Chin Tuck Exercise and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Case Report

This case report describes a patient with neck pain who was recommended by his gym coach to perform chin tuck exercises to manage his pain. After a period of 3 weeks of daily chin tuck exercise, each session consisting of 10 repetitions of a 20-second hold, performed three times per day, the patient started to experience symptoms of snoring, witnessed gasping, morning headache, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Polysomnography performed by a sleep physician confirmed the diagnosis of mild obstructive sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index of 10 times/h and a significant desaturation of oxygen of 86% (BMI: 24 kg/m²). The patient was recommended to discontinue the exercise. His obstructive sleep apnea symptoms disappeared in 2 weeks, and follow-up polysomnography was conducted, which confirmed the complete resolution of obstructive sleep apnea with improved sleep parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first case report linking chin tuck exercise to the onset of obstructive sleep apnea, emphasizing the need for clinicians, physiotherapists, and fitness coaches to be aware of this potential risk.