Sleep Position Trainer versus Tennis Ball Technique in Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Abstract

In mild POSAS with normal EES the new SPT device and the standard TBT are equally effective in reducing respiratory indices. However, compared to the TBT, sleep quality, quality of life, and compliance improved significantly more in the SPT group.

User Compliance and Behavioral Adaptation Associated With Supine Avoidance Therapy

“…This delivery of negative reinforcement (i.e., causing pain) was found to be too uncomfortable to be effective long-term (Bignold et al, 2009). The employment of padding or foam worn around the waist that restricts the user's ability to sleep supine resulted in compliance rates at least as good as CPAP (Eijsvogel et al, 2015). More recently, vibrotactile positional therapy has been introduced to restrict supine sleep by delivering feedback, a vibratory or haptic stimulus similar to a cell phone vibration, to the neck (Levendowski et al, 2014;Levendowski, Veljkovic, Seagraves, & Westbrook, 2015;van Maanen et al, 2012) or chest (Bignold, Mercer, Antic, McEvoy, & Catcheside, 2011;van Maanen et al, 2013;van Maanen and de Vries, 2014).…”

Positional Therapy Is Worth a Try in Patients with Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea

“…Of note, the rate of discontinuation was lowest in patients with mild severity. The second study 9 described improved short-term effi cacy of a sleep position trainer compared to the tennis ball technique. In both studies, use of PT was effective in decreasing the amount of supine sleep and resulted in decreased measures of OSA severity.…”

Short-term effects of a vibrotactile neck-based treatment device for positional obstructive sleep apnea: preliminary data on tolerability and efficacy

“…A recent study (14) described improved short-term efficacy of a sleep position trainer compared to the tennis ball technique. In another (15), use of PT was effective in decreasing the amount of supine sleep and resulted in decreased measures of OSA severity. Finally, Levendowski and colleagues experienced acceptable compliance rates over a 30 days use of the night shift device (6).…”