Advances in rehabilitation in OSAS

Abstract

The treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is focused on increasing airway patency during sleep and, to date, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) represents the treatment of choice to improve upper airway obstruction. Unfortunately, such technique is poor tolerated and nonadherent patients range between 29 and 83%. In some cases, other therapeutical approaches to consider are constituted by oral appliance or surgical treatment, but they may be not sufficient too. Recently, new methods for OSAS rehabilitation have been investigated to customize the treatment for each patient. Positional therapy (PT), myofunctional therapy (MT), body exercises training and upper-airway stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve are some examples of OSAS rehabilitative approaches to use alone or in association with other different techniques. Such rehabilitative approaches for OSAS patients will be discussed in this chapter.