Oropharyngeal Exercises

Exercises that strengthen and tone the oropharyngeal muscles comprise another treatment approach that is gaining some attention. Evidence supporting this emerged previously in studies that showed the efficacy of playing the didgeridoo, an Australian musical instrument, in reducing symptoms of sleep apnea. In a recent study of patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea treated by exercises involving the tongue, soft palate, and throat muscles found that patients treated had a significant reduction in severity and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea compared with a control group of patients. The limitations of this treatment are compliance in exercise for the patient and doctors spending time and teaching patients. Physicians will need to refer these patients to specialists who can teach the exercises and help the patients maintain compliance. Most physicians will not have the time or teaching resources to stimulate patients to enter a successful exercise regimen.

The oropharyngeal exercise is not a particularly good option by itself for those who are obese. For these people, obstruction of the airway is caused not only by weak and collapsing muscles, but also by bulk formed by deposits around the tongue and throat. Patient selection for this treatment approach should be recommended for only a very select group of patients. Our practice would only recommend these exercises for patients with bothersome snoring or patients with obstructive sleep apnea whom are on CPAP therapy.