Floppy Closing Door Epiglottis Treated Successfully with an Mhealth Application Based on Myofunctional Therapy: A Case Report

Abstract

We introduce the first case reported to date of a floppy closing door epiglottis in an OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) patient treated successfully with an Mhealth smartphone application based on myofunctional therapy.

Commentary: Physical therapy for sleep apnea: a smartphone application for home-based physical therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea

“…Our group designed an app called Airway Gym ( 3 ) to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that promotes proprioceptive rehabilitation and coordination of the airway muscles ( 4 ). This app includes nine exercises based on myofunctional therapy aimed at improving the tonicity of the various muscles involved in the pathogenesis of OSA ( 5 ). Before each exercise, an animated demonstration and a video with a real person are shown to the patient ( Figure 1 ) so that they learn how to perform the exercise.…”

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la Apnea obstructiva del sueño:

“…No en todos los casos de obstrucción epiglótica hay acuerdo en cuanto a que su resolución sea a través de cirugía. Muchos autores encuentran alternativas mediante terapia posicional, dispositivos de avance mandibular o terapia miofuncional [10][11][12].…”

Sensorimotor tongue evaluation and rehabilitation in patients with sleep‐disordered breathing: a novel approach

“…Several works have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Airway Gym ® app in the therapy of patients with SDB. [17][18][19]34 One of the main weaknesses of the studies published on MT is that they used different groups of exercises to treat the patients. This app offers the same group of exercises that allow an objective evaluation of the efficacy of the therapy.…”