• Hopper DE
• Cramer G

• Adult
• Affiliation / National University of Health Sciences. Department of Basic Sciences
• Affiliation / National University of Health Sciences. Department of Research
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Illinois / Lombard
• Male
• Myofunctional Therapy
• Open Access Document
• Posture
• Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
• Weight Loss

Objective: The purpose of this case study was to describe the use of chiropractic care in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Clinical Features: A 42-year-old man with obesity presented for chiropractic care. He had OSA and was seeking a way to reduce snoring. The patient had a previous diagnosis of OSA and had been using a continuous positive airway pressure machine for over 5 years. The patient was a mouth breather, exhibiting poor oral and spinal posture.

Intervention and Outcome: The patient was treated for 90 days, which included chiropractic manipulation, orofacial myofunctional therapy exercises, nutritional modification, postural/ergonomic correction, and regular exercise. After a course of care, there was a drop in his apnea-hypopnea index from 55.4 events per hour to 3.4 events per hour. The patient lost 40 pounds, with an 8% reduction in body fat and an 8-point drop in his body mass index.

Conclusion: This patient's sleep apnea and other health outcomes improved under a course of a combination of chiropractic adjustments, orofacial myofunctional therapy, nutritional modification, postural/ergonomic correction, and exercise.

Author Keywords:  Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Chiropractic; Weight Loss

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; click on the above link for free full text.  PubMed Record | PDF