What Is Sleep Exercise Therapy?

If you can picture physical therapy, but just for the oral and facial muscles, then you already understand much of what my sleep exercise therapy is all about.

Basically, like a physical therapist or personal trainer, I teach all my patients exercises. In this case, they relate specifically to tongue placement, breathing, speaking, chewing and swallowing.

My goal is to increase awareness of the oral and facial muscles, and to strengthen and repattern them. The right exercises can completely change the way we breathe and the way our muscles function, which can have a dramatic impact on sleep-related problems and conditions.

The Big Picture

But there’s much more to my sleep exercise therapy than the oral exercises. My programs also cover the following:

1.     Sleep hygiene, which includes:

  • Room preparation – temperature, humidity, light levels, bedding choice, and noise
  • Screen and device habits – TV, phone and tablet use
  • Night routines – bed time, adequate hours of sleep, establishing ongoing routines
  • Allergy control
  • Optimizing CPAP and dental sleep appliance use – to increase compliance, comfort and effectiveness

2.       Relaxation techniques – breathing, meditation, and exercise

3.       Nutrition for better sleep

Add all of these elements together and you’ve got a recipe for a great night’s sleep!

Tailored Programs

As an experienced myofunctional therapist, I know how important it is to evaluate each and every patient’s specific symptoms so I can design an individualized treatment plan that delivers the best possible results.

Every patient is different. Some will require a shorter program to deal with a simpler condition, where a patient with a more complex sleep-related issue may need a full year of treatment.

My programs are easy to follow, and the simple exercises should take you no more than ten minutes a day to complete. We’ll meet online, once per week to make sure that everything is going well. This allows me to monitor your progress, to assign new exercises, and to stay in touch.

How Do You Get Started?

The first step is to meet for a free 30-minute Skype assessment so we can get to know each other, and I can find out more about how I can help you.

From there, we can set up a full evaluation, where I can run through my screening process. With that information on hand, I’ll be able to tell you exactly what type of program you need to treat your condition, and how you can expect to benefit.

I‘ll work closely with your doctor, dentist and other healthcare providers to make sure that your condition is properly diagnosed and managed. You deserve to sleep deeply, to wake up refreshed every morning, and of course, you deserve the best care possible.

My online practice is fully Telehealth-enabled, so I work with patients from all over the world. To find out more about how I do this, click here, or to set up a free Skype assessment, click here.