I do still have the odd bad night and when that happens I simply up the routine for the following few days.” So as you can see, how long you continue to do the exercises will depend on how quickly your orofacial exercises are strengthened and your personal preferences.
Therapy is costly in terms of time, energy and money; which brings me back to why I am glad this e-book is off the ground and in your hands.
In effect, you are multiplying the benefits. My youngest daughter who has Down’s syndrome responded very well to the new exercises I found in the book.
I’ve had a week to try out the exercises and she has been sleeping more quietly these last two nights – and I’ve been waking up chirpier.
WHAT RESULTS HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HAD? Here are some of the things that people have said about the results of oropharyngeal exercises: “I am sure that if you follow the exercises religiously and follow the other suggestions in the program your condition (or that of your loved one) will improve” When I first heard of this project, I was truly elated.
The exercises are similar to those my children were taught with a twist – they are better because there are inputs from not just one speech pathologist but many consultants.
But with the comprehensive range of exercises I’ve put together in my program, you’ll have a good variety of choices.
Now, the ones you select will have to be a balanced assortment – because it’s vital that you’re working all the relevant muscles (tongue, throat, neck, etc).
Desperate to be rid of the CPAP machine I went via my GP to a speech language pathologist and enquired about the exercises.
DO I HAVE TO DO ALL THE EXERCISES, OR CAN I CHOOSE THE ONES I LIKE? The great thing about the Sleep Apnea Exercises Program is its flexibility.
Needless to say all three of us lacked the energy; my eldest daughter had difficulty in concentrating in school while lack of sleep made it almost impossible for me to keep my temper in check.
I started a routine of 8 exercises. I was instructed to do these 4 times daily, and in the initial week I noticed a difference. I continued with them each day. Then I cut them down to twice daily. Now I do the routine just once a day. Personally I wouldn’t stop them completely for fear of my obstructive sleep apnea returning to the same level that it was prior to the exercises.
As a working mother with two children 14 years apart, it was difficult to cope with sleep apnea since I had to be vigilant at night – when they are most at risk and go to work the following day.
BUT WILL I HAVE TO DO THESE EXERCISES FOREVER? Here’s what Nick, from Lincolnshire, England , had to say about his exercise schedule: “My GP recommended a CPAP machine to begin with.
I hated it and couldn’t sleep with it on. It felt very restricting. I tried various other methods, even yoga! Then a friend mentioned they’d heard about a study regarding oropharyngeal exercises.
There are 18 different exercises in total, and you can choose the ones you want. More on that below). The bottom line? Expect to spend approximately 20 minutes per day doing the exercises – at first. Once you see improvement in your sleep apnea, you can choose to reduce the amount of time spent exercising.