Myofunctional Therapy in OSA
摘要
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is influenced by four key pathophysiological factors: narrow collapsible upper-airway, high loop gain, low arousal threshold, and poor muscle responsiveness. Myofunctional therapy is a non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It focuses on strengthening the muscles of the retropalatal region, retroglossal area, hypopharynx, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and facial muscles, with a treatment duration of 6 weeks to 3 months. In this section, we have compiled the training patterns (phases), recording types, and primary muscle groups from previous literature into tables. Current evidence suggests that myofunctional therapy alone is more effective for individuals with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) below 30, whereas those with an AHI above 30 may require additional interventions, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or surgical treatment, to achieve optimal results.