 6) severe post-traumatic stress…
Interventions
- BehavioralHigh-Resistance Breathing and Drinking Exercises
Three months of drinking at least 32-oz of water daily through a high-resistance nozzle, and inhaling and exhaling 60 times per day through a high-resistance breathing device
- BehavioralLow-Resistance Breathing and Drinking Exercises
Three months of drinking 32-oz of water daily through a low-resistance nozzle, and inhaling and exhaling 40 times per day through a low-resistance breathing device
Location
- Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterBethesda, Maryland