Critical Evaluation of the Current Paradigm (Sensory Motor Rehabilitation)
摘要
Sleep apnea is today the most prevalent respiratory disease and the second most frequent sleep disorder associated with multiple comorbidities. With only one in five patients diagnosed, it can be considered the silent epidemic of the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for all patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), so it is essential to delve into all the therapeutic methods that can be useful to control the consequences of this disease. Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) attempts to reeducate the muscular functions of the stomatognathic complex that are affected in some patients with OSA and that directly intervene in the development of this disease. This is a universal therapy, applicable to all ages, does not produce side effects, and is inexpensive. Despite being an ideal therapy, its scientific validity is in question. In this chapter, we analyze the causes of its weaknesses and set out the foundations for improving its future and scientific evidence.