Can A Neck Collar Cure Sleep Apnea?

February 5, 2011

A member on SleepGuide commented about his experience using a soft cervical collar to effectively treat his sleep apnea. Here’s a copy of my response to him:

I’m glad to hear that the collar worked for you. I’ve had a handful of patients that have reported similar results using soft and hard neck braces. You’re right in that it does keep your airway open. This is also the principle behind how the contour pillow works—by keeping your head extended somewhat, you’re less likely to obstruct, especially when you’re in deep sleep (when your muscles relax). Unfortunately, this option works for only some people, since there are so many other variables, including how stuffy your nose is, your sleep position, weather changes, what you just ate, and how extended your neck becomes with the device in place.

Here’s a picture of the airway in someone on his back with the head in a relatively neutral position:

Here’s the same person with the head bent forward a bit (flexed):

And with the head bent back (extended):

Notice a big difference in the space behind the tongue between all these positions.

Different people with have different levels of responses even with the same maneuvers. This is why some people can benefit from neck collars, but not all. The bottom line is, it can’t hurt to try. Hope this answers your question.

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | 4 Comments

Can Massage Therapists Pick Up Sleep Apnea?

July 10, 2009

Many people who present to massage therapists who are seen for muscle tension and spasms tend to have upper airway obstruction. This is what a recent article states on massagetoday.com. The article was co-written by a dentist, who has clearly has an advanced understanding of upper airway anatomy and physiology.

What they imply is that many patients who present to massage therapists for various neck/shoulder/back tension or soreness will have some degree of upper airway narrowing, which forces poor head posture, leading to a chain reaction involving other various muscle groups. All this comes from constricted jaw structures. People who have constricted breathing passageways tend to jut their head forward or tilt it back slightly. These maneuvers will open the space behind the tongue significantly. Using Contour pillows or a log-roll type pillow will also open up your airway.

The point of the article is that massage therapists can be the first line people who can pick up any significant sleep-breathing problems.

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | Leave a Comment