What’s more essential to life than breathing? It’s the first thing we check in CPR and when it’s irregular, it’s one of the clearest indicators something is very wrong. When is it hardest to notice this life-saving indicator? When we’re asleep. But, breathe easy, myofunctional therapy is here.
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
[link id=’52982′ text=’Myofunctional therapy‘ esc_html=’false’] is an individualized exercise-based therapy. This exercise regimen isn’t like others you might be familiar with. Myofunctional therapy is designed to help people breathe better, avoid jaw pain or headaches, and help orthodontics stay in place.
Myofunctional Therapy At Work
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of [link id=’108′ text=’sleep apnea‘ esc_html=’false’]. What are the obstructions that make it so common? Muscles, soft tissue, and the tongue. The therapy program consists of isotonic and isometric exercises that strengthen and retrain the tongue and other muscles. The goal of this retraining is to eliminate bad habits and institute healthier ones.
For example, if a person experiences tongue-tie, the movement of their tongue is greatly restricted and can lead to a blocked airway, especially during sleep. Through myofunctional therapy, patients can increase their tongue’s range of movement and prevent this kind of obstruction. In other cases, the tongue falls farther back into the mouth either because of poor posturing or a lack of space in the mouth as a result of an underdeveloped jaw. Myofunctional therapy targets these causes as well.
The Provided Solutions
Myofunctional therapy is a non-invasive treatment option for many patients including those living with sleep apnea. Some of its applications include:
- Teaching patients to breathe through their nose
- Developing, strengthening, and toning the tongue and other muscles of the mouth and face
- Building a habit of resting the tongue in an ideal position
- Identifying compensation behaviors during chewing, talking, and swallowing
- Reducing difficulty chewing or eating
- Improving speech disorders
- Preventing sleep-disordered breathing
- Alleviating TMJ symptoms
See if Its the Right Fit
For more information about myofunctional therapy and whether this course of treatment could be effective for your individual needs, contact our office at [link id=’50003′ text=’703-349-4277‘ esc_html=’false’] and schedule a consultation with Dr. Marzban.
