Sleep medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of calf muscle electrical stimulation on rostral fluid shift, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
Overnight fluid shift from the legs into the neck may contribute to the pathogenesis of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The present study investigates the effects of calf muscle electrical stimulation (ES) on reducing leg fluid accumulation while seated, subsequent rostral fluid shift on lying down, and the impact on snoring and OSA. ⋯ One session of calf muscle ES was effective at reducing leg fluid accumulation and rostral fluid shift, which led to a modest reduction in the snoring index, but not OSA. Despite this lack of effect of calf muscle ES in attenuating OSA severity, the reduction in the snoring index suggests that it did have an effect, albeit mild, on upper-airway mechanics.