Oropharyngeal Exercises for Sleep Apnea?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is tolerated poorly by many patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Certain patients have experienced positive outcomes with less-obtrusive interventions (e.g., mandibular advancement devices, weight reduction), and, now, Brazilian researchers introduce yet another alternative — oropharyngeal exercises.

Thirty-one patients with moderate OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, 15–30 events hourly) were randomized to weekly sessions that involved instruction in either oropharyngeal exercises (intervention group) or deep-breathing exercises (control group); patients repeated the exercises at home daily. A speech pathologist taught the intervention program, which involved repetitive exercises of the soft palate…