CHEST 1996; 109: 1484-89.
SHIN-ICHI MASUMI, DDS, PHD; KEISUKE NISHIGAWA, DDS, PHD; ADRIAN J. WILLIAMS, MD, FCCP; FRISCA L. YAN-GO, MD; AND GLENN T. CLARK, DDS,MS.
Objective: This study evaluated whether substantial airflow changes occur by changing both body posture and jaw position in normal subjects and patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Results: Both groups had a significant decrease in their forced inspiratory flow25-75 upon reclining, and there were no significant group differences regarding the magnitude of this change. Both groups also had a nearly full recovery of their forced inspiratory flow25-75 airflow when their jaws were positioned forward while reclining.
Conclusions: These data document that when a patient is in a supine position, a 100% protrusive jaw position allows significantly more inspiratory airflow to occur.
