Testing a New Muscle Training Device, DidgeriTU, for Treating Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a new device called DidgeriTU for people with non-severe obstructive sleep apnea OSA. This study aims to find out if DidgeriTU can reduce apnea events compared to a similar sham device without the resistance plate. The rationale comes from previous findings where playing the Didgeridoo, an Aboriginal musical instrument, helped reduce apnea events by exercising expiratory muscles. Participants will be randomly assigned to use either the DidgeriTU device or the sham device for three months. DidgeriTU is designed to exercise expiratory muscles based on the Didgeridoo principle. The sham device looks similar but lacks the resistance plate. The study includes a double-blind design, meaning neither participants nor researchers know who gets which device during the trial. During the study, participants will complete an online questionnaire once a month. They will have home sleep tests, lung function tests, and tongue strength tests at the beginning and end of the three-month period. The main outcome measured is the change in apnea events after using the device. Additional assessments include changes in sleep apnea severity, sleepiness levels, inspiratory and expiratory pressures, sleep quality, snoring frequency, and oxygenation during sleep. The study is sponsored by Thammasat University Hospital and lasts for three months per participant.

Impact of Muscle Training Device on Non-Severe OSA