To observe the efficacy of oropharyngeal muscle exercise for relieving obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) among stroke survivors.

Fifty stroke survivors with moderate OSAS were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 25. Both groups were given routine drugs and rehabilitation, while the observation group was additionally provided with oropharyngeal muscle exercises during the daytime for 20 minutes twice a day for 6 weeks. The control group received deep breathing therapy. Before and after the 6 weeks of treatment, both groups were evaluated using polysomnography. Their sleep quality and daytime sleepiness were measured using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and the Stanford sleepiness scale. Any changes in the patients′ pharyngeal morphology after exercise were evaluated using MRI.

After the oropharyngeal muscle exercises, the apnea hypoventilation index and minimum SaO₂%, the snore index and sleep quality improved significantly. Daytime sleepiness was significantly relieved. Some structural remodeling of the pharyngeal airway was observed by MRI, including significantly larger retropalatal distance and shorter length of the soft palate. The retropalatal distance was positively and correlated with the duration of exercise while the length of soft palate correlated negatively.

Exercising the oropharyngeal muscles is a promising alternative treatment for stroke survivors with moderate OSAS. It improves the morphology of the oropharynx to relieve obstruction during sleeping.

Apnea; Stroke; Oropharyngeal muscles; Polysomnography