title: Sleep position trainer versus tennis ball technique in positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Positional therapy (PT) is an effective therapy in positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (POSAS) when used, but the compliance of PT is low. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a new kind of PT is effective and can improve compliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  29 patients were treated with the Sleep Position Trainer (SPT), 26 patients with the Tennis Ball Technique (TBT). At baseline and 1 month polysomnography, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Quebec Sleep Questionnaire (QSQ) were taken. Daily compliance was objectively measured in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both therapies prevent supine sleep position to a median of 0% (min-max: SPT 0.0% to 67%, TBT 0.0% to 38.9%), resulting in a treatment success (AHI <5) in 68.0% of the SPT and 42.9% of the TBT patients. The ESS at baseline was <10 in both groups. Sleep quality parameters as wake after sleep onset (WASO; p = 0.001) and awakenings (p = 0.006) improved more in the SPT group. Total QSQ scores (0.4±0.2, p = 0.03) and the QSQ domains nocturnal symptoms (0.7±0.2, p = 0.01) and social interactions (0.8±0.3, p = 0.02) changed in favor of the SPT group. Effective compliance (≥4 h/night + ≥5 days/week) was 75.9% for the SPT and 42.3% for the TBT users (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eijsvogel
authors.affiliation: MIRA-Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rinse
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ubbink
authors.affiliation: MIRA-Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Janita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.affiliation: MIRA-Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oppersma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, Enschede, The Netherlands: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Jongh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, Enschede, The Netherlands: Department of Research Methodology, Measurement and Data Analysis, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Job
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Palen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjolein G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Brusse-Keizer
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D017286:Polysomnography; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013715:Tennis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Positional therapy; compliance; obstructive sleep apnea