Efficacy of Oropharyngeal Exercises for Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using Mandibular Advancement Device

National Cheng-Kung University Hospital20 enrolled

Overview

Combined treatment with MAD and OE for adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea can significantly (i) improve muscle strength and endurance; (ii) reduce the severity of sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleeping disorder with recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep. Patients with OSA often suffer from daytime sleepiness, snoring, and interrupted breathing during sleep. The etiology of OSA can divide into anatomical causes, including narrow, crowded, or easily collapsible upper airway, and non-anatomical causes, including low respiratory arousal threshold, ineffective or reduced pharyngeal dilator muscle activity during sleep, and unstable ventilatory control. A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is one of the treatment options for mild to moderate OSA patients. Oropharyngeal exercises (OE) are a novel intervention targeted at internal/external tongue muscle training with significant improvements in the muscle tension and severity of OSA. The efficacy of combined treatment with MAD and OE has not been investigated. Thus, the present study aims to determine the effectiveness of combing MAD and OE by assessing the tongue function and severity of OSA in patients with OSA. Methods: A total of 20 participants using MAD for OSA were included in the study. Participants will be divided into two groups: the treatment group with the 12-week OE. OE consists of one to three times 30-minute sessions per day, 3 to 5 days per week for 12 weeks. The weekly clinic visits are required to adjust the intensity of the home exercise program and monitor the training progress. The participants in two groups will receive polysomnography (PSG) test, tongue muscle strength, and endurance testing, at baseline and after the intervention. Expected results: Combined treatment with MAD and OE for adult patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea can significantly (i) improve muscle strength and endurance; (ii) reduce the severity of sleep apnea

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obstructive Sleep Apnea of Adult

Interventions

Oropharyngeal ExercisesBEHAVIORAL

Oropharyngeal Exercises

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * OSA patients * aged over 20 years old * wearing a MAD Exclusion Criteria: * Body Mass Index (BMI) ≧ 35 * Pregnancy * Severe obstructive or restrictive lung disease * Exercise with high-risk cardiovascular disease * History of central or peripheral neurological disease resulting in an inability to perform exercise prescriptions * Musculoskeletal or psychological disorders that prevent the performance of exercise prescriptions * Chronic illnesses that are ongoing or not yet controlled

Locations (1)

National Cheng Kung University Hospital

Tainan, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Apnea-hypopnea -index

Assessed using Polysomnography (PSG). The average apnea and hypopnea events per hour, oxygen saturation index and the snoring index will be obtained during the sleep test(PSG)

Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Tongue muscle strength

The maximal muscle strength of genioglossus muscles using The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) system, model 2.2 (Northwest, Co., LLC, Carnation, WA, USA) (kPa)

Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks

Tongue muscle endurance

The endurance of the genioglossus muscles using The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) system, model 2.2 (Northwest, Co., LLC, Carnation, WA, USA) (in seconds)

Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks

Central Contacts

Huang Kang Ku

CONTACT

+886955006113 a0955006113@gmail.com

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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