Whole Body Vibration for OSA
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Insomnia Sleep Studies, Pulmonary, Pulmonary |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 21 - 60 |
| Updated: | 12/21/2017 |
| Start Date: | December 2, 2017 |
| End Date: | September 2018 |
| Contact: | Mary A Woo, PhD, RN |
| Email: | mwoo@sonnet.ucla.edu |
| Phone: | 310-206-2032 |
Whole Body Vibration for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious medical condition which is increasing in the
United States and significantly increases risks for other diseases, morbidity and mortality.
The most common treatment for OSA is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), but this
intervention has low patient compliance, significant expense ($800-2,000/set), and high
inconvenience. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training is a novel OSA intervention which could
have higher patient compliance, low expense, and potentially lower morbidity and mortality
and improved quality of life in this increasing patient population.
United States and significantly increases risks for other diseases, morbidity and mortality.
The most common treatment for OSA is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), but this
intervention has low patient compliance, significant expense ($800-2,000/set), and high
inconvenience. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training is a novel OSA intervention which could
have higher patient compliance, low expense, and potentially lower morbidity and mortality
and improved quality of life in this increasing patient population.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be defined as temporary cessation of breathing (often from
10-30 seconds) during sleep caused by a blockage of the airways. OSA is increasing in the
United States and currently afflicts at least 18 to 25 million adults in the country. OSA is
a chronic disease which increases the risk of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes,
stroke, and depression. OSA also has negative effects on the brain, such as significant
reductions in white matter and gray matter, which are accompanied by impairments to
cognition, mood, and daytime alertness. At this time, the most common and effective way to
treat OSA is with the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Adequate CPAP usage (use of the CPAP mask/device for at least 4 hours/night for a minimum of
70% of the nights = 5 days/week) is associated with higher sleep quality, increased daytime
alertness, improved mood, better memory, decreased blood pressure, greater cardiac left
ventricular ejection fraction, and decreased dysrhythmias. Yet despite the significant
benefits of CPAP, compliance (use of CPAP for at least 4 hours per night for at least 5 out
of 7 nights/week) with CPAP continues to be low (17-54%). Terri Weaver Predictors of CPAP
non-compliance are unclear, but most researchers and clinicians cite OSA patient dislike for
the equipment (lots of tubing, sometimes noisy), mask discomfort, and inconvenience.
Alternatives to CPAP, such as uvuloectomy and dental jaw devices, are either invasive or have
less efficacy in some OSA subjects. One non-invasive method to treat OSA which has not been
reported in the literature is whole body vibration (WBV).
Whole body vibration refers to any vibration of any frequency which is transferred to the
human body. Theoretically, WBV creates eccentric muscle reaction and enables anaerobic
activity and was initially designed as a form of resistance training. WBV has been used as a
successful treatment for osteoporosis, stroke, leg muscle strength and balance in the
elderly. However, it has never been utilized or suggested as a treatment for OSA. In a pilot
study conducted by the investigators, they found that 30 minutes of WBV (using a commercially
available device which costs $250), 3 times per week, for 6 weeks, dramatically decreased
apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; a measure of sleep-disordered breathing) in persons with moderate
to severe OSA without changes in weight or injury and that WBV treatment compliance was very
good.
Yet why would WBV have any impact on OSA? According to the investigators' early studies,
stimulation of the proprioception nerves (neural system which allows sensorimotor location of
the limbs) stimulates the apneustic center of the lower pons (top of spinal cord), which in
turn promotes respiratory inspiration. In the investigators' other studies, they have
demonstrated that stimulation of the proprioception nerves during sleep stimulates breathing.
However, one might ask if WBV is not being administered during sleep, but only while awake,
why would this impact breathing during sleep? It appears that respiratory training while
awake continues to have impact during sleep, as witnessed by the fact that such activities as
opera singing, trumpet or didgeridoo instrument playing, have been used to successfully treat
OSA. The investigators theorize that these activities (including WBV) entrain breathing and
thus "condition" the apneustic center to improve airway dilation during sleep. Despite the
promising preliminary data, the impact of WBV needs to be examined in a larger number of
persons with OSA and the neural mechanisms of WBV on the apneustic regions of the lower pons
remain to be explored.
10-30 seconds) during sleep caused by a blockage of the airways. OSA is increasing in the
United States and currently afflicts at least 18 to 25 million adults in the country. OSA is
a chronic disease which increases the risk of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes,
stroke, and depression. OSA also has negative effects on the brain, such as significant
reductions in white matter and gray matter, which are accompanied by impairments to
cognition, mood, and daytime alertness. At this time, the most common and effective way to
treat OSA is with the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Adequate CPAP usage (use of the CPAP mask/device for at least 4 hours/night for a minimum of
70% of the nights = 5 days/week) is associated with higher sleep quality, increased daytime
alertness, improved mood, better memory, decreased blood pressure, greater cardiac left
ventricular ejection fraction, and decreased dysrhythmias. Yet despite the significant
benefits of CPAP, compliance (use of CPAP for at least 4 hours per night for at least 5 out
of 7 nights/week) with CPAP continues to be low (17-54%). Terri Weaver Predictors of CPAP
non-compliance are unclear, but most researchers and clinicians cite OSA patient dislike for
the equipment (lots of tubing, sometimes noisy), mask discomfort, and inconvenience.
Alternatives to CPAP, such as uvuloectomy and dental jaw devices, are either invasive or have
less efficacy in some OSA subjects. One non-invasive method to treat OSA which has not been
reported in the literature is whole body vibration (WBV).
Whole body vibration refers to any vibration of any frequency which is transferred to the
human body. Theoretically, WBV creates eccentric muscle reaction and enables anaerobic
activity and was initially designed as a form of resistance training. WBV has been used as a
successful treatment for osteoporosis, stroke, leg muscle strength and balance in the
elderly. However, it has never been utilized or suggested as a treatment for OSA. In a pilot
study conducted by the investigators, they found that 30 minutes of WBV (using a commercially
available device which costs $250), 3 times per week, for 6 weeks, dramatically decreased
apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; a measure of sleep-disordered breathing) in persons with moderate
to severe OSA without changes in weight or injury and that WBV treatment compliance was very
good.
Yet why would WBV have any impact on OSA? According to the investigators' early studies,
stimulation of the proprioception nerves (neural system which allows sensorimotor location of
the limbs) stimulates the apneustic center of the lower pons (top of spinal cord), which in
turn promotes respiratory inspiration. In the investigators' other studies, they have
demonstrated that stimulation of the proprioception nerves during sleep stimulates breathing.
However, one might ask if WBV is not being administered during sleep, but only while awake,
why would this impact breathing during sleep? It appears that respiratory training while
awake continues to have impact during sleep, as witnessed by the fact that such activities as
opera singing, trumpet or didgeridoo instrument playing, have been used to successfully treat
OSA. The investigators theorize that these activities (including WBV) entrain breathing and
thus "condition" the apneustic center to improve airway dilation during sleep. Despite the
promising preliminary data, the impact of WBV needs to be examined in a larger number of
persons with OSA and the neural mechanisms of WBV on the apneustic regions of the lower pons
remain to be explored.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must be between ages 21-60
- Clinical diagnosis of moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI > 15)
- Must be able to stand up for 30 mins at a time with no joint or muscular problems
- Must have adequate space/power in home to run the WBV machine
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous history of stroke and/or myocardial infarction
- Diagnosed neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric diseases,
- Airway or chest deformities that would interfere with breathing,
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
- Cystic fibrosis
- Presence of brain mass lesions
- Any history of drug abuse (e.g., cocaine or tobacco)
- History of renal failure (requiring dialysis).
- Pregnancy (if female) due to the potential dangers to the fetus from the MRI
- Subjects with contraindications to MRI:
- Metallic and electronic implants (phrenic or cardiac pacemakers), braces, or
metallic-based tattoos
- Body weight > 275 pound
- Claustrophobia
- Inadequate space/ electronic power in home to run the WBV machine.
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