Myofunctional therapy improves adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment

Abstract

Our results suggest that in patients with OSAS, myofunctional therapy may be considered as an adjuvant treatment and an intervention strategy to support adherence to CPAP.

Effects of orofacial myofunctional therapy on the symptoms and physiological parameters of sleep breathing disorders in adults: a systematic review

“…Diaféria G et al, 2013 (2) and 2016 (4) RCT The three RCT 1-4 counted on a control group as intended for this type of study. The subjects did not undergo OMT, only receiving orientations and/ or nasal wash as placebo effect in order to minimize performance bias.…”

“…The subjects did not undergo OMT, only receiving orientations and/ or nasal wash as placebo effect in order to minimize performance bias. Trying to analyze the effects of OMT associated to other forms of therapy, other studies 2,4 have considered four groups, one control group (N=24), one OMT group (N=27), CPAP (N=27) and a mixed group (CPAP e OTM) (N=22). This literature review considered only the results referring to OMT alone, following the methodological criteria.…”

“…For the past 10 years, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences intervention using OMT have been presented in this field as one of the possible treatments for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with evidence found specially in studies on Sleep Breathing DIsorders in adults [1][2][3][4] .…”

“…Changes in such mechanism are associated with the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea disorder 7 . In that sense, OMT applied to OSA has the objective of strengthening the nasopharynx and oropharynx musculature contributing to reduce collapse of the airway during sleep [1][2][3][4] . However, the exact mechanisms by which OMT helps with Sleep Breathing Disorders are still not clear to this day.…”

“…Contemporary studies show OMT efficient results in improving the quality of life 2 , in the reduction of intensity and frequency of snoring 3 and in the better adherence of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) 4 . Such studies endorse the Speech, Language Therapist interest in this field and validate the presence of that professional in the interdisciplinary realm of Sleep Breathing Disorders, especially in Brazil with the existence of a specific certification for Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences in the field of sleep disorders 8 .…”