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Recruiting NCT06103630

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

No phase Interventional Obstructive Sleep Apnea of Adult

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Oropharyngeal Exercises, Mandibular advancement device.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Obstructive Sleep Apnea of Adult. Basic parameters: from 20 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Taiwan
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Official title

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

Overview

Oropharyngeal muscle training has emerged as a novel adjunctive treatment approach, involving training of the swallowing muscle group and tongue muscles to prevent tongue collapse, reduce tongue base volume during sleep, and strengthen muscle tension. Therefore, the objective is to assess changes in oropharyngeal muscle strength, ultrasonographic tongue morphology, severity of sleep related breathing interruptions, clinical symptoms, and correlations among these factors. Oropharyngeal muscle training for patients with residual OSA using MAD can significantly 1. increase muscle strength and endurance. 2. reduce the severity of sleep-related breathing interruptions. 3. decrease clinical symptoms. 4. improve tongue morphology.

Detailed description

Background:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) refers to recurrent upper airway blockages during sleep, leading to symptoms like snoring, 2 interrupted breathing causing micro-awakenings, daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, and various chronic conditions. The Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) is a treatment method for OSA, suitable for mild to moderate cases and CPAP noncompliance. However, clinical use of MAD sometimes falls short in comprehensively alleviating the clinical symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, oropharyngeal muscle training has emerged as a novel adjunctive treatment approach, involving training of the swallowing muscle group and tongue muscles to prevent tongue collapse, reduce tongue base volume during sleep, and strengthen muscle tension. This training aims to increase overall respiratory tract rigidity and improve muscle responsiveness during reduced blood oxygen levels.

Given that some patients do not achieve the expected outcomes after MAD therapy, whether oropharyngeal muscle training can enhance treatment effects becomes a research focus. Thus, this study aims to apply oropharyngeal muscle training to patients who have not achieved the anticipated results following MAD treatment. The objective is to assess changes in oropharyngeal muscle strength, ultrasonographic tongue morphology, severity of sleep related breathing interruptions, clinical symptoms, and correlations among these factors.

Methods:

Fifty diagnosed OSA patients using MAD and consenting to participate are recruited. Patients agreeing to undergo 12 weeks of oropharyngeal muscle training form the treatment group, while those not agreeing form the control group. The treatment group undergoes 12 weeks of training, with weekly in-person follow-ups for treatment intensity adjustment and home-based sessions (30 mins, 1-3 times/day, 3-5 days/week) for a total of 12 weeks. The control group continues MAD therapy. Both groups undergo evaluations of muscle strength and endurance, various sleep physiological tests, ultrasonographic imaging of the tongue and oropharynx, and sleep questionnaire tests before and after the 12- week training period.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Oropharyngeal muscle training may increase muscle strength and endurance. 2. Oropharyngeal muscle training may reduce the severity of sleep-related breathing interruptions. 3. Oropharyngeal muscle training may decrease clinical symptoms. 4. Oropharyngeal muscle training may improve tongue morphology.

Interventions

  • Other Oropharyngeal Exercises
    Oropharyngeal Exercises
  • Other Mandibular advancement device
    Mandibular advancement device

Primary outcome measures

  • Apnea-hypopnea -index [Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
  • Tongue muscle strength [Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks]
  • Jaw strength [Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks]
  • Tongue muscle endurance [Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks]
  • Tongue Muscle Thickness [Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • OSA patients
  • Aged over 20 years
  • Wearing MAD (The amount of MAD is at least 50% of the maximum amount that the patient can achieve.)

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

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Non-randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Taiwan · 1 center
  • National Cheng Kung University Hospital — Tainan

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06103630 · B-ER-112-396

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗