Physiological Study of the Critical Closing Airway Pressure in a Population of Didgeridoo Players

Some studies have shown the benefit of playing the didgeridoo, a wind musical instrument of Aboriginal origin, on the risk of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and on OSAHS itself. Thus, didgeridoo players are less at risk of OSAHS and the practice of this instrument reduces the severity of this syndrome. To date, there are very few studies on the physiological mechanisms involved in the practice of the didgeridoo to explain this reduction in risk and impact on OSAHS.

The rare studies carried out show a great participation of the dilator muscles of the pharynx. We can also note that the didgeridoo is practiced with a particular breathing technique allowing air to be expelled while inhaling. This technique is called circular breathing. This breathing is acquired by working on the control of these dilator muscles of the pharynx but also by becoming aware of its ventilatory needs. Thus it is for the players to learn to breathe according to the needs without disturbing the piece. This respiratory learning, ventilation modulation, not explored until now, could influence the sensitivity of the central and peripheral chemoreceptors of the player with respect to his pCO2 and his pO2. We know the role of this sensitivity in the pathophysiology of SAS.

In this work we therefore seek to highlight a benefit to the practice of the didgeridoo on the critical pressure of pharyngeal closure involving the dilator muscles of the pharynx but also a benefit in terms of gas exchange by analyzing the slope of response to CO2 .

We will compare the effect of using the didgeridoo with that of another wind instrument, the oboe, on these respiratory parameters.

We chose this instrument because a study showed a lower risk of SAS in a population of oboe players. However, in the practice of this instrument, circular breathing is not used.