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CLINICAL STUDIES
VALIDATING CLINICAL RESEARCH:
ATLAS-T® pillow is designed for the purpose of repositioning a persons head and neck while laying on their back through elevation of the cervical spine while slightly extending the head and upper neck (cervico-cranial junction). The AXS is designed in order to maintain a certain angle (between 0 and 20 degrees) between the cervico-cranial junction (atlas and the occiput) to maximize airway openings to effect snoring and airflow while at rest. A study that evaluated the relationship between head and neck posture and pharyngeal airway diameters that was performed at the University of Copenhagen, School of Dentistry and Sleep Laboratory at Glostrup County Hospital in Denmark in 1996 revealed, “Extension of the cranio-cervical angle and forward inclination of the cervical column were correlated with an increase in the three most caudal airway diameters in the OSA sample: at the uvula, the root of the tongue, and the epiglottis, but only to increase in the lowest diameter in the reference sample. The findings were considered to reflect a compensatory physiological postural mechanism that serves to maintain airway adequacy in OSA patients in the awake erect posture, most efficiently so at the lowest levels of the oropharyngeal airway.” This study examined the pharyngeal airways of 50 male patients with OSA along with a reference sample of 103 male students in order to examine the relationship between the pharyngeal airway diameters and the posture of the head and the cervical column.
“The ATLAS-T® pillow opens the airways (behind and below your tongue) in 75% of the cases tested. Although the ATLAS-T® pillow does not replace a CPAP or other sleep apnea equipment it will help you get a more restful night sleep and result in you waking up feeling refreshed.”
According to a retrospective study on cervical angles in sleep apnea patients, findings suggested a kyphotic configuration of the occiput and upper cervical spine existed among the overwhelming majority of sleep apnea syndrome patients. Greatest extent of flexion was apparent in the most severe OSA patients. Result: OSA patients can be expected to exhibit an upper cervical kyphotic spine.
References:
Beni Solow, Soren Skov, Jan Ovesen, Pia W. Norup, and Gordon Wildschiodtz. Airway dimensions and head posture in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. European Journal of Orthodontics 18 (1996) 571-579.
Graham J.Dobson, Robert H.I. Blanks, WR Boone, Harrold G McCoy: Cervical Angles in Sleep Apnea Patients: A Retrospective Study. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research Vol 3, No. 1, p 1-15. Kushida CA,
Sherrill CM, Hong SC, Palmbini L, Hyde P, Dement WC. Cervical positioning for reduction of sleep-disordered breathing in mild-to-moderate OSAS. Sleep Breath. 2001 Jun;5(2):71-8.
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