- It has been reported that breathing exercises (oral myofunctional therapy) may improve sleep quality.
- The evidence score is 52, and the reliability is described as moderate.
- This content is relevant to adults and children diagnosed with OSA (obstructive sleep apnea — a diagnosis referring to conditions such as breathing stopping during sleep).
Breathing exercises are techniques for controlling one's breathing.
They are generally practiced to help regulate the state of the mind and body.
Oral myofunctional therapy (training that involves moving the muscles inside the mouth) is known as one technique that works on the muscles around the throat. This study examined how such training relates to the state of sleep. In other words, this research explores the idea that exercising the muscles around the mouth might have a beneficial effect on sleep.
It has been shown that using breathing exercises may improve sleep quality. As a specific finding, changes in the numerical values of sleep quality indicators were reported. However, this does not mean that everyone will experience the same change. There are people for whom the effect does not appear, and some may feel it is not suited to them.
This information comes from a meta-analysis (a method that combines and analyzes the results of multiple studies). The subjects were a total of 347 adults and children diagnosed with OSA (obstructive sleep apnea — a diagnosis referring to conditions such as breathing stopping during sleep). This data includes 1 study, within which is also a study involving 31 participants. By organizing and analyzing multiple pieces of data in this way, it becomes possible to explore overall trends that are difficult to see from individual studies alone.
The evidence score is 52, and the reliability is described as moderate. This indicates a stage where it can be said there is "some degree of basis," but it cannot yet be said to be "completely certain." In addition, some of the studies included were rated as having low certainty. In other words, it is appropriate at this point to regard this result as one point of reference.
Meta-analysis (a method that combines and analyzes the results of multiple studies) is a very powerful research approach, but it is also affected by the quality of the individual studies that make it up. In this case, the overall trend suggested a possible beneficial effect on sleep, but since some of the included studies had low certainty, the result should be interpreted with caution.
| Study | Design | Number of Participants | Duration | Main Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2020, PMID:33141943) | Meta-analysis | 347 | Unknown | A beneficial effect was reported |
The subjects were 347 adults and children diagnosed with OSA.
Since children are included among the subjects, this can serve as a reference when considering whether it applies to you.
This is a report from a meta-analysis based on 1 study.
The research data includes a study of 31 participants that was rated as having low certainty of evidence.
Therefore, caution is needed when interpreting the results.
What effect do breathing exercises have on sleep quality?
A study reporting a beneficial effect on sleep quality has been published. The number of studies is 1.
Who is studied in research on breathing exercises?
The subjects are adults and children diagnosed with OSA. The number of participants is 347.
How reliable is the research on breathing exercises?
The reliability is reported to be moderate.
There is a report that training through breathing exercises may have a beneficial effect on sleep quality. The content introduced in this article is based on a meta-analysis (a method that combines and analyzes the results of multiple studies), but since the number of studies and the certainty are still limited, careful interpretation is required. To learn about your own sleep rhythm, please also try the self-check assessment.